Chapter 15
"How was Easter?" Tina asked when Briana came to visit a few days later.
"It was…..interesting, to say the least," Briana answered, filling her in about the whole incident with a half-nude Brian on her porch wearing bunny ears.
Tina broke out laughing. "Oh my God! Has that man no shame?"
"Apparently not. My poor neighbor lady thought he was a mentally deranged prowler and was about to call the police."
"Not sure about the prowler part, but I have to admit I have to question his sanity sometimes," Tina chuckled.
"I think Brian's hit his head on the mat too many times," Briana joked. "But on a serious note, I will admit he is a pretty fun guy to work for."
Raymondo then came out and spotted her. "Briana, darling!" He enveloped her in a hug. "Nice to see you again."
"And hello to you too, Ray," she said, returning the hug. "Good to see you too. So have you found a nice boyfriend yet?"
Raymondo shook his head. "No, unless your sexy new boss is available."
"Hate to burst your bubble, Ray, but I don't think Brian rows that boat, if you get my meaning."
"God damn. All the good ones don't. What a waste of one fine ass too. Man's even got hips made to hang on to while fucking."
"Raymondo!" Briana exclaimed, blushing a little.
"Oh, come on, darling, don't be trying to tell me you haven't thought about doing him either. I saw how you two looked at each other the first day he sashayed in here."
"Good God," Tina groaned. "Of all the gay stylists in this town, I had to have the horniest one working for me."
"And you love it, Miss Tina," Raymondo cracked with a mischievous grin.
"Ray, just get back to work," Tina sighed, shaking her head and giving a low laugh.
"As you wish," he said and then nodded toward the entrance. "And speaking of which, the fine specimen is heading in here right now."
"Hey, there you are; I knew I would find you here," Brian said cheerfully.
Briana gave him a confused look. "I thought you were going to the arena. And your hair is all over the place."
"Yeah, they're out of the gel we use when I go to the ring. Guess I'm going to have to use Ma's old method of spit. Hey, that shit works, you know."
"You'll do no such thing," Briana said, giving him another look.
"Here," Tina said, pulling something off a product shelf. "This one's on the house."
"Isn't this the stuff that is like eight bucks a tube?" Brian asked, studying the label.
"It beats a spit shine," Briana smiled. "And while you're here, why not go back and say a quick hello to Ray? It would make his afternoon."
"Oh, more like his whole week would be made," Tina laughed. "He's pretty much fancied you since the first day you came in here and swept away our precious Briana."
"Jesus," Brian asked with a slight shudder, "what is it with me and gay guys?"
"I guess it's your sweet appearance," Briana smiled. "Honestly, I'm just asking for you to say hello, maybe give a photo and an autograph, not run off and marry the guy."
"You are one funny girl. All right, I guess five minutes won't hurt."
"Good boy," Briana giggled.
"Ray will have a very happy day," Tina added.
Brian shook his head, giving the two women a look before heading back to Raymondo's station.
Later:
"Bree, you know I love you and enjoy having you around, but never put me through that shit again," Brian groaned.
"What? I thought you and Ray looked pretty chummy back there when Phyllis took the picture."
"Apparently you missed the part where he copped a cheap feel of my ass. Jesus Christ. It isn't enough that twelve year old girls are having fantasies about me, but nothing beats that like a gay hairdresser grabbing my ass cheek right before the camera goes off."
"Evidently so. Ray can be a bit, how can I describe this?…..Yes, affectionate."
"Boy needs to watch the wandering hands. I get manhandled enough in the ring without your gay friends trying to molest me."
"Oh come on; Ray thinks you're cute, and frankly, I can't blame him."
"You're not helping much here, Bree."
Briana studied him for a moment. "You know, even with all the goofing and clowning around you'd been doing, I couldn't help but notice you've seemed rather somber lately. Is there something wrong? Seriously, we know each other well enough by now that a show doesn't have to be put on for me."
"Well, to be honest, I try to put on a show for you sometimes, because I know sometimes my words and attitude encourage you, and I don't want to affect that cause I'm having a bad day."
"Everyone has bad days," she pointed out. "But that's sweet you think so well of me."
"I'm just not the kind of person who likes to drag people down with me, sweetheart."
"You won't," Briana reassured him. "If anything, I don't mind being the bearing wall sometimes, and Lord knows you could use one occasionally."
"Well, you're a loyal friend, and I really do appreciate it. It's good to know someone cares every once in a while. I guess I don't tell you that enough, do I?" Brian wondered.
Briana smiled. "You don't have to. I can see it in your actions."
"To this DAY, I get so much shit. Even my own best friend talks a bunch of shit about me. You've seen it, Bree; when he's around people, he treats me completely different, but when we're alone, he does nothing but goof off and joke around!"
"Yes I have, which is why I don't talk to him much. What's even worse is when other people get in on it. I used to get into battles with my father in law all the time about how he used to rag on Gary. He should have been thankful to have had a son like him, just like Paul should be grateful to have someone like you in his life."
"I know. That's what hurts the worst, that no one can stand up for me because for some odd reason, my friendship's lesser to them then his is."
"Well, people can give me shit all they want, because I think differently. I wouldn't have the opportunities I have now if it wasn't for you. It's the least I can do, well, outside the fact you employ me."
"Well, I try to make you happy. I can't help it. I just couldn't be him if I tried, because I don't understand how you can claim you love someone and then treat them like they're lower than dirt. My sister and all my friends agree that he treats me like shit; hell, even some of HIS friends admit it. I don't know why he treats me like he does, but it isn't just because I'm whiny; everyone else sees it!"
"A blind person can see it," Briana agreed.
"And I'm terrified waking up every morning that I'm going to be released, because if I was, I'd have nothing to fall back on. Then you'd be out of a job and I'd really feel like an asshole because you left a good one to come with me."
"I don't think you need to worry about me, Brian. One, I invested well from Gary's life insurance proceeds and other things he left me, and second, Tina's already assured me I will always have a job any time I wanted to come back."
"Still, beside the point. The only other skills I have are being a dishwasher."
"Well, let's just not get too far ahead of ourselves," Briana replied. "Right now, you have other things to be concerned about than some so-called friend that sits on the couch and smokes a few while cutting you down while you're out here busting your ass three hundred days a year."
He smiled. Finally someone who got him.
"Yes, and he's going to have to deal with it, because I'm headed overseas soon for at least a week. And if he calls me every two seconds for something stupid, HE'S paying the bill on that shit!"
"I have a better idea," she offered. "Just turn the damn phone off when we're over there."
"Good idea. I can't stand the clingy shit when I'm already overseas and stressed. It isn't fun having someone being a total pain in the ass when you're trying to focus on work, you're on a fucked sleeping schedule, and weird accents all around you. And of course, he's already pouting like a three year old because I won't be here for his birthday."
Briana rolled her eyes. "He'll live. Your job is more important."
"Thank you. I got him a present, and I'll call him a bunch of times Thursday, but it's not my job to throw him a party. Come on, we're not kids; does one honestly need a birthday party every year?"
"Not really. My birthday is usually just another day. Well, except this year when I spent three days in the hospital, but shit happens."
Brian felt a little better. "You know, Bree, talking about this made me feel closer to you. Why can't more people be like you?"
Flattered, Briana hugged him from behind. "Probably because there aren't enough people in the world like you. Now come on, let's get you gorgeous for tonight for the big draft."