PART A:
A week later Jason paced around his penthouse. Sonny had come over earlier to discuss business and the conversation eventually turned to their love lives:
"So is everything else going okay?"
"Yeah, the business is secure. Our territory is safer than ever…"
"That's not what I'm talking about Jason" Sonny said.
Jason looked at him blankly.
"I'm asking about you. It seems like you never go out, or have fun. And you're always working. You know, maybe you should take a trip. Take a couple weeks off and get away from everything" Sonny gently suggested.
You would just love that, wouldn't you? Then you'd get Brenda all to yourself. "I'm fine Sonny. There's nothing to worry about"
"I just wonder if you're happy. I mean, it took me awhile to start dating again after Carly. With that woman it's any wonder I dated ever again…But now I'm seeing Brenda again, and it makes everything better. I'm not just sitting at home alone all the time. Or working all the time either" Sonny looked at Jason.
"So you're still dating Brenda" Jason stated more than asked.
"Yeah. Actually we have a date tonight. Our second one in two weeks. I can't tell you how happy I am to have her back in my life…."Sonny smiled to himself. "Which reminds me…I need to go get ready. I pick her up in an hour. But think about what I said ok?" Sonny smiled slightly at Jason before heading out the door.
So I guess I have to sit by and watch you be happy with Brenda while you tell me to go get a life?!? You always get what you want! Jason stormed off to the kitchen and grabbed a beer out of the fridge. Opening it he walked back into the living room.
How did things get so screwed up? I'm so in love with Brenda and Sonny's the one taking her out… The rage grew in Jason till he felt like screaming. Letting out a shout he hurled the beer bottle against the fireplace, watching it shatter to pieces.
He sat down and put his head in his hands, wondering how he had gotten to this place in his life. Over a year ago when he had watched Brenda walk through the door he never would have dreamed that his feeling would take this turn.
How did I get here? Jason contemplated the question. When Brenda got here we were just friends. Maybe it's just in my head. Maybe I just want to be in love again, to have someone return that. But if that's what I'm looking for, I'm obviously looking in the wrong direction. Brenda has no interest in me.
Jason got up and resumed his pacing. I have to face facts. I'm completely in love with a woman who wants nothing more from me than friendship, if that. I can just chalk it up to her beauty. Everyone falls in love with Brenda, even when they don't want to. But it's more than her beauty that makes me love her. It's not even something I can describe. She's strong. And much braver than most would predict. How much has she been through in her life, and she's still standing?
Jason sighed again and sat back down. I just need to be straight with myself. I love her for who she is. Not just her beauty and not just the way she makes me feel when I look in her eyes. I love her for being a wonderful mother, an amazing friend, and a smart businesswoman. The minute she walked back into my life I started falling for her, and its time I faced that.
Jason returned to the kitchen for the remainder of his six pack. Settling down on the couch he grabbed the first bottle and opened it with plans of getting so drunk he wouldn't be able to see straight….or think of Brenda.
PART B
Sonny stopped by Brenda's house a few days later, knowing well that she had received a letter since he last saw her. The door swung open after several minutes and he only caught a glimpse of Brenda before she was heading to the kitchen.
"Sit down. Can I get you anything?"
"Um…No, I'm fine" Sonny sat and waited for her to return.
Brenda returned with a glass of water, looking slightly disheveled.
"Are you okay?" Sonny asked, amused.
"Fine. Just in a rush. I thought it was Emily's car pulling into the driveway, and I was just getting out of the shower." Brenda gulped down the water.
"Well, relax. It's just me." Sonny shrugged, still looking quite amused.
"What?!" Brenda asked with exasperation.
"Just a little something…" Sonny walked over to where she stood and slowly started to undo the buttons on her shirt. He watched as Brenda's expression turned from confusion to lust to shock.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?!?" Brenda responded after a moment, quickly backing away and reaching for the buttons on her shirt.
Sonny smiled smugly. "Just thought I'd remind you how to button your shirt. You seemed to have gotten some mixed up."
Brenda fumbled for words and turned slightly pink. "I'm fine. Honestly. You know, you could have just said that I messed up the buttons!"
"Yeah, coulda…" Sonny looked at her with desire and rubbed his face. The look just made Brenda even more flustered. She didn't know what Sonny was up to, but she had a feeling.
"So why did you come over anyways?" Brenda asked, trying her best to brush him off.
"Just thought I'd stop by. It seems like we don't really spend that much time together." Sonny responded, recognizing Brenda's response to his advances.
"Oh. Well, there's really nothing going on" Brenda answered nonchalantly.
Sonny nodded. "Business going well?"
Brenda only nodded in return.
"What about the mystery guy? Any response from him?"
Brenda eyed him suspiciously. "As a matter of fact, yes. He wants me to email him. Get to know each other and all of that."
Sonny nodded. "So?"
"So?" Brenda mocked him.
"Are you gonna email him. I mean, what's the harm? Get to know someone new…go out?"
"Actually my calendar is pretty full"
"Well, it's not like you have to go out with him now. Besides, you can always have someone watch Isabella and its no big deal to go out for the night"
"Actually, I'm sort of seeing someone" Brenda turned away from Sonny, avoiding his gaze.
"Who?" Sonny asked, knowing exactly who it would be.
"You know, I'm allowed to have a life. As are other people who are in your life."
"Brenda. Who?"
"Jason" Brenda said casually as she got off the sofa.
"You and Jason?" Sonny asked, the anger seeping into his voice.
"What's the big deal Sonny?" Brenda turned around, her own anger flashing in her eyes. "Is Jason not allowed to be happy? Or is it me?"
"I never said that" Sonny swallowed his pride. "I'm just surprised. That's all. I mean I know you guys are friends, but this is surprising."
"Yeah, well, friendship can turn into more" Brenda turned around again.
Sonny's cell phone saved him from trying to be civil anymore. "That's business. I better get going."
Brenda nodded and watched Sonny leave without another word. What the hell am I doing? I'm surprised I even got away with it, that he believed it. I'm just going to have to pray that Jason doesn't tell him the truth. At least it'll buy me some time before I have to deal with Sonny's advances. Seriously, did he really think I wouldn't figure out that the Mystery Man is him?
Sonny drove away from Brenda's with his mind in a rage. He thought he could deal with Jason dating Brenda, at least until he could convince Brenda otherwise, but he was failing. It was time to find Jason and fix the problem…