apply a thick layer of bright red lipstick and slip on my darkest sunglasses before standing back and looking myself over. I’m wearing a long trench coat. The only thing beneath it is a black lace thong, a garter, and stockings. I put on the highest pair of pumps I have and hit the road.
When I walk into the building, there’s no one behind the front desk, so I head straight to his office. I take off my coat and sling it over the couch. I decide to sit in his desk chair and prop my feet up on his desk. One of his ties is hanging on the coat rack, so I grab it and put it on. It sits right between my breasts and I know he’ll love it.
It’s while I’m sitting at his desk, looking around at all his hard work, that I realize the brother I’m truly in love with is Calvin. He’s always been the one, even when I was too dumb to see it. He’s been there through it all. He’s sexy, amazing, smart, talented, and he loves me. I know he does. If he didn’t, we wouldn’t be where we are right now. He would’ve written me off long ago and found someone else to be with. The fact that he’s still single isn’t a fluke. He’s been waiting for me. And I fully intend on telling him the moment he walks through that door.
I hear the sounds of a man’s voice as he walks closer to the door. My body goes on high alert. This is it: the moment we’ve all been waiting for. The door opens and I suck in a breath, making my chest rise and look even fuller. Calvin walks in and his eyes land on mine. His double in size as he takes in the picture before him. Then the worst happens. Another man walks in behind him. He looks from Calvin, to me, and back. Then back again because hello! I’m practically naked here.
I jump up quickly and rush for my coat, pulling it against my chest as I try hiding from the man.
“Piper, what are you doing here?” Calvin asks, rushing to help cover me up.
I look at him and can feel the tears of embarrassment filling my eyes. “I’m sorry. I thought you’d be alone. I shouldn’t have come.” Without another word, I pull away from him and head toward the door as quickly as possible. However, my long coat gets tangled around my heel and I trip and fall, nearly taking the other man down as I try walking past him. He catches me and helps me get back on my feet.
“Thank you. I’m sorry.” I turn back to Calvin as my feet carry me away. “I’m so sorry.”
I’m nearly to my car when the tears finally overfill my eyes. I quickly wipe them away, not caring if I smear my makeup as I peel out of the parking lot as fast as my car will let me.
Back home, I strip everything off and climb into the bathtub with a bottle of wine. I haven’t attempted to fix my makeup, so I have big black streaks going down my cheeks. I’m nearly drunk when the bathroom door opens. I jump but relax as soon as my eyes land on Calvin.
I see him and the tears fall all over again. “I’m so sorry, Calvin. I didn’t mean to embarrass you. I just thought it would be a fun surprise. I never imagined you’d have someone with you. Was he a client? Did I cost you a job?”
He sits on the closed toilet and laughs. “No, he’s an old friend from college. We were discussing a partnership. And you didn’t scare him off. I think he only agreed to my terms because of you.”
“Really?” I ask, feeling hopeful. “He was embarrassed for you?”
“Embarrassed? No way. I think he was jealous you were there for me and not him.” He smiles and his icy eyes light up.
I breathe a heavy sigh of relief.
“I am wondering, though, what made you decide to do that.” He grabs a washcloth and moves to sit on the floor beside the tub. He dips it, wrings it out, then starts to wipe at the smeared makeup streaking my face.
I shrug, suddenly feeling shy and embarrassed. This isn’t how I wanted to tell him—with him coming to my rescue yet again. So instead of telling him how I really feel, I simply say,