3. Bradley
Bradley
W e clink our glasses and down the first shot. I’m not sure what we got, but it burns like fire going down. Before we can take the next shot, Scout’s phone rings.
He picks it up, looking at the screen. Scout’s brows pinch, mouth tightening—not quite a frown, but the start of one. The corners of his mouth turn downward. Clenching his jaw he tilts his head a little. His hand stiffens around the phone, knuckles whitening just a touch.
“Junie Boo? What’s wrong?” Scout asks, and I look away, trying not to be an interloper on his conversation with his sister.
I catch bits and pieces as his body goes rigid —‘Who is?’, ‘Wait’. Tapping his arm, I get his attention and gesture toward the bathroom. He nods his head and keeps talking.
The hall to the bathroom is literally a foot from our table, so I don’t have to walk far.
I didn’t really need to piss, I just needed a minute to myself. To give him a chance to talk to his sister and for me to breathe. Placing my hand on the door, I push it open and step inside. I make my way over to the sink and turn on the water, splashing some on my face.
“Okay Bradley, get your ass back out there. You got some great company and maybe even a job,” I mumble as I look up at myself in the mirror, lifting my hand, running it through my blond locks.
I take a deep breath, then turn and leave, making my way back over to the table.
“Love you too, Junie Boo,” I hear Scout say just before he hangs up with his sister.
I sit down in the chair, pick up my glass, and drink some of my beer.
“Sorry,” he says, turning to look at me. “That was my sister. Weekend’s canceled.”
“So you need to leave?” I ask.
“Not just yet. But I will soon,” he says
Guess that means our night is going to be cut short. I push the glass of beer to the side, and raise my hand, catching the server's attention as she passes by. “Can I get a water?”
“Not much of a drinker?” Scout asks me, as he lifts the pitcher and tops off his glass.
“Not lately. Damn, I miss my Nana.” I force a half smile, not even having the energy to fake a full one.
Scout reaches across the table, grasping my arm in his hand, and squeezes gently, comforting.
“It’s gonna be okay, man. We’re gonna save that house so you always have a piece of her. Plus, you’re gonna be working with me now. Back in town. We can actually be friends again.”
“I’d like that. It’s been a long time since I had someone to just… be real with.” My lip trembles and I have to bite my lower lip to stop it.
The server returns with a bottle of water and sets it down on the table in front of me.
Picking it up, I twist open the top and take a drink.
“So, what have you been up to?” I ask him, ready to get the topic of conversation off of me.
The more I talk about Nana, the heavier my heart gets, and I want to cry.
For the next hour, Scout tells me about Foxy’s. Why he started working there and about some of the jobs that were booked with him. All of them, the good, bad, and weird. He tells me about the rich lonely clients who just wanted someone to laugh at their jokes and pretend to like caviar.
He tells me how he was able to earn and save money to not only buy a Tesla, but to get an apartment and take care of his sister, so she never had to go without. I thought it was commendable how he cared for his sister. Especially after what he’s told me about her mother.
Some people shouldn’t be parents.
He continued to drink the beer, and I stuck to water. I guess it made it easier to tell me about his latest clients and how he’s fallen for them.
“They both hired me to make the other jealous,” he says, swirling the beer in his glass. “And somehow, we ended up in a hot tub. Shit escalated.”
My eyes widen at the thought of it. “Two men… at the same time?” Just the idea of it turns me on. I don’t think it’s something I could do, but damn, it would be hot.
“Oh, don’t be such a blushing virgin, Bradley.” He snorts. “Yes. At the same time. And then some.”
“And you caught feelings?” I ask him, not wanting to admit that I’ve never been with more than one person at a time.
Scout sits there quiet for a moment, then shrugs his shoulders. “Yeah. Which never happens. But I did. And then they realized they loved each other, and I… let them go.”
I lean back in my chair, biting on my lower lip, thinking. Debating whether I should say what’s on my mind or just push it down and forget about it. The answer’s made for me when I blurt it out. “Finally got to be the leaver and not the one left, huh?”
Scout’s face goes wide, his eyes furrowing in anger. “The fuck?” he snaps at me.
I raise my hand in defeat. “Sorry, friend, but you know I always tell it to you straight, and not seeing you in years isn't gonna change that.
Your dad was in and out and then he died.
You just said your mom moved to Florida.
And don't get me started on all the shitty dudes you hooked up with in school.
They'd have their fun and leave ‘cause they were always walking neon red flags.
So you left this time so you couldn't be left.”
“That’s not—” He starts to say but is cut off when his phone rings again. From where it’s sitting on the table, I’m able to see who it’s from. My chest tightens. Seattle PD flashes across the screen.
“Hello?” he answers quickly, fumbling to hold the phone to his ear.
I sit up straight, concern flowing through me for what this could be about.
“It is,” he responds to whatever they asked him. Scout falls silent, listening to whoever’s on the other end. “I’ll meet you there.” He’s already standing from the chair.
“What is it?” I ask him, standing myself.
“My sister was in an accident. I need to get to Evanridge. Now.” His voice is shaky, and I can feel the fear radiating off of him.
“Come on. I’ve got you,” I tell him, keys already in hand. There’s no way in hell I’d let him face this on his own. I don’t care if it has been years since we’ve seen each other. That’s not how friendship works.
We move fast, weaving through the crowded bar. Everything’s a blur. The clinking of glasses, the thrum of music—it all fades under the urgency to get out of here and make it to the hospital so Scout can check on his sister. God, I hope she’s okay.
I don't hesitate in making my way across the parking lot and pressing the unlock button on my key fob. Scout moves to the passenger side of the car, opening the door and getting inside at the same time I do.
I glance over, seeing Scout’s hands shaking.
“Fuck,” he whispers. “She was just… she was fine when she called me on the phone.”
I know that feeling so well. It was the same way with Nana. Fine one minute and not the next. I can see Scout spiraling, and I need to be here for him. To give him whatever comfort I can. To be an available shoulder if he needs one to lean on.
“She’s gonna be okay,” I tell him, as I put the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life. “We’ll be there soon.”
In my haste to leave the parking lot, the tires squeal, cutting through the tense quiet in the car.
I keep glancing over at Scout, his eyes staring out the window.
“Please be okay, Junie Boo,” he whispers. “Please, just… be okay.”
I press down on the gas pedal, not caring if I get a ticket. I just need to get him there.
I watch Scout go through the doors, silently praying that his sister will be okay. She has to be. We begged the nurse to let me stay, but she gave us a firm no.
“Call me if you need me!” I shout. Scout turns his head long enough to mouth the words ‘thank you’.
I make my way to the parking lot and get in my car. A small part of me is happy I couldn’t stay with Scout. I hate hospitals. Memories of going with my grandmother there to identify my parents hit me like a rock. My heart races and I have to count to calm down.
One. Two. Three. Breathe in. Breathe out. Four. Five. Six.
Over and over, I repeat the same steps until I’m back in control. I stick the key in the ignition and the car roars to life. I’m backing out of the parking spot in an instant, wanting to place as much distance as I can between myself and this place.
But going home to the empty house that still smells like Nana isn’t a better option.
Foxy’s.
Scout gave me the address so I can apply. He even said he’d put in a good word for me.
I plug in the address to the GPS, following each and every turn until I reach my destination.
When I pull up in front of the building I have to do a double take.
This is it? I check the address that Scout gave me, comparing it to the one I entered in the GPS and the one on the building.
It’s nothing spectacular. Just a black building that looks kind of like a bakery or a flower shop from the outside.
The windows are dark, so you can’t see inside, and there’s nothing telling you what kind of business it is.
Foxy’s Rent-A-Date.
I can’t help but laugh. To me, it sounds more like Rent-A-Cock. Men and women hiring men to be their plus one. Foxy isn’t selling dick, just companionship, but I think it’s funny to think of it like that. Not that I’d ever tell her.
Shifting the car into gear, I pull away from the curb and head home. I need a good night’s rest if I want to make an impression tomorrow. It’s been one hell of a night. Tomorrow, I start over.