Chapter 11
"What do you have planned for Easter?" Briana asked. "Going to hang out with the family?"
Brian shook his head. "Not really, since I have to leave that night anyway. Besides, I was figuring since your birthday is the day before, we could do something."
"Oh really?" she teased, but secretly flattered. "And who is to say I don't already have plans?"
"One, you haven't lived out here long enough to know anyone very well, and two, I know you well enough by now that you aren't exactly a party animal."
"All right, you got me. But how about going to a service on Sunday?" Briana suggested. "It's not like we get time off very often."
He shook his head again. "I'm not even allowed in a church. I don't even believe in God, but Jesus was kind of sexy."
Briana rolled her eyes. "Oh, for Pete's sake."
"Really, Bree, when the Christian guys and those Jehovah Witness nuts come to my door, I tell them I'm destined for Satan and was born on Friday the 13th. They walk off the porch blessing themselves."
"You are one strange little man."
"Tell me something I don't know," Brian grinned. "Anyway, I got some nice things planned for your birthday."
"Oh? And what would those be?"
"If I told you, it wouldn't be much of a surprise. So how about it? Would you like to spend your birthday with a funny looking, short thing?"
"You are not funny looking, and of course I would," she smiled. It would be the first birthday she'd spend with someone since Gary's death.
"Good. Now I have some stuff I have to do first that day, but then the night is ours. I'll make sure you'll really enjoy yourself."
Briana could already see the excitement in his eyes. "Knowing you, I'm sure I will and then some."
That weekend:
Briana had been dressed and ready to go at the time Brian had specified; she had been waiting for him to arrive at the time he said he would when the phone rang.
"Um, Bree, I hope you don't mind, but I'm going to be held up here for a bit," Brian said. "As soon as I'm free, I'll be right over."
"Sure," she said. "No problem. Thanks for calling and letting me know. Just call back when you're ready to come here."
"Thanks, I'll do that."
Briana hung up, wondering what was so important with his buddies that Brian had to be delayed.
Probably some business stuff, she thought. At least he had the decency to call, which was more than she could say for most people.
She sat down and did some organizing for some work-related items, listening to the TV and keeping an ear on the phone in the event Brian should try to call in the meantime. Eventually, Briana noticed it had been several hours and no word had come from him.
By midnight, he still hadn't called. Shaking her head in disgust, Briana knew something like this was too good to be true.
Gary would have never pulled something like this, she thought, irritated, finally going to her room to get ready for bed and shutting off the phone. Yet another birthday alone.
Meanwhile:
"I told you I'd beat your ass at this game," Brian laughed. "Look who ended up in his underwear!"
"Yeah, yeah, you whooped me and took two hundred bucks in strip poker," Paul groaned. "Happy now?"
"Ecstatic," Brian grinned wickedly. "Serves you right for making fun of the short guy when we shot hoops earlier today."
"And to think it only took you how many poker games and six hours to do it."
"What?!" Brian then looked at the clock. "Oh fuck….I am so screwed."
"No, I'm the one that got screwed out of two hundred bucks."
"I wasn't talking about that. I was supposed to take Bree out for her birthday tonight. Now we got into this game and I lost track of time. Jesus, Paul, she's probably thinking I'm some kind of asshole now. I got to make a phone call."
"Better have a good explanation, dude," Paul said. "You know how women are when they get a rod up their asses."
"Yeah, but this isn't just any woman. I'll be right back."
"Good luck with that."
Brian sighed, going into another room and dialing Briana's number. To his disappointment, her voice mail picked up.
Yep, she's pissed, he thought, sighing. "Bree, um, I'm sorry. I got sidetracked and lost track of time. Obviously I got this thing when I tried to call, so you're probably in bed by now. Anyway, I'll try again in the morning."
A few minutes later:
Briana had been in bed reading when the phone beeped, indicating she had a voice mail. She dialed in, picking up the message, and rolled her eyes.
A little late now, isn't it? she thought as she listened to Brian's message. Guess spending time with the boys is more important than the original plans for my birthday. Idiot. Screw him.
She promptly deleted the message without a response, thinking she'd see him at work on Monday.