The Big Bad Wolf & Don Juan
This piece contains mature language and themes
Having completed my studies at Yale, I did some traveling and met Sophia, on the Island of Crete. I brought her home to meet my family and ran into Everett. He invited us to the Family Home so my honorary relatives could meet her as well.
“Don’t worry Beckett, Sting Ray is taking extra classes this term. She won’t be there.” He raised an eyebrow at me when I let out the breath I was holding. “Afraid of a little girl are you?”
“If you’re referring to Elise, you and I both know she may be little, but she packs a big opinion.” And hers means the most to me.
“Well, no worries there boy even the Bookends won’t be around so you won’t have any competition, in your age range.” He winks at me and I know he’s referring to Emmett and Edward. Those two? Each one alone can wreak havoc on one’s psyche, but the two of them together can be an emasculating experience.
“Sure thing Brown, we’ll see you and the ole men around 7 PM.”
Everett claps me hard on my shoulder. “Good boy. See you this evening.”
What the fuck have I gotten myself into?
We arrived a little after 7 PM. I knew this would be bad, an obvious understatement. There was no need to go to a movie as I was about to live through a horror story this evening.
It started when Edward opened the door, “Well hello Liam, how wonderful to see you.” I missed two giveaways. He called me Liam, not Beckett, and he smiled, which is always a sign of trouble.
“Hello Mr. Brown, it is good to see you as well. Everett suggested we stop in for a visit this evening. I trust it is alright with you.”
“Certainly young man. Who do you have with you? Hello Miss…” He reaches out to grasp her hand and again, he’s smiling. There’s a definite twinkle in his eyes and at this moment, he reminds me of the Big Bad Wolf.
“I apologize. This is Sophia Alanis. Sophia, this is Edward Brown.” She drops her head slightly and looks up at him through her eyelashes, which she has the nerve to bat at the old man. Right. Fucking. In front of me.
Um. Hello! You arrived here with me. What the fuck are you doing?
Edward gently kisses her hand and makes a big production of the gesture. I half expect him to lick his way up her arm. “Miss Alanis, it is a pleasure to meet you,” he purrs. Have you ever heard a man purr? It’s sickening. Which is followed by the almighty wink, I knew that was coming.
The click of expensive shoes on the marble floor announce his presence, “I thought I heard voices out here. How are you Liam, it has been a long time since we have enjoyed your company.” He too falls into a Paramount Pictures, Emmy Award winning routine, complete with double-take. “Who pray tell is this lovely creature?” His voice, smooth and mellow, burns my ears.
I make the introductions while Sophie giggles and Emmett proceeds to kiss her hand and her cheek. The fucker even whispers something in her ear. I feel like my head is gonna explode.
Each of those bastards tucks one of her arms in his and saunters away, leading her past the grand staircase into the Great Room. Suddenly, an amused Everett stands beside me. In my line of sight he pats me hard on the shoulder again immediately getting my attention. He leans in to quietly tell me, “You won’t last long, you know that don’t you? I have it on good authority there’s more to come and this little thing of yours,” he clandestinely gestures to Sophie, “will be over and done with soon.” He, too, has a shit-eating grin on his face.
I’m speechless, I mean gaped-mouth, stock still, astounded. “You pricks are doing this shit to me on purpose?!” I whisper-yell. Not that it would make a bit of difference because Sophia is too preoccupied with the overtures from the Big Bad Wolf and Don Juan. “What the …”
Everett turns me to face him, and looks me square in the eyes. We are exactly the same height, build and have the same demeanor. There’s no throwing either of us aside and no getting around us, alone or together. “Are you ready to lose your Sting Ray Beckett?”
“What are you talking about Brown?” I growl. I’m tired of his, his father and his grandfather’s bullshitting around.
“I’m talking about Elise finding out you’ve spent the last year with that slutty gold-digger.” He jerks his head back, toward Sophie, who’s still eating up the flattery she’s getting from Edward and Emmett, without even a side thought about me it seems.
“I blame this on your psychopathic, suave relatives. What it is, a fucking full moon? Since when do they lay it on this thick?” I look over Everett’s shoulder and see Edward holding Sophie’s hand as she daintily sits on the loveseat, Emmett by her side.
Moving his head so he’s, once again looking me directly in the eyes he says, “They want you to see what they’ve read about.” His brows raised. His eyes piercing into mine.
Read about? Read about? Realization slaps the shit out of me. “They did a background check on her?” I whisper, softly this time. Everett nods once then looks back over his shoulder at the trio.
“If they’re wrong, they’ll apologize, you know that, but…judging from the looks of things”, he turns back to face me, “I wouldn’t wait around for one.” Everett shakes his head, squeezes my shoulder and asks, “Wanna a drink?”
After one last glance at the horror story playing before my eyes I look at Everett, “YESSS…” I hiss.
