Meeting the Boyfriend

Read the first chapters of Brian’s story here.

Brian wondered what Sasha meant.

When Sasha had been talking about Scott, he had seemed to be an average sort of man. Brian had assumed that an average sort of career would accompany this.

Brian caught Sasha’s eye “What do you mean?”
Sasha opened her mouth to answer when her phone started vibrating on the table. Sasha caught it up and as she placed it to her ear she held out a finger, as if to put a pause on Brian’s line of questioning.
“Mmmhmm . . . yes I know, I’m happy to be home . . . where are you parking? . . Oh good.” Brian listened to half of the conversation, feeling awkward, his gaze drifted to a coffee shop on the other side of the walkway where a couple sat with their two small children.

It was idyllic. Brian sighed and looked back to Sasha who was just finishing up her conversation “Oh, and Scott. I’m bringing someone home with us.” She ended the call with her eyebrows raised at Brian. “You are going to come aren’t you?
“Sasha are you sure you want to get involved in all of this? I mean, everything you were saying about Scott on the plane seemed-”
Sasha cut Brian off again with a laugh “Oh, you mean all the drama? Well I wouldn’t say that was all exactly the truth. I’m what you might call melodramatic.” Brian’s expression must have been confused so Sasha explained, “I don’t usually invite people I meet on planes home with me, so I can tell them whatever I like. Sometimes I embellish. Scott and I are solid. Good relationship. I promise.”
Brian still wasn’t convinced, “But I can’t impose on you like this, you don’t know me. I could be an axe murderer. Or worse. I could be a grad student.”
“Brian are you trying to make a joke?” Sasha appreciated this turn in the conversation. “Honestly just come out and meet Scott. You need a place to crash for a while, we have a couch. More than that – we can help you.”

Brian weighed his options.
This was not how he thought this would all happen. Sasha and her unknown Scott were not apart of the plan. But what was the plan here? Throwing caution to the wind may not have been the smartest thing to do. It was so far out of Brian’s comfort zone, he had assumed that he would simply do this alone.
Alone. Just as he had been since Sarah had left.

Looking into Sasha’s eyes, Brian knew his answer, “Yes, I’ll go with you. But I really need to call a friend at some point soon.”
“Yes Brian. This is going to be excellent.” Sasha stood up and waited for Brian to follow suit, “Come on, Scott will be waiting for us in the parking bay. And yes, you can use our phone.”

As they walked towards where Scott was apparently waiting Brian tried to steady his nerves. He could feel the familiar cool of perspiration moistening his brow. Gathering amongst the hair on his forearms, heading towards his clammy hands. Brian was thinking about Scott. What kind of a man is alright with his girl friend bringing random men home. Maybe Sasha was the axe murderer.

A smile crept across Brian’s face as he walked after Sasha, she looked back at him, “Alright Brian, last chance to back out now, that’s our car at the end of the row, and that man there is Scott. You sure you want to come?”
“I’m sure. Are you sure Scott is going to be alright with this?”
“Umm, hello, he’s with me. He’s alright with pretty much everything. But why don’t you just ask him yourself?”
“Ask me what?” Scott was behind Sasha, wrapping his arms around her waist. “Sasha, is this who you are bringing home?”
Sasha turned her neck to look at Scott, “You know me, always bringing home strays.”
“Well yes, but they’re usually cats.” Scott extended a hand that Brian took gladly, happy for something to do,”Well as you probably know, I’m Scott. Sasha’s live in cat wrangler and dish washer.”
“Sasha’s told me a bit about you, I’m Brian . . . Sasha’s new pet?” Brian heard himself making another joke and couldn’t quite believe that it was actually happening. Happy, go lucky, Brian was not a mode that was in use very often. Though it felt strangely right, like an old pair of jeans, worn in and comfortable.
Sasha and Scott were laughing, “Oh Brian” Sasha motioned for Scott to get Brian’s suitcase, “I take good care of my pets. Now let’s get going. I could use a shower and we’ve got to get you settled in.”

The drive to Scott and Sasha’s home was surprisingly quick, Sasha explained that they lived so near to the airport because of her travel schedule and that it was convenient for Scott’s work as well.
Brian listened as Sasha filled Scott in on the details of his journey. Scott kept glancing at Brian in the rearview mirror. Brian wondered what Scott must think of him. He would probably think this was a foolish venture. A waste of time.

Though Sasha was full of hope, “Scott, I think we can help him. It could take months for Brian to do this on his own. He could spend all of his money and then, if it doesn’t go well, he might not even be able to get home. If we help him, well he could be on her doorstep in a matter of days.”

Source

Scott pulled the car into the driveway of a townhouse. Brian avoided Scott’s gaze and found himself staring at a flower bed. Pansies spread across the ground in colour groups, glowing in the darkness that had settled in with the evening.
“And when you say ‘we’ Sasha, you mean me right?” Scott’s questioning dragged Brian’s eyes from the calm of the flower bed.
“Of course that’s what I mean. You will right?”, she already had him and she knew it.
“Well I’ll need some more information but,” Scott addressed Brian, “If I can help I will”.
“Thanks, but I’m not sure how. I can just Google her name. Maybe try to find her parents address . . . ”
“Brian, believe me, what I have access to is better than Google and The Yellow Pages.”
Brian must have looked as sceptical as he felt. Scott tipped an imaginary hat, “Scott Pearson, Private Dic at your service.”

I Blog on Tuesdays with Diary of a SAHM and write with Penny at A Mum in The Wild on Short Tale Tuesday.

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Tagged as: Fiction, Love