Harley
“I know he’s a dork. I mean, there’s a very clear reason why I went for Hollis first. He’s a dreamboat with the full body package. He’s got great pecs, decent legs, a great ass, and his abs - oh baby, don’t even get me started.”
I wrinkled my nose against the phone but laughed, having known the brothers since we were all kids. “Yes, yes, every girl we’ve ever known has spent at least one night drinking at a party, eyeing Hollis’s arms more than the face of her own date.”
“Harley, let me tell you, Andy might not be the best looking of his brothers, but he’s hilarious! He’s always the life of the party, making everyone laugh… and he’s terrific in bed.”
I opened up my mouth to cut her off, but there’s no stopping Eleanor once she gets started.
“I mean, if you look up ‘dad-bod,’ the first thing you’ll see is a picture of Andy, but the image would’ve had to be photoshopped so that his gut looks thinner. Don’t get me wrong, he isn’t an ugly man by any means; you just wouldn’t exactly catch him on a magazine cover, and nobody is getting wet thinking of Andy stripped down to a swimsuit.”
I know precisely what she means. Of all the Fleming brothers, Andy was the one partying in the stands, cheering with the rest of the school while Hollis and Ryan sank three-pointers and scored touchdowns.
Before I can say as much, Eleanor’s voice on the other end of the line keeps ongoing. “He is always making me laugh, though. Seriously, I’m constantly struggling to breathe because he’s so funny. And, don’t tell the girls that are still ogling over Hollis’s muscles, but he makes Andy look like a professional when it comes to going down on pussy.”
“Eleanor Holmes! Stop it! You know they’re both like brothers to me, gross! I mean, kudos to you and everything, but I don’t want to think about either of them that way.”
I took another sip of my morning coffee, relishing the daily dose of caffeine and trying to burn the image from my mind. As my best friend began to voice a teasing apology, her breathlessness through the phone suddenly caught my ear.
“Are you working out right now?”
Her voice grew louder during her reply, and I realized that she was leaning closer to the mic in her earbuds.
“Yep. I’ve gotta get a few more miles in. I know if I don’t do it now, I’ll forget or just keep putting it off.”
“Yeah, but Elle… You’re a personal trainer! Working out for a living just isn’t enough anymore? You make me sick!”
Her laugh crackled through the phone, followed by Eleanor’s attempt at defending herself.
“I have to fill in my own workouts on days where I only have one or two classes to teach. Besides, Girl, you and I both know that, no matter how many hours I spend on these machines, you’ll always have a better body than mine. Don’t deny it! I’ve resigned myself to keep pedaling and lifting until I’m at least the sexiest silver-medalist I can be. But hey! You changed the subject! You were supposed to be telling me how great Andy and I are together.”
I held the phone with my shoulder, readying my purse, and gathering my car keys for work.
“I just can’t understand how it’s not weird for you to sleep with him when you already dated his brother. Are you seriously telling me that it doesn’t bother either one of you in any way?”
I heard Eleanor’s snicker and could see her familiar smile of sly salacity in my mind. Her reply, however, brought a sourness to my morning that was miles more maddening than imaging her and Andy’s acts of intimacy.
“Well, you know, normally I’d have a backup plan. But, if things don’t work out with Andy, I guess I’m shit-out-of-luck… seeing as you’ve made the third brother totally off-limits.”
The statement was a joking one, and I knew Elle meant no harm, but it still stung. I began rambling off a series of excuses, saying that, “I never made him out of bounds,” and that, “Ryan has nothing to do with you, Andy, and Hollis,” but Eleanor saw right through me.
“First of all, well, let me rephrase that: We both know two undeniable truths about this. First of all, I am not the first girl who started with either Hollis or Andy and somehow ended up hooking up with the other one. In fact, that list is probably much longer than I want to think about right now, so we’re going to focus more on the second thing.”
I giggled quietly but wasn’t allowed to break in.
“The other undeniable truth we both know is this: the only reason there aren’t any girls who switched either of them and their brother is because he was always with you! And, no matter what you say, we both know that you’ve never been able to get over Ryan.”
My response was well-rehearsed, but my voice still shook, and I knew I wasn’t going to be doing any convincing.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. That was so long ago. We were high school sweethearts and barely even dated after graduation.”
I knew deep down that Eleanor was right. Without wanting to, I looked down at the bracelet on my wrist. Its memorized inscription, hidden against my skin, echoed in my mind and made my spirits drop.
Regardless, I continued my feigned denial, as used to its flavor falling from my lips as the heartbreak holding my heart.
“Besides, I date! I’ve gone out with tons of guys since Ryan, and I ended things.”
“First off, ‘you and Ryan’ didn’t end shit. He broke your heart and became a fucking billionaire. I’m sorry, but you aren’t doing yourself any favors pretending otherwise. Granted, I don’t think he knew that he was going to be rolling in money when he left you, but still. It has to hurt more when your ex is hanging out on his yacht banging supermodels instead of being stuck in rehab or marrying the dry cleaner’s daughter with a dozen cats.”
The truth stung. I tried to jump in, but over the phone, Eleanor just kept on talking.
“Furthermore, Harley, yes, you date, but never the same guy for more than a few months. When’s the last time you ended a season with the same guy you started it with? Hookups, weekend throwdowns, and summer playthings are great and all, but you haven’t even given any of those guys a chance to fill that spot you’re still saving for Ryan.”
“Okay, Elle, okay! I get it. You win.”
“I’m sorry, hun. You know I am. I just want you to be happy. We can talk about something else if you want.”
I glanced at my stove and saw the time. “No, that’s alright. I have to get to work anyway. Being the town bank manager is the only way I seem to meet men anyway. Although, I’m not sure it counts when the closest thing to courtship I get is old, stinky Mr. Lawson constantly hounding me to approve him for a loan.”
Eleanor laughed with me, rather than offering pity, and that, in essence, was why we were best friends. We said our temporary goodbyes, and I headed out the door.
I backed my car out of the gravel driveway, leaving my house behind and turning toward work.
I did my makeup at the town’s main stoplight, then pulled in to park at the bank’s rear.
Grabbing my purse, I locked my car and set off across the parking lot. My heels chirped atop the asphalt, and, as expected, I could see that Clarice had already opened the building for the day’s first customers.