Chapter 2

We stayed at the coffee shop for another hour. During that time, I introduced Sav to the Crowe twins and she formed a friendship with my new friends. The five of us talked about the Halloween party and we offered to come early to help the girls set up for the party. Once we left the coffee shop, I took Chase and Sav shopping, so we had enough food to last us the weekend. Because knowing the calorie count, I suspect my brother to be on to stay in shape because of football I will need all the food I can get to keep him satisfied.

That night we ordered a Chinese as we were too tired from grocery shopping to cook. You can call it being lazy all you like. I wouldn’t argue with you on this occasion. Yes, tonight, and tonight only the three of us are being lazy. Once the food was delivered Sav and I took the couch whilst Chase sat on the floor. I feel a little guilty that I don’t have anywhere else for him to sit but he said he prefers to sit on the floor nowadays. Savannah has trained my brother well since we were all in high school.

During dinner, we talk a little bit more about what has been happening while we are in college. Sav is giving writing her own music another go, after how she felt about the one, she wrote in high school. I couldn’t be any prouder than I am for her. She deserves to take a chance and see how it goes. I can’t wait to hear it when it’s finished.

“Will you be home for Thanksgiving?” Chase asks after taking a bite of his Kung Pao chicken. Nodding at him as I suck up a noodle from my Chow Mein. But I tell him I am home for two days as on Thanksgiving weekend I start my internship at the Boston office. “You’re kidding me right Jen?” Chase takes a sip of his water, “There’s no way you are starting your work internship on Thanksgiving weekend. Surely your professors made a mistake on the starter date. Please tell me you’re joking Jen please.”

“I wish I was Chase I’m sorry. I start on the Friday, the day after Thanksgiving.” Sav questions me when I said about being back in Cali for two days and will be back here to start my internship on Friday. So, I explain that I’m flying home to Santa Monica on Tuesday evening and flying back to Boston on Thursday night. “It wasn’t the professor who assigned the interns it was the office themselves who asked me to start then. One of the young guys there has this surfing opportunity in Australia or something and asked if I could cover for him. Who am I to turn down an opportunity like that, so I accepted it and starting my internship early.”

“That sucks Jen, I guess we’re gonna have to make the most of it this weekend then,” Sav says as she hugs me into her side as I agree with her, and we both raise our glasses of sodas and clink them together in our private little cheers and promise to each other. You could say since Chase and Sav started dating we have become more like sisters than best friends. And the three of us wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the rest of the night, we laughed and watched a couple of movies before Chase and Sav called it a night. Unfortunately, my walls are thin, and I heard every bang of the bed, every moan, every slap to the skin. EVERYTHING. I’m happy to hear my brother and best friend are getting some, but on the other hand, it’s disturbing knowing AND hearing my brother having sex. He couldn’t have waited until they got back to San Francisco or give me a heads-up so I can put my earplugs in. Hearing them two go at it all night I wake up in the morning feeling exhausted, almost like I didn’t sleep a wink.

Walking into the kitchen I see Sav sat at one of the bar stools drinking a freshly brewed coffee. I do love my instant coffee machine. According to my mom, it is one of the best on the market right now, NINJA’s latest model with three machines built into one. It does just about everything, and I could not be happier with it. One of the best cooking appliances Mom bought for me when I moved to Boston.

“Morning sunshine,” I say to Sav as I walk over to my coffee machine to make myself my morning cup. While my coffee is brewing, I turn to face her asking “Did you guys have fun last night?”

Chocking on her drink and seeing her cheeks start to warm she tries her hardest to look innocent, “What are you talking about? We didn’t do or go anywhere last night.” Oh sweet, sweet Savannah she has never really been good at lying or hiding her emotions. Especially from me and from Chase, we can read her like an open book.

My coffee finishes brewing and I make it just how I like it for cool fall mornings. Picking my cup up and taking the first sip feeling the hot tasty goodness slide down my throat I moan in silence and turn around to face Sav. “Just letting you know woman to woman Sav and because I love you, my walls are thin, and sounds do travel through my walls.” Sav’s face turns as red as a ripped tomato, you could clearly see she was embarrassed that I heard her and my brother having sex. Just as she mumbled quietly to herself that I could just work out what she said Chase makes his presence known. I’m so grateful he’s wearing clothes I do not want to see my brother shirtless this early in the morning.

“What’s going on in here?” Chase asks as he looks between Sav and me. Sav buries her head further into her hands as I give him my one eyebrow-raised look as Chase comes into the kitchen to make himself his morning coffee. As it’s brewing, he turns to look at us one more time trying to work out what’s going on. “Okay, that’s it. What were you girls talking about before I walked in and why does my girlfriend’s face is so pink like she’s embarrassed?”

Sav and I look at each other and we burst into laughter. Chase looks more confused than ever as he asks us what was so funny. Sav and I look at each other once more and start laughing again. It wasn’t until we were laughed out that Sav said “Should you tell him or should I?”

“Please let me tell him, I’ve always wanted to bust his ass over something like this,” I beg to Sav, and she nods and lets me tell Chase what is going on after he demands one of us tells him what is going on or we would live to regret it. Oh boy, he’s gonna eat his words with that last statement.

“I don't think I would live to regret it oh brother of mine, but you might,” I look at him hiding my smile behind my cup as I take another sip as he pulls the same face, I had just pulled minutes ago. “I just wanted to tell you the same thing I told Sav. My walls are thin dear brother and sounds travel through them. I just hope you wash my sheets before you leave and give a girl a heads up in the future, please,” I tell Chase and as soon as he realizes what I am saying, he sprays his drink out of his mouth and a little out of his nose, coughs a little and mumbles quietly ‘Oh, my God’ “I heard plenty of that too last night big guy, don’t get me wrong I’m happy for you both but come on Chase I’m your sister do you really want me to hear you fucking my best friend?”

“Okay Jen I get ya can the three of us agree to never discuss this with anyone or bring it up to each other ever again?” We all agree but secretly I feel a little ashamed that I heard them, and I can’t torment Chase with this further down the line. But I have to think of it this way I can get my own back on him one day. And when I do, I will make sure it’s as wild if not hotter than their little fun time last night.

We decided to go out for breakfast and Chase was paying. He said it’s to make up for keeping me awake most of the night. Good. So, he should pay. Chase is treating us to brunch at IHOP. I must admit I have not been to IHOP since maybe my early teens and that was because we were getting a new kitchen fitted and well Chase being Chase was complaining he was hungry, so we had a bottomless breakfast that day. I hope they still do the bottomless brunch I am that hungry this morning.

Sitting in a booth a waitress named Alexia and she is unbelievable. She can see Chase’s arm wrapped around Sav’s shoulder and she was still hitting on him saying that she starts her break in forty-five minutes. She didn’t even take our drinks order so that pissed me off so much more. I’m just happy that Sav set her straight and the pair of us went to complain to the manager who said that Alexia will no longer be serving us and will send someone else over to our table immediately. When we got back to our booth a new waiter came over and I must say he looked pretty hot. Sexy brown eyes, jet black hair, a chiseled jawline, and what looks to be a dimple in his cheek when he smiles.

“Hi, my name is Garrett, and I will be your server taking over Alexia for you. May I start you off with some drinks?” Holy shit even his voice sounds sexy. I give him my slightly subtle flirtatious smile as I order myself a sparkling water and Chase and Sav order an orange juice. Garrett asked if we needed a few more minutes or was we ready to order I started to twiddle the end of my hair when Chase jumps in and orders three bottomless brunches. Once Garrett wrote down our orders, he said he’ll be right back with our drinks, and he winks at me. For the first time in over two years, I am blushing and attracted to a guy. I always thought the only guy I would ever be attracted to would be Greg.

We enjoy our brunch when it arrived, and Chase kindly paid the bill. And so, he should. Just as we were about to leave Garrett stopped me and asked me for my number and would like to take me out on a date next Friday. I smiled at him and gave him my number as he gave me his and said to him that I would love to go out with him next Friday and I asked if he had any plans for Halloween, luckily, he said he has no plans so I asked him if he would like to be my date to the twins spooktacular party this weekend and he said he would love to go. I told him I would text him the details of the party. For him to take my hand and place a soft sweet kiss on it he says something I feel all the way down to my core, “I’ll meet you there beautiful,” and with those parting words, I leave to catch up to my brother and best friend. I’m looking forward to this weekend more now. I have a date for Halloween now I won’t feel like I’m a third wheel to my brother.