Kaylee and Hunter: An Office Romance

Chapter 11: Kaylee

ELYSE and I latched onto Payton before he had both feet in my apartment. I knew why I did, but Elyse? Right now I have too much to worry about to think about why my best friend just greeted my big brother like that.

"Pay, thanks for coming," I said into Payton's chest. "I'm a mess right now and I need your help." We headed to the living room and Payton plopped down on my couch.

"You know I'm always here for you kid. But I heard that Hunter's involved and I'm pissed." Payton scolded. "I should have killed that bastard two years ago!"

"NO!" I shouted. "He's not worth it Pay. I also may have overreacted. I mean we only had one drunken night of sex. Hunter never promised me anything, but I have made a bigger deal out of it that I should have. I-".

"Don't let him off the hook. He never acknowledged your presence after you were together. You should still hold him accountable. Just try not to be so hard on yourself." Payton interrupted. "And I believe I told you," he said gesturing to Elyse, "That I was going to punish you for letting her leave with him when she was drunk!"

Elyse sputtered in protest, but Payton held up a hand to silence her and continued, "But I realize that that is not fair. Although Kaylee, What the hell were you thinking?!?!" Payton admonished. "Something bad could have happened to you, and don't say that something bad had happened. Leaving with Hunter was stupid but I'd like to believe that he wouldn't physically endanger you. Jackson and I would kick his ass if he did. Next time you feel the need to have a night out, take Jackson with you." Payton looked satisfied with his plan, but Elyse and I were not on the same page as him.

Ugh! As if I wanted my brother's best friend to be my babysitter. I'm 24 years old, not a baby! Plus, I'm not sure if Elyse would want Jackson around given their history. Ooh! Maybe that will change his mind.

"Pay, I'm not sure Elyse would feel comfortable with Jackson as our chaperone. They-" Elyse kicked me in the shin and I turned to growl at her but I saw how pale her face was. "They-um-they-". I stuttered trying to come up with something that Payton would believe, but I was too late. Payton's face turned an angry shade of red and all of his earlier calm disappeared.

"They what?" Payton asked with a scowl. He was staring Elyse down with a disgusted look. "YOU SLEPT WITH MY BEST FRIEND?!?!" Payton roared making Elyse hug the pillow closer to her chest. "Are you fucking kidding me right now? You and Jackson?" Payton looked bewildered. "He is too old for you Elyse! You and Jackson?" Payton appeared to be having a breakdown and Elyse looked like she was about to cry. I did't know how to help. I wanted to comfort my best friend, but Payton is my brother. I was stuck in the middle.

"I just wanted to get over-" Elyse stopped herself. "This is none of your business Payton. Stay our of my love life and I'll stay out of yours." Elyse 

"What love life El? Wait, you probably gave Jack your virginity, right? God dammit!" Payton got up and paced looking crushed. "You gave my best friend your virginity! Fuck!" Payton stormed out of my apartment with one last devastated look at Elyse.

I was so confused. Payton always seemed to love Elyse in a sisterly way, but right then, he seemed so jealous. Maybe Payton wants Elyse? I would have thought that that would have been disturbing, but I've known that Elyse was in "love" with my brother since we were 12 years old-half our lives! El could be my sister! I just hope that Payton can get over whatever issues he has with the idea of dating El. I was ripped out of my musings by the sound of Elyse's muffled tears. I hugged her to me and we cried together.

"I never slept with Jackson. You know that right?" Elyse whispered. "I tried. God, I tried to have sex with him but I couldn't. I couldn't do that to Payton. I love him!" Elyse's proclamation unleashed fresh tears. Elyse's crush on Payton was never a secret, but the extent of her feelings was.

"I know El. I know," I replied soothingly. "I don't know why he was acting like such a jealous asshole. Pay has had so many opportunities to be with you, but he's to afraid to take them. I don't know what his problem is." I attempted to soothe my best friend and knew that I would have to do the same for my brother later. I resolved to find out what was holding Payton back all this time.

"I think I do," Elyse said. "He truly only thinks of me as a kid sister! He thinks that his best friend is too old for me and will hurt me the way Hunter has hurt you. He doesn't see me the way that I see him." Elyse sounded empty and my heart broke again for her and Payton.

"If it's meant to be it'll work out," I say with a sarcastic smirk.

"Stop that vague and cliche bullshit!" Elyse giggled as I knew she would. "I'm sorry," she said soberly. "We came over here to help you, but my problems exploded in your living room." We giggled at the visual. "Let's get some wine and fix this," Elyse proposed.

"Hell yeah," I said.

~~~

Two hours later we were definitely tipsy and finding everything hilarious. We cackled with laughter when we saw Payton coming back. He looked so funny with a scowl on his face.

"I leave for two hours and you two get drunk?!?!" Payton asks incredulously. "Well let me catch up then," he said as he picked up a beer and popped the cap. We pretended that earlier never happened and continued to drink our problems away. We'd regret it in the morning.