8. Chapter 6

We traded dinner for take-out and came back to my place. I did the one thing I said I wouldn"t do and opened my heart to my stalker. It should be creepy, but I find it endearing that he"s made sure I was okay, even from afar. It"s Saturday morning, and Keith is fixing us breakfast. I like this side of him where he treats me like a queen. I hope it doesn"t stop once he knows he"s "got me." We haven"t talked much about the future and are just enjoying the present.

He"s just serving me some coffee when I hear the front door open.

"I haven"t heard from you yet, and I was getting worried." Says my brother Mike, walking into the apartment. "What the fuck!"

Keith heads him off. I assume to confront him. But Mike is faster, and he punches him right in the nose. I hear an awful crunching sound and know that my honeymoon will be replaced with a visit to the emergency department. I jump out of my seat to check on Keith.

"Oh my God, Mike. You broke his nose!"

I run to the kitchen to get a towel for the bleeding and come back and press it firmly under Keith's nose. I'm not sure if applying pressure in this case is the right thing to do. Mike is pacing back and forth in my living room, and I hold onto Keith because I don't want my brother to assault him again.

"I knew you had the hots for my sister, you son of a bitch! You're supposed to be my best friend and protect her from predators, not be one of them."

Keith's nose is still bleeding, but he's shaking in anger. He wants to defend himself but can't right now.

"I'm not a little girl anymore, Mike."

"You're not an adult either."

"I'm 29, for God"s sake!"

"But last month, you were asking me whether you should rent or buy or if you should move from your job because there was no way to advance there anymore."

I step in front of him so he has his attention on me instead of on Keith.

"So I can"t ask you for advice? I have to be completely self-sufficient and close to everyone else"s input in order to be considered an adult?"

"He"s taking advantage of you, Jules." He sighs and places his hands on my shoulders. "He"s a playboy and will never stop being one. You need to stay away from him."

I lower my head and there"s an inner tug in my chest from my brother's words. Yes, Keith has always been sort of a playboy, and we have not discussed whether or not he"s changing his ways. Then there"s the intensity of the chemistry between us. How can I explain that to my brother? I look behind me and realize Keith is no longer with us in the living room. Oh no, did his bleeding not stop?

"You need to calm down, Mike."

"Get dressed and come with me, Julie."

"I"m sorry, Mike. I can"t do that. I have to take Keith to the hospital and get him checked."

"He"ll use you and then discard you. I"ve seen him do that to a hundred women over the years."

"Then ask him what his intentions are instead of throwing the first punch like a madman. God, Mike."

"You"re worth more than your weight in gold, Julie. Don"t let a man like that take you for a ride."

"Mike, Keith has been your friend for years. How can you talk about him like this?"

"Stop defending him." My brother shouted.

"How can you be friends with him if you believe him to be a bad person?"

"Our friendship is over."

"I think you should reconsider," I said, my voice shaking. "Talk to him once we"re back from the hospital."

He passes his hand over his face as if trying to gain some clarity.

"Are you choosing him over me?"

"Eww, that"s not even a thing. You"re my brother. You already have a place in my life. Keith and I are still working on what we are to one another."

I don"t dare tell him that Keith is now my boss as well as my lover because that will take my brother over the edge.

"I need to get changed. Go somewhere and get a grip, Mike. I"ll let you know when we"re back from the hospital. Maybe you"ll be calmer then and can discuss things like the adult you are supposed to be."

Before I move to get dressed, I see him sit down on the couch and cross his arms over his chest. I guess he"s staying, then. I go to my room and see Keith has laid down on the bed and has his head thrown back in order to quell the bleeding.

"I"m going to get changed and take you to the emergency room, baby."

He mumbles something but we do make eye contact. "Everything is going to be alright," I tell him.

"I should be the one saying dat." His nose is starting to swell, and I hurry my movements. We have to go.

We spent six hours in the hospital. Everything moves at a slower pace there, but Keith was taken care of, and he"s feeling comfortable with some pain meds. I really don"t think this is time for a confrontation with my brother, so I text him.

Me: are you still in my apartment?

Mike: You know the answer to that

Me: Keith is in no shape to fight right now

Mike: Drop him off at his place and come back

Me: I"m not going to leave him alone. Just leave and come back tomorrow afternoon

Mike: Fine, but this isn"t over

I exhale in relief and put my phone back in my pocket. We"re waiting on a rideshare to take us back to my apartment, and Keith is a little wobbly. Keith takes my hand in his and squeezes softly.

"We should have talked to him first," I say.

"Yes, that was my job and I totally screwed it up." He hesitates. "Is he waiting at the apartment?"

"No, I asked him to give us a little time. There"s still some of our Saturday left to enjoy. As much as can be enjoyed with a broken nose."

"Everything else works, Princess."

"Oh, God. Don"t even. You"re taking it easy for the rest of the day. But I would like to talk about a few things."

"Yeah, like what?"

"Like where this thing between us is going. Is it going to be a relationship, or is it just a fling?"

He turns to me and grabs my shoulders.

"Princess, are you fishing for a proposal?"

"No! Of course not, Keith." I hurry to answer. The cad just laughs at me, and I"m completely embarrassed.

"The middle of the street is not exactly where I wanted to say these words to you, Jules. I want it all with you. Everything. Relationship, marriage, babies, everything that includes us becoming a family and building a future together."

His words shake me to the core. I"m rendered speechless, and all I can do is reach for him and hug him tight. My head is resting on his chest, and I can hear his fast heartbeat, revealing to me how important this is to him as it is to me. Our rideshare arrives, and we ride in silence, but we don"t stop holding one another until we get home.