PRINCES CHARMING
The good thing about being so close to your family, namely your siblings, was that if you ever needed something, they were there. When you were twins, the bond was even stronger, because it was almost as if you were two halves of a whole. Or two of the same person. Either way, Travis and Eric had the keys to each other's apartments and, at the moment, that was really all that mattered.
Travis frequently showed up at Eric's apartment, unannounced. Eric knew this. Eric did the same at Travis's apartment. Travis couldn't count how many times he'd come home to Eric helping himself to a beer and the remote control. When Travis came home from California, he and Eric had lived together for nearly a year before they decided that they just couldn't be in that close of quarters anymore and they went their separate ways. Now they were at each other's places so often it was as if neither one of them had moved anywhere.
So for Travis to be in the neighborhood, which was actually how it happened, with a hankering for a sandwich and a little sports on the big screen, coming to Eric's place was completely natural. However, on this particular late morning, that had apparently been the wrong decision.
Eric's questioning his presence had slightly caught Travis off guard and he'd blurted "Breakfast" with a hunk of lunch meat lodged between his teeth. He almost corrected himself, but decided it was no use. Eric's face said it all.
"You couldn't ring a bell? You couldn't knock? You couldn't call, anything?"
"I never had to before," Travis said, eyeing him warily as he helped himself to a swig from the milk carton.
"What if I walked in here naked or something? What if I was...otherwise indisposed or something, what if...privacy, man! Privacy!"
Travis scoffed as he slowly screwed the cap back on the milk, studying his brother. "Yeah, right. You don't even sleep naked. You wouldn't be--"
Eric's bare torso, tousled bed hair, and arched eyebrow said differently.
Travis's eyes widened and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Oh, shit!" He hissed, craning his neck to see behind his brother. "Were you sleeping naked? Is there a girl in your bed? Who is it, do I know her?"
"Get out," Eric ordered.
"Come on, tell me!"
"Travis, I swear to God--"
Too late. Eric's name rang through the apartment and came down the hall in the form of a light female voice whose small frame and impressive rack could be seen through the t-shirt and shorts that obviously did not belong to her. Walking into the open kitchen area, she ran her fingers through her long, dark waves and said with a smile, "I've been giving this egg thing some thought--"
She stopped dead in her tracks when she finally looked up from the floor and her eyes met Travis's. Travis nearly choked on his own saliva and he looked at his brother, his brows raised knowingly. That dog, Eric, had Juliet Carson in his bed. Travis counted mentally. Twice? Was this twice with this woman now? This woman who was notorious and notoriously untouchable? This woman who never repeated the same man and disposed of them as if they were objects? This Juliet Carson?
She stood there and crossed her arms nervously over her chest, her eyes darting between the two brothers. Well, she certainly didn't look cruel and menacing. He was dying to know what Eric's relationship with her was like. She was one of New York City's most talked-about socialites. He wondered if 'socialite' was the wrong term for her, since she actually did do something with her life, but that was what the headlines called her anyway. How did someone like Eric get caught up with a woman like her? It was unreal.
"Um, you know what?" Juliet finally said. "I'm going to, um--I think it's going on noon, I should just--um--I should go..."
"You don't have to leave," Eric said, turning to look at her. "We have plans. Travis was just leaving."
"It's okay," she said, shaking her head nervously.
"I was going to make you breakfast--"
"Actually, it's lunch time," Travis couldn't help but interject.
Eric glared at him.
"Yeah," she agreed. "Yeah, it's--it's fine. I've overstayed my welcome anyway--"
"No," Eric pressed. "You haven't. You don't have to leave."
But she had already turned around and walked back toward Eric's bedroom.
Eric's face was red with rage and he stared daggers into his brother's eyes. "You're going to pay for this," he muttered through his teeth. "You mark my words, you're a dead man." And then he turned around and followed Juliet.
This was the part where Travis took the hint. This was the part where he made his exit and let Eric have his time alone. But he just couldn't do it. His curiosity prevailed and he just had to know what he had just walked in on. And if Juliet left, he could find out. Possibly. If he was still alive. So he finished his sandwich, cleaned up his mess, and made himself comfortable on a bar stool as he fiddled around on his phone.
A short while later, Juliet's heels echoed through the apartment as she walked back in the room, her outfit seeming to prepare her for a business meeting. Eric trailed behind her, now having put on a t-shirt--probably the one Juliet had been wearing--and he helped her collect her coat and the rest of her things. None of them resembling an overnight bag.
Travis couldn't help himself as he looked her over and smirked in amusement. "So. It's the walk of shame this morning, huh? Nice."
Juliet didn't respond as Eric walked her to the front door. As they stepped outside of it together, Travis strained his ear to listen to the murmuring, but he couldn't get much out of it. "Just give me a couple of hours," he heard Eric say quietly. "I'll be right there, I promise. Jules, I'm so sorry about this."
Travis found swallowing a bit rough now. Now he did feel like an asshole. He should have left. He should have been a good brother, he should have been respectful, and he should have left. After all, if it was Eric, he would have turned tail as soon as he smelled Beth's perfume. Eric was a good guy that way.
Finally, Eric closed the door and turned the locks. Then he turned around and his eyes landed directly on Travis's. His glare told Travis exactly what was coming next and his eyes suddenly widened in fear. In a split second, Travis took off in a sprint for the living room, with Eric close behind him.
Once at the couch, Eric's arm came around Travis's neck and he clotheslined him forcefully down onto it. From there, a wrestling match ensued, neither one of them laughing or smiling, the breathing and grunting from the impromptu fight the only sounds in the room.
It was only when Travis landed on the hard floor, directly on his back, that the fight was over. "Fuck, man!" He said, clutching his back as he sat up. "We're getting too fucking old for this shit."
"You fucking ruined everything!" Eric said. "Again! For the second time in a row, you fucked everything up! Do you have some kind of fucking radar or something? Do you have some kind of tracking device on Juliet or something where you just know that I might be with her or something? Why couldn't you just leave?"
"Jesus, chill out," Travis groaned as he pulled himself back up onto the couch and sat down. "Stop being such a drama queen."
"No. This is bullshit. Why the hell aren't you with Beth, anyway? It's Saturday. You spend every other free second with her, why did you have to pick today to leave her alone and fuck with me?"
"Because she's doing her girl stuff today, man. Nails and hair and shit, I don't--look, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm just not used to you having women over. And especially not ones like that."
Eric sat back on the couch, slumped down in his seat and he let out a breath. "It's like the universe has vowed that I not even get through a morning with her."
"It's almost one, dude."
Eric looked over at his brother. "Not the point. Seriously, bro, we gotta start knocking and calling and shit. If it's gonna be like this..."
"Yeah," Travis finally relented, sitting back, his position matching Eric's. "Shit's getting serious."
"Is it?"
"I think so," he admitted. "I mean, it's only been a couple of weeks, but it feels good." He turned his head and looked at Eric. "Have you ever taken a bubble bath before?"
"Okay," Eric laughed. "I'm done with this shit."
"No, seriously. Beth made me take one a few nights ago. And it was fucking amazing. I'm telling you, men can get all weird about girlie shit and shit, but you gotta try that bubble bath. These women, they know what's up. Not to be taken lightly, my friend. Everything they do is for a reason."
"Well. Good for you."
"So? You gonna tell me what's going on between you and Juliet Carson or what?"
Eric let out a breath. "I have a contract for our company to do the Carson Innovations building laying in one of my desk drawers right now. Signed."
Travis's jaw dropped. "Are you fucking serious? Is that what this shit is all about?"
"No," Eric shot firmly. "It is not about that. Not at all. We had dinner last night, we talked about some things...she stayed over. I wish I could say it was getting serious. The feelings are serious. But if she and I are ever going to be anything, we have a long way to go. She's not...like other...typical women. She's a little different. Even I've never dealt with this before."
"Dealt with what?"
"She...has her own way of seeing and doing things, that's about the only safe way I can put it. For good reason, I might add, but...I don't know, it's just one step at a time. One very careful step at a time."
"Okay..." Travis replied warily. Then he looked out at the living room in front of them. "This twin thing is weird sometimes, you know that?"
"I've always known that," Eric said dryly.
"I mean it. What are the odds of us finding our women on the same night under the same roof--and they're best friends? Only thing weirder than that would be if they were sisters. Twins, even."
"No, that would be just creepy."
"How do you think they feel about being with us? As twins. Creeped out?"
"No. I've worked hard not to look like your ugly mug, I'm sure they aren't thinking much about it."
"My ugly mug," Travis muttered. Then he scoffed a laugh. "What the hell does Juliet see in you, anyway, to come back for seconds? Word on the street is, she doesn't do repeats. How did the honor get bestowed upon you, of all people?"
"Because I'm a stud," Eric smirked.
"This could be me right now, you know. It almost was."
"It wouldn't be," Eric assured him. "You'd have never made it past the first night."
"Please! If you're a stud, I'm a stud. And we all pretty much know how studly I am."
"Wouldn't happen," Eric shook his head with a smile. "Juliet and I connected on a level that goes way beyond sex. I can't explain it. But I do know that I never felt anything close to it with Sam. And I wanted to marry her. So. It's just more with Juliet. And you wouldn't have anything more. And that's it."
"I think you're delusional."
"I think you're wrong."
"Well, whatever it is, I hope it works out. For the record, I could feel the connection when she walked in the room. You might actually have something there. Good for you."
Eric turned and smiled at his brother. "Thank you. It's good to have your blessing. But I'm still pissed at you."
"Yeah, yeah," Travis said, standing from his seat. "I get it, I'm going, I'm gone."
"Seriously, start calling next time. Or knocking. Or something."
"Got it. Same to you. Don't need you walking in on my kinky bubble baths."
"Holy shit, just get the fuck out already," Eric laughed.
"Hey," Travis said as he headed out of the room. "Bachelor party tonight. Don't forget."
"What?"
Travis stopped and turned around. "Kyle's bachelor party. Tonight. You forgot already?"
"Shit," Eric hissed. "No, I...I'll be there."
"Okay," Travis replied warily. "He's the only one of us bastards stupid enough to get married, I figure we ought to at least act like we support him."
Eric smiled and rolled his eyes. "Bye, Travis."
After leaving his brother's apartment, Travis shoved his hands in his pockets in the elevator on the way down. He was genuinely happy for Eric. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was finally his time. The poor guy had sat back and taken so much shit over the years, he needed something just for him. He'd struggled and fought so much through everything, he deserved this break. Of course Travis would give him his blessing. After all, if Beth loved Juliet as much as she did, Juliet couldn't be all that bad, right?
From that moment on, he vowed to never believe another tabloid for as long as he lived.
__________________________________________________
Maybe Travis's presence had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Juliet hadn't lied when she'd told Eric that last night was the best date she'd ever been on. She was glad she came back to his apartment. Where would they be right now if she hadn't? Still weird and awkward, never having kissed him or felt his arms around her? She couldn't do that. She couldn't subject herself to his absence anymore.
However, she also needed the time to regroup. As much as she would have liked to continue the day with Eric, she needed a few minutes alone, in her own space, with her own things. She needed her shower and her coffee...and her phone. This wasn't necessarily something she wanted to "girl talk" about, but she was feeling terribly compelled to call Beth. Maybe Beth could help her. Maybe Beth could assure her that what was happening was okay. That it was okay to feel the way she felt about Eric, that it was okay to be attracted to him and give in to her urges and enjoy his company. That it was okay to let him in.
Choosing to walk home, despite the chill of the city wind, Juliet wasted no time getting Beth on the phone. "Where are you?"
"I am sitting in a comfy chair with my feet soaking in a tub of hot water jets and it feels magnificent. Where are you? You should be here with me."
"I just left Eric's apartment," she blurted.
"Excuse me?" Beth squealed. "What were you doing there at this time of the day?"
"Being rudely interrupted by your boyfriend."
"Oh," Beth replied meekly. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. It really is, I--I needed a moment, I needed to think, I--Beth, I spent the night with him last night. We went to dinner, we had dessert at his place, and I spent the night. I think I may or may not be losing my mind."
"Oooh," Beth giggled. "Dessert at his place, huh? Very nice..."
"It wasn't like that. Well, eventually it was, but initially it wasn't. Anyway, I don't know--I don't--should I be doing this? I mean, he signed the contract. I don't--shit, I don't have it in my possession yet, but he signed it. So it's getting done, we have a company for our building. And that should be my number one source of excitement right now, but it isn't. It's him. I'm--I'm sleeping with my new business partner and part of me thinks it's a terrible idea and the other part of me wants to turn right back around right now and tear his clothes off of him--again. I've never felt this way about anyone before. What's going to happen when Monday morning rolls around and it's not the weekend anymore? What's going to happen when business is business?"
"First of all, I think you're thinking way too much about this. Don't forget, the two of you had something before you knew who he was. Right? And, sure, rule of thumb is you don't mix business and pleasure, but who do you really have answer to but yourself? It's your company. It's not like you can get fired. And if things between you go south, what's he going to do, burn down what he's built of our building? He's not going to cost himself that kind of money and material and manpower just to get revenge. His name is on this, too. The both of you are good, sound business people with good heads on your shoulders. You both have great integrity. I just really don't feel like you have anything to worry about as far as the business goes. Is that what you're afraid of?"
Juliet sighed. "I'm afraid of fucking up. I don't know what I'm doing, Beth. I literally have no idea what I'm doing. I'm thirty-three years old and I don't know how to have a boyfriend. It's pathetic."
"Is that what he is? A boyfriend?"
"I don't know. How do you and Travis do it?"
"Easy. We go to work, we see each other after work. You think you and Eric are risking it by working together? I'm the architect and Travis is the site manager. Imagine how that is going to work."
Beth had a point. While she and Eric might butt heads over numbers and schedules, Beth and Travis were the real meat and potatoes of the project. Their working together required much more tedious detail and much more opportunity for head-butting and disaster. This caused Juliet to sit back and remind herself that it always could be worse somewhere else and sometimes she didn't really have it as bad as she thought she did.
"But I figure, if we do get into it," Beth continued. "The make-up sex will be amazing."
Juliet had to laugh, she couldn't help herself. Leave it to Beth to always see the positive side of things. It was one of the many things she loved about her--no matter how bad a situation was or could be, there was always a silver lining. Beth kept her sane.
"Well. You do have a point there," Juliet agreed, walking into her building. "How's that going, anyway, you and Travis? I was kind of surprised to see him this morning."
"I needed to do some female maintenance today. Hair, nails, you know the routine. Anyway, Travis is...well, at the party, before...well, you know, he seemed like nothing more than a party boy. And in some ways he is, he's really just a big kid--but he's so much fun. And he's so hilarious and so great to be around. But he's also very attentive. He's very gentle, he's compassionate...he's a great positive influence to have around. He has his flaws just like anyone else, but, Jules--he's everything I ever wanted in a man and everything I never thought I'd be attracted to. I don't--I don't want to be too hasty or speak too soon, but I think he could be the one. I think he could be it."
Juliet's eyes widened into the air as she reached her front door and proceeded to unlock it. "It's been two weeks--"
"I know. But when you know, you just know."
Juliet was afraid to admit that she might be able to relate. But she wouldn't allow herself to entertain that thought right now. She had great sex and great conversation with a great man who happened to make her heart palpitate at the mere mention of his name. Didn't mean she necessarily had to go off the deep end right this very second, right?
"Well, I'm happy for you," she said to Beth as she walked into her apartment and began to make herself comfortable. "I'm really happy for you. You've kissed a lot of toads over the years. A lot of very nasty, slimy, warty toads. I hope this time you've finally found your prince."
Beth giggled. "Thank you. You know, it's funny that you called him my prince. Remember when we were discussing Prince Charmings? It was the day after I met Eric at the benefit and invited him to the party--"
"So it was you. You sneaky, little--"
"He kinda looks like Prince Charming, don't you think? And you're, like--like Cinderella at the ball. And your missing slipper is--"
"Don't you even say it," Juliet said, her heart pounding all of a sudden.
"But all he wants to do is give it back to you. He scoured the city, looking for you, Jules. He came to the benefit, he came to your party...he came to your office...I mean, think about it. Eric is Prince Charming."
"Well, I'm no Cinderella. And I thought we were talking about you, what happened?"
"You called me to talk about you."
"I'm so fucking confused right now."
Beth laughed. "Hey, so..how do you feel, knowing he's a twin?"
Juliet was suddenly caught off guard. "Huh?"
"You know. A twin. Twins are...twins. Like...they have the same...everything...you know? Isn't it weird, looking at Travis and knowing...? You know?"
Hm. The truth was, Juliet hadn't really thought about it. "Well--is it weird for you when you look at Eric?"
"I've never been with a twin before. I can't not think about it. It's almost weird to look at Eric, like...I mean...I feel like I have x-ray vision after being with Travis..."
"You know they're two completely different people..."
"Well, I know. I know, that's not it, I'm just--well, you know identical twins are anatomically...identical. I feel ashamed of myself for looking at Eric because I feel like I've already seen him naked--even though I haven't. Does that make more sense?"
"The truth is, I haven't thought about it. But thanks for making things that much more weird, I appreciate it."
"I'm sorry," Beth laughed. "I just can't believe you haven't thought of it."
"I guess I haven't had time to. You spend much more time with Travis than I do with Eric."
"Maybe that's about to change."
"Maybe so. Anyway, I'm gonna get off here and let you finish your pedicure. I just needed to know that I wasn't totally insane. Eric and I have plans later, so I need to get ready--"
"Oh? Plans? Is he not going to that bachelor party? I was going to ask you if you wanted to do something tonight since Travis wasn't going to be around."
Juliet's eyes widened. "Bachelor party?"
"Yeah, one of their friends is getting married soon. Well, he's Travis's friend, anyway. I guess I just assume they both have all the same friends. I could be wrong, he might not even be going. I don't know. Sorry I brought it up."
"No, I--it's fine. I guess if he was going, he would have brought it up. Maybe you're right."
Juliet hung up with Beth in thought. Part of her wanted to be disappointed about this party because she selfishly wanted to spend more time with Eric. The other part of her was glad for the party's existence because she was afraid she might be spending too much time with him. She didn't want him to get sick of her and she didn't want him to feel like she was smothering him. Just like Beth and Travis today, Eric and Juliet would need their individual freedom sometimes. She wanted Eric to feel secure around her. To know that it was okay to go out with his friends and do what he wanted. After all, there was nothing in this world that would ever come between her Sunday mornings with Beth. She could relate.
As if her thoughts had conjured him up, she received a text message from Eric. "Travis is gone. I'm so sorry about all that, really."
"It's okay," she texted back. "I needed to come home anyway. I needed fresh clothes."
"We still on for today? You didn't change your mind, did you?"
"Don't you have a party to go to tonight?"
"Yeah. Travis reminded me while he was here. But it's not until later, much later. We can still see each other. Are you mad?"
"Of course not. You've already seen so much of me as it is."
"I could never see enough of you."
Juliet grinned into her phone, the blood rising to her cheeks. "I still have to get ready. I just got off the phone with Beth."
"Did you tell her how amazing I am?"
At this, she giggled out loud into her empty apartment. She shook her head and typed out, "I'm not telling you what we talked about."
"It's okay. I know how amazing I am. How much time do you need before I can come over? I'm ready to walk out the door."
"My god," she whispered to herself, her eyes wide. How long would it take her to make herself perfect for him? Never. There would never be enough time for that.
"An hour, maybe?"
"You're killing me."
"The more you text me, the longer it's going to take."
"Fine."
And then she didn't hear from him again.
Juliet smiled through her shower. She smiled as she did her hair and made up her face. She smiled as she pulled on her tight blue jeans and her black pumps and her long, black and white pea coat. She was still smiling when the doorbell rang just as she tied the pink, knit scarf around her neck and selected the purse she was going to carry.
When she opened the door, her cheeks nearly hurt from her grin. There, her favorite pair of blue eyes stood in jeans, a dark blue Henley, and a gray winter vest. She glanced down at the black boots that finished off the ensemble and she wanted to melt. He looked like he'd just stepped right off the pages of a fashion magazine.
He smiled back at her, waving his cell phone in his hand before shoving it back in his pocket.. "One hour, exactly to the minute. One thing you'll grow to appreciate about me is that I'm very punctual."
"I already appreciate you," she smiled nervously. "You ready?"
"Absolutely," he said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "Let's see this place that I get the honor of destroying with my bare hands."
His enthusiasm was charming for someone who didn't talk business after hours. After locking her door, he unexpectedly took her hand in his as they headed for the elevator and her breath caught in her throat.
Here they went. This was it. Jumping right off the deep end with both feet.
The good thing about being so close to your family, namely your siblings, was that if you ever needed something, they were there. When you were twins, the bond was even stronger, because it was almost as if you were two halves of a whole. Or two of the same person. Either way, Travis and Eric had the keys to each other's apartments and, at the moment, that was really all that mattered.
Travis frequently showed up at Eric's apartment, unannounced. Eric knew this. Eric did the same at Travis's apartment. Travis couldn't count how many times he'd come home to Eric helping himself to a beer and the remote control. When Travis came home from California, he and Eric had lived together for nearly a year before they decided that they just couldn't be in that close of quarters anymore and they went their separate ways. Now they were at each other's places so often it was as if neither one of them had moved anywhere.
So for Travis to be in the neighborhood, which was actually how it happened, with a hankering for a sandwich and a little sports on the big screen, coming to Eric's place was completely natural. However, on this particular late morning, that had apparently been the wrong decision.
Eric's questioning his presence had slightly caught Travis off guard and he'd blurted "Breakfast" with a hunk of lunch meat lodged between his teeth. He almost corrected himself, but decided it was no use. Eric's face said it all.
"You couldn't ring a bell? You couldn't knock? You couldn't call, anything?"
"I never had to before," Travis said, eyeing him warily as he helped himself to a swig from the milk carton.
"What if I walked in here naked or something? What if I was...otherwise indisposed or something, what if...privacy, man! Privacy!"
Travis scoffed as he slowly screwed the cap back on the milk, studying his brother. "Yeah, right. You don't even sleep naked. You wouldn't be--"
Eric's bare torso, tousled bed hair, and arched eyebrow said differently.
Travis's eyes widened and he wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "Oh, shit!" He hissed, craning his neck to see behind his brother. "Were you sleeping naked? Is there a girl in your bed? Who is it, do I know her?"
"Get out," Eric ordered.
"Come on, tell me!"
"Travis, I swear to God--"
Too late. Eric's name rang through the apartment and came down the hall in the form of a light female voice whose small frame and impressive rack could be seen through the t-shirt and shorts that obviously did not belong to her. Walking into the open kitchen area, she ran her fingers through her long, dark waves and said with a smile, "I've been giving this egg thing some thought--"
She stopped dead in her tracks when she finally looked up from the floor and her eyes met Travis's. Travis nearly choked on his own saliva and he looked at his brother, his brows raised knowingly. That dog, Eric, had Juliet Carson in his bed. Travis counted mentally. Twice? Was this twice with this woman now? This woman who was notorious and notoriously untouchable? This woman who never repeated the same man and disposed of them as if they were objects? This Juliet Carson?
She stood there and crossed her arms nervously over her chest, her eyes darting between the two brothers. Well, she certainly didn't look cruel and menacing. He was dying to know what Eric's relationship with her was like. She was one of New York City's most talked-about socialites. He wondered if 'socialite' was the wrong term for her, since she actually did do something with her life, but that was what the headlines called her anyway. How did someone like Eric get caught up with a woman like her? It was unreal.
"Um, you know what?" Juliet finally said. "I'm going to, um--I think it's going on noon, I should just--um--I should go..."
"You don't have to leave," Eric said, turning to look at her. "We have plans. Travis was just leaving."
"It's okay," she said, shaking her head nervously.
"I was going to make you breakfast--"
"Actually, it's lunch time," Travis couldn't help but interject.
Eric glared at him.
"Yeah," she agreed. "Yeah, it's--it's fine. I've overstayed my welcome anyway--"
"No," Eric pressed. "You haven't. You don't have to leave."
But she had already turned around and walked back toward Eric's bedroom.
Eric's face was red with rage and he stared daggers into his brother's eyes. "You're going to pay for this," he muttered through his teeth. "You mark my words, you're a dead man." And then he turned around and followed Juliet.
This was the part where Travis took the hint. This was the part where he made his exit and let Eric have his time alone. But he just couldn't do it. His curiosity prevailed and he just had to know what he had just walked in on. And if Juliet left, he could find out. Possibly. If he was still alive. So he finished his sandwich, cleaned up his mess, and made himself comfortable on a bar stool as he fiddled around on his phone.
A short while later, Juliet's heels echoed through the apartment as she walked back in the room, her outfit seeming to prepare her for a business meeting. Eric trailed behind her, now having put on a t-shirt--probably the one Juliet had been wearing--and he helped her collect her coat and the rest of her things. None of them resembling an overnight bag.
Travis couldn't help himself as he looked her over and smirked in amusement. "So. It's the walk of shame this morning, huh? Nice."
Juliet didn't respond as Eric walked her to the front door. As they stepped outside of it together, Travis strained his ear to listen to the murmuring, but he couldn't get much out of it. "Just give me a couple of hours," he heard Eric say quietly. "I'll be right there, I promise. Jules, I'm so sorry about this."
Travis found swallowing a bit rough now. Now he did feel like an asshole. He should have left. He should have been a good brother, he should have been respectful, and he should have left. After all, if it was Eric, he would have turned tail as soon as he smelled Beth's perfume. Eric was a good guy that way.
Finally, Eric closed the door and turned the locks. Then he turned around and his eyes landed directly on Travis's. His glare told Travis exactly what was coming next and his eyes suddenly widened in fear. In a split second, Travis took off in a sprint for the living room, with Eric close behind him.
Once at the couch, Eric's arm came around Travis's neck and he clotheslined him forcefully down onto it. From there, a wrestling match ensued, neither one of them laughing or smiling, the breathing and grunting from the impromptu fight the only sounds in the room.
It was only when Travis landed on the hard floor, directly on his back, that the fight was over. "Fuck, man!" He said, clutching his back as he sat up. "We're getting too fucking old for this shit."
"You fucking ruined everything!" Eric said. "Again! For the second time in a row, you fucked everything up! Do you have some kind of fucking radar or something? Do you have some kind of tracking device on Juliet or something where you just know that I might be with her or something? Why couldn't you just leave?"
"Jesus, chill out," Travis groaned as he pulled himself back up onto the couch and sat down. "Stop being such a drama queen."
"No. This is bullshit. Why the hell aren't you with Beth, anyway? It's Saturday. You spend every other free second with her, why did you have to pick today to leave her alone and fuck with me?"
"Because she's doing her girl stuff today, man. Nails and hair and shit, I don't--look, I'm sorry. Okay? I'm just not used to you having women over. And especially not ones like that."
Eric sat back on the couch, slumped down in his seat and he let out a breath. "It's like the universe has vowed that I not even get through a morning with her."
"It's almost one, dude."
Eric looked over at his brother. "Not the point. Seriously, bro, we gotta start knocking and calling and shit. If it's gonna be like this..."
"Yeah," Travis finally relented, sitting back, his position matching Eric's. "Shit's getting serious."
"Is it?"
"I think so," he admitted. "I mean, it's only been a couple of weeks, but it feels good." He turned his head and looked at Eric. "Have you ever taken a bubble bath before?"
"Okay," Eric laughed. "I'm done with this shit."
"No, seriously. Beth made me take one a few nights ago. And it was fucking amazing. I'm telling you, men can get all weird about girlie shit and shit, but you gotta try that bubble bath. These women, they know what's up. Not to be taken lightly, my friend. Everything they do is for a reason."
"Well. Good for you."
"So? You gonna tell me what's going on between you and Juliet Carson or what?"
Eric let out a breath. "I have a contract for our company to do the Carson Innovations building laying in one of my desk drawers right now. Signed."
Travis's jaw dropped. "Are you fucking serious? Is that what this shit is all about?"
"No," Eric shot firmly. "It is not about that. Not at all. We had dinner last night, we talked about some things...she stayed over. I wish I could say it was getting serious. The feelings are serious. But if she and I are ever going to be anything, we have a long way to go. She's not...like other...typical women. She's a little different. Even I've never dealt with this before."
"Dealt with what?"
"She...has her own way of seeing and doing things, that's about the only safe way I can put it. For good reason, I might add, but...I don't know, it's just one step at a time. One very careful step at a time."
"Okay..." Travis replied warily. Then he looked out at the living room in front of them. "This twin thing is weird sometimes, you know that?"
"I've always known that," Eric said dryly.
"I mean it. What are the odds of us finding our women on the same night under the same roof--and they're best friends? Only thing weirder than that would be if they were sisters. Twins, even."
"No, that would be just creepy."
"How do you think they feel about being with us? As twins. Creeped out?"
"No. I've worked hard not to look like your ugly mug, I'm sure they aren't thinking much about it."
"My ugly mug," Travis muttered. Then he scoffed a laugh. "What the hell does Juliet see in you, anyway, to come back for seconds? Word on the street is, she doesn't do repeats. How did the honor get bestowed upon you, of all people?"
"Because I'm a stud," Eric smirked.
"This could be me right now, you know. It almost was."
"It wouldn't be," Eric assured him. "You'd have never made it past the first night."
"Please! If you're a stud, I'm a stud. And we all pretty much know how studly I am."
"Wouldn't happen," Eric shook his head with a smile. "Juliet and I connected on a level that goes way beyond sex. I can't explain it. But I do know that I never felt anything close to it with Sam. And I wanted to marry her. So. It's just more with Juliet. And you wouldn't have anything more. And that's it."
"I think you're delusional."
"I think you're wrong."
"Well, whatever it is, I hope it works out. For the record, I could feel the connection when she walked in the room. You might actually have something there. Good for you."
Eric turned and smiled at his brother. "Thank you. It's good to have your blessing. But I'm still pissed at you."
"Yeah, yeah," Travis said, standing from his seat. "I get it, I'm going, I'm gone."
"Seriously, start calling next time. Or knocking. Or something."
"Got it. Same to you. Don't need you walking in on my kinky bubble baths."
"Holy shit, just get the fuck out already," Eric laughed.
"Hey," Travis said as he headed out of the room. "Bachelor party tonight. Don't forget."
"What?"
Travis stopped and turned around. "Kyle's bachelor party. Tonight. You forgot already?"
"Shit," Eric hissed. "No, I...I'll be there."
"Okay," Travis replied warily. "He's the only one of us bastards stupid enough to get married, I figure we ought to at least act like we support him."
Eric smiled and rolled his eyes. "Bye, Travis."
After leaving his brother's apartment, Travis shoved his hands in his pockets in the elevator on the way down. He was genuinely happy for Eric. Maybe this was it. Maybe this was finally his time. The poor guy had sat back and taken so much shit over the years, he needed something just for him. He'd struggled and fought so much through everything, he deserved this break. Of course Travis would give him his blessing. After all, if Beth loved Juliet as much as she did, Juliet couldn't be all that bad, right?
From that moment on, he vowed to never believe another tabloid for as long as he lived.
__________________________________________________
Maybe Travis's presence had turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Juliet hadn't lied when she'd told Eric that last night was the best date she'd ever been on. She was glad she came back to his apartment. Where would they be right now if she hadn't? Still weird and awkward, never having kissed him or felt his arms around her? She couldn't do that. She couldn't subject herself to his absence anymore.
However, she also needed the time to regroup. As much as she would have liked to continue the day with Eric, she needed a few minutes alone, in her own space, with her own things. She needed her shower and her coffee...and her phone. This wasn't necessarily something she wanted to "girl talk" about, but she was feeling terribly compelled to call Beth. Maybe Beth could help her. Maybe Beth could assure her that what was happening was okay. That it was okay to feel the way she felt about Eric, that it was okay to be attracted to him and give in to her urges and enjoy his company. That it was okay to let him in.
Choosing to walk home, despite the chill of the city wind, Juliet wasted no time getting Beth on the phone. "Where are you?"
"I am sitting in a comfy chair with my feet soaking in a tub of hot water jets and it feels magnificent. Where are you? You should be here with me."
"I just left Eric's apartment," she blurted.
"Excuse me?" Beth squealed. "What were you doing there at this time of the day?"
"Being rudely interrupted by your boyfriend."
"Oh," Beth replied meekly. "I'm sorry..."
"It's okay. It really is, I--I needed a moment, I needed to think, I--Beth, I spent the night with him last night. We went to dinner, we had dessert at his place, and I spent the night. I think I may or may not be losing my mind."
"Oooh," Beth giggled. "Dessert at his place, huh? Very nice..."
"It wasn't like that. Well, eventually it was, but initially it wasn't. Anyway, I don't know--I don't--should I be doing this? I mean, he signed the contract. I don't--shit, I don't have it in my possession yet, but he signed it. So it's getting done, we have a company for our building. And that should be my number one source of excitement right now, but it isn't. It's him. I'm--I'm sleeping with my new business partner and part of me thinks it's a terrible idea and the other part of me wants to turn right back around right now and tear his clothes off of him--again. I've never felt this way about anyone before. What's going to happen when Monday morning rolls around and it's not the weekend anymore? What's going to happen when business is business?"
"First of all, I think you're thinking way too much about this. Don't forget, the two of you had something before you knew who he was. Right? And, sure, rule of thumb is you don't mix business and pleasure, but who do you really have answer to but yourself? It's your company. It's not like you can get fired. And if things between you go south, what's he going to do, burn down what he's built of our building? He's not going to cost himself that kind of money and material and manpower just to get revenge. His name is on this, too. The both of you are good, sound business people with good heads on your shoulders. You both have great integrity. I just really don't feel like you have anything to worry about as far as the business goes. Is that what you're afraid of?"
Juliet sighed. "I'm afraid of fucking up. I don't know what I'm doing, Beth. I literally have no idea what I'm doing. I'm thirty-three years old and I don't know how to have a boyfriend. It's pathetic."
"Is that what he is? A boyfriend?"
"I don't know. How do you and Travis do it?"
"Easy. We go to work, we see each other after work. You think you and Eric are risking it by working together? I'm the architect and Travis is the site manager. Imagine how that is going to work."
Beth had a point. While she and Eric might butt heads over numbers and schedules, Beth and Travis were the real meat and potatoes of the project. Their working together required much more tedious detail and much more opportunity for head-butting and disaster. This caused Juliet to sit back and remind herself that it always could be worse somewhere else and sometimes she didn't really have it as bad as she thought she did.
"But I figure, if we do get into it," Beth continued. "The make-up sex will be amazing."
Juliet had to laugh, she couldn't help herself. Leave it to Beth to always see the positive side of things. It was one of the many things she loved about her--no matter how bad a situation was or could be, there was always a silver lining. Beth kept her sane.
"Well. You do have a point there," Juliet agreed, walking into her building. "How's that going, anyway, you and Travis? I was kind of surprised to see him this morning."
"I needed to do some female maintenance today. Hair, nails, you know the routine. Anyway, Travis is...well, at the party, before...well, you know, he seemed like nothing more than a party boy. And in some ways he is, he's really just a big kid--but he's so much fun. And he's so hilarious and so great to be around. But he's also very attentive. He's very gentle, he's compassionate...he's a great positive influence to have around. He has his flaws just like anyone else, but, Jules--he's everything I ever wanted in a man and everything I never thought I'd be attracted to. I don't--I don't want to be too hasty or speak too soon, but I think he could be the one. I think he could be it."
Juliet's eyes widened into the air as she reached her front door and proceeded to unlock it. "It's been two weeks--"
"I know. But when you know, you just know."
Juliet was afraid to admit that she might be able to relate. But she wouldn't allow herself to entertain that thought right now. She had great sex and great conversation with a great man who happened to make her heart palpitate at the mere mention of his name. Didn't mean she necessarily had to go off the deep end right this very second, right?
"Well, I'm happy for you," she said to Beth as she walked into her apartment and began to make herself comfortable. "I'm really happy for you. You've kissed a lot of toads over the years. A lot of very nasty, slimy, warty toads. I hope this time you've finally found your prince."
Beth giggled. "Thank you. You know, it's funny that you called him my prince. Remember when we were discussing Prince Charmings? It was the day after I met Eric at the benefit and invited him to the party--"
"So it was you. You sneaky, little--"
"He kinda looks like Prince Charming, don't you think? And you're, like--like Cinderella at the ball. And your missing slipper is--"
"Don't you even say it," Juliet said, her heart pounding all of a sudden.
"But all he wants to do is give it back to you. He scoured the city, looking for you, Jules. He came to the benefit, he came to your party...he came to your office...I mean, think about it. Eric is Prince Charming."
"Well, I'm no Cinderella. And I thought we were talking about you, what happened?"
"You called me to talk about you."
"I'm so fucking confused right now."
Beth laughed. "Hey, so..how do you feel, knowing he's a twin?"
Juliet was suddenly caught off guard. "Huh?"
"You know. A twin. Twins are...twins. Like...they have the same...everything...you know? Isn't it weird, looking at Travis and knowing...? You know?"
Hm. The truth was, Juliet hadn't really thought about it. "Well--is it weird for you when you look at Eric?"
"I've never been with a twin before. I can't not think about it. It's almost weird to look at Eric, like...I mean...I feel like I have x-ray vision after being with Travis..."
"You know they're two completely different people..."
"Well, I know. I know, that's not it, I'm just--well, you know identical twins are anatomically...identical. I feel ashamed of myself for looking at Eric because I feel like I've already seen him naked--even though I haven't. Does that make more sense?"
"The truth is, I haven't thought about it. But thanks for making things that much more weird, I appreciate it."
"I'm sorry," Beth laughed. "I just can't believe you haven't thought of it."
"I guess I haven't had time to. You spend much more time with Travis than I do with Eric."
"Maybe that's about to change."
"Maybe so. Anyway, I'm gonna get off here and let you finish your pedicure. I just needed to know that I wasn't totally insane. Eric and I have plans later, so I need to get ready--"
"Oh? Plans? Is he not going to that bachelor party? I was going to ask you if you wanted to do something tonight since Travis wasn't going to be around."
Juliet's eyes widened. "Bachelor party?"
"Yeah, one of their friends is getting married soon. Well, he's Travis's friend, anyway. I guess I just assume they both have all the same friends. I could be wrong, he might not even be going. I don't know. Sorry I brought it up."
"No, I--it's fine. I guess if he was going, he would have brought it up. Maybe you're right."
Juliet hung up with Beth in thought. Part of her wanted to be disappointed about this party because she selfishly wanted to spend more time with Eric. The other part of her was glad for the party's existence because she was afraid she might be spending too much time with him. She didn't want him to get sick of her and she didn't want him to feel like she was smothering him. Just like Beth and Travis today, Eric and Juliet would need their individual freedom sometimes. She wanted Eric to feel secure around her. To know that it was okay to go out with his friends and do what he wanted. After all, there was nothing in this world that would ever come between her Sunday mornings with Beth. She could relate.
As if her thoughts had conjured him up, she received a text message from Eric. "Travis is gone. I'm so sorry about all that, really."
"It's okay," she texted back. "I needed to come home anyway. I needed fresh clothes."
"We still on for today? You didn't change your mind, did you?"
"Don't you have a party to go to tonight?"
"Yeah. Travis reminded me while he was here. But it's not until later, much later. We can still see each other. Are you mad?"
"Of course not. You've already seen so much of me as it is."
"I could never see enough of you."
Juliet grinned into her phone, the blood rising to her cheeks. "I still have to get ready. I just got off the phone with Beth."
"Did you tell her how amazing I am?"
At this, she giggled out loud into her empty apartment. She shook her head and typed out, "I'm not telling you what we talked about."
"It's okay. I know how amazing I am. How much time do you need before I can come over? I'm ready to walk out the door."
"My god," she whispered to herself, her eyes wide. How long would it take her to make herself perfect for him? Never. There would never be enough time for that.
"An hour, maybe?"
"You're killing me."
"The more you text me, the longer it's going to take."
"Fine."
And then she didn't hear from him again.
Juliet smiled through her shower. She smiled as she did her hair and made up her face. She smiled as she pulled on her tight blue jeans and her black pumps and her long, black and white pea coat. She was still smiling when the doorbell rang just as she tied the pink, knit scarf around her neck and selected the purse she was going to carry.
When she opened the door, her cheeks nearly hurt from her grin. There, her favorite pair of blue eyes stood in jeans, a dark blue Henley, and a gray winter vest. She glanced down at the black boots that finished off the ensemble and she wanted to melt. He looked like he'd just stepped right off the pages of a fashion magazine.
He smiled back at her, waving his cell phone in his hand before shoving it back in his pocket.. "One hour, exactly to the minute. One thing you'll grow to appreciate about me is that I'm very punctual."
"I already appreciate you," she smiled nervously. "You ready?"
"Absolutely," he said excitedly, rubbing his hands together. "Let's see this place that I get the honor of destroying with my bare hands."
His enthusiasm was charming for someone who didn't talk business after hours. After locking her door, he unexpectedly took her hand in his as they headed for the elevator and her breath caught in her throat.
Here they went. This was it. Jumping right off the deep end with both feet.