Looking Beyond

Chapter 19: The Truth Hurts

     Brea casually stripped her clothes off once she and Jacob returned to his room. "What are we going to do? If Erik knows, it'll only be a matter of time before Sav knows."

     Jacob sighed and stepped up behind her. "Maybe we don't do anything." He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her shoulder. "Maybe we just keep things the way they are, and if they ask, we don't answer."

     "Well, not answer in detail." She turned to face him. "Say someone catches us sitting close or holding hands. Knowing Sav, she'll go right for the 'Why are you holding Jacob's hand Brea?' For things like that, we could simply answer 'Yeah, I guess I am.' and leave it at that."

     "Mmhmm.' Jacob responded against her neck in agreement.

     Brea's fingers toyed with Jacob's hair. "Though, we can't keep hiding this if you stop me from getting dressed."

     "I'm sorry, did you want me to stop?" He continued kissing her shoulder and neck.

     "Not really."

     "Good."

* * *

     It was past noon when Brea returned to home. She and Jacob had managed to barely make it to church on time, getting into the pews just as the pastor began his sermon. Jacob's siblings were kind enough to not voice their suspicions around their parents, but were happy to remind Jacob that he should either 'Wake up earlier or wait until after church' the next time he and Brea wanted to 'be affectionate with each other.' Brea put her hands to her face, in an effort to cool her flushed cheeks, before entering her room. "Phew. I need to relax." She said to no one in particular. She slowly opened her door and slowly entered the room. "Sav? Are you okay?" She called out softly.

     A loud groan coming from Savannah's bed was her response. "I'm here."

     Brea walked towards her heavily hungover pal. "You need coffee."

     "Thank you Einstein." Savannah sat up. "Aspirin?"

     Brea took two tablets from the bottle beside Savannah's bed. "Here. I'm guessing this water is yours too."

     "Yeah." Savannah took the tablets and quickly washed them down.

     "You look like hell."

     Savannah narrowed her eyes at Brea. "You look like you spent the night with Jacob again."

     "I had to stay somewhere, 'Ms. Aye Big Papi'!" She watched Savannah's face pale. "Oh yeah, you went there. Erik even told me that you were hitting on Creepy at the bar."

     "I didn't..." Savannah hung her head. "Oh Lord..."

     "Erik said he got you before Creepy could buy you a drink." She pulled Savannah's arm to get her out of bed. "Why are you letting Dan's news get to you like this?"

     "Because he's not like the others Brea. He's not just hot and sexy – he's focused and driven. There's this passion he has that's contagious." She let a few tears fall. "I was stupid to think I could even have a chance with someone like him."

     "He said that he didn't know that you were flirting with him." Savannah scoffed. "It's true. But then again, he doesn't really let people in on what he's feeling too often. Hell, I didn't know he had kept dating Scarlett after their first date." Savannah stiffened and glared at Brea. "You alright Sav?"

     Savannah stepped away from Brea. "You...You KNEW and didn't tell me?"

     "I only found out the day he proposed! He swore me to secrecy! He was supposed to tell you and the guys right after!"

     "So much for 'sisters before misters.' I thought you were my friend – my sister!" Her voice growing louder.

     "I am!"

     "Then why didn't you tell me about Scarlett the Harlot?" Savannah made no effort to wipe the tears now streaming down her face. "You let me make a fool out of myself!"

     "Savannah! Get over it!" Brea put her hands on her hips. "I'm not getting blamed for Dan wanting to get married to someone besides you! Dan has been clueless about your intrest in him from day one! The only thing worse than his cluelessness is yours!"

     "I'm not clueless!" Savannah knocked her lamp off of her night stand.

     "Then why don't you tell Erik you love him?"

     Savannah stopped, putting her own hands on her hips. "Because I don't! He's my friend!"

     "Let's see now, he's your friend that takes care of you when you're drunk. He's your friend that 'helps you out' when you're sexually frustrated. You ask him for anything, and he does it – no questions asked." Brea watched the gears turn in Savannah's mind. "You tell him that you're cool with being friends with benefits, and that the biggest rule is that you don't talk about it!"

     "How do you know that?"

     "You talk a lot when you're shit-faced!" Brea took a deep breath before continuing. "Has it ever once occurred to you, that Erik's just as focused and passionate as Dan?" Savannah plopped herself back onto her bed. Her eyes had grown wide as her mind raced through all of the things Erik has done for her – for all of the things he would do for her. "He even helped you start a business. Maybe it's time you start looking at what you have, instead of what you want."

     "But Erik doesn't like me like that." She shut her eyes. "Don't get my hopes up."

     "Listen, why don't we get some coffee and get rid of your hangover."

     Savannah nodded and let Brea help her back up and lead her down the stairs. "Every move hurts."

     "I know." They stopped when they heard voices filtering out of the kitchen.

     "So, besides, 'Aye Papi!' what else did Savvy tell you?"

     "Shh. Sav. I think Trevor's talking to Erik."

     "There was a lot of 'Papi' being thrown out." He chuckled. "I forget how she gets when she's drunk."

     "Are you telling me that...?" There was a hint of glee in Trevor's voice.

     "That she groped me? Yes. I almost ran off the road a few times." Erik sighed loudly. "She threw me on her bed too."

     "So? Did you...?"

     "Did I what? Oh! No! I wouldn't do that to her! She was too drunk last night."

     "Too bad. You've wanted her -"

     "Shut up Trevor. It's not like that at all. I want to be with her if she wants to be with me. That's not happening any time soon. She's pretty wrecked about Dan."

     The kitchen was quiet for a moment before Trevor broke the silence. "You told her you love her, didn't you?"

     "It doesn't matter. She was passed out."

     Brea clamped her hand over her mouth, trying to hold back a squeal. "Oh my...did you hear that Sav?"

     Savannah clutched her head. "I need to sit down. Can you get me a coffee?"

     Brea nodded as Savannah headed for the living room. There was so much for her to think about, but doing so with this particular hangover wasn't the best idea at the moment.