I Hate You

14. "he really said all that?"

The next day Brandon was the same old same old at work. Chatting up a storm with all the other ladies in the department. Hell, even the ones from the lower floors. I'm starting to question why Sophie even hired him to begin with. I mean what did she see in him because frankly there's no ambition there. I choose to pay no mind to him and focus on my own editing. This job requires my full attention and I have been completely losing focus because of him.

I am not getting involved. I realized my mistake now and I won't let him distract me anymore.

However, there's one thought that can't shake in my mind. How horrible I feel for the way things went down at Max's party. I can't believe I let my anger get the best of me. I don't understand how he manages to find little ways to get under my skin, it's like he does it without even trying. I need to stop worrying about the things I cannot change.

It doesn't even matter because I owe Max a huge apology. That's what I intend on doing today.

//

Max and I went out for lunch. Spending too much time in the office would make anyone go mad. Besides, I owe her a treat after the way I acted.

"I'm so sorry for my behaviour Max I was totally out of line." I sat across from her on this lovely patio only a block away from work. Hoping this beautiful sunny weather will brighten her mood and she will be more inclined to accept my apology. "But when I saw him with Summer I got bad vibes."

"Wait Summer was there? Like the one from high school?" Max's surprise catches me off guard. I thought surely she would've noticed her weasel her way into the party. "Damn, that bitch really needs to get a life." Max rolls her eyes. I laugh feeling extremely relieved that Max wasn't responsible for inviting her. Why would she, we both disliked that girl and her need to get into other people's business.

"Listen," Max starts. "After you left the party I spoke with Brandon."

I feel a pit form in my stomach, and not just because I'm starving and the waiter is taking an exceptionally long time with our order. "He told me that he's glad that you guys are finally friends now and he really likes you as a person. He respects your determination and he also enjoys picking on you but I really shouldn't mention that part."

I chuckle. I don't know why I feel warm inside all of a sudden. "He really said that?" I guess I never considered the possibility that he actually might have some depth to him past that superficial macho man exterior.

"You're right Max, from now on I'm not gonna let my emotions get the best of me." I've been acting so out of character it's making me feel sick. I'm getting back to the mature, cool and collected woman that I worked so hard to be.

"Good, so that means I can tell you this and you won't freak out." She says.

I feel another pit form in my stomach but I push it down and keep a calm mind. "Brian and I asked his band to play at our wedding."

This announcement comes as quite a shock to me but I smile as I analyze the reasoning behind it. I mean I'm sure his band comes at a lower cost since he's a friend and judging by what I saw from their performance, they should be able to learn the songs with no problem. "Max, that's amazing! It all worked out splendidly then." I want to show her that I am above it all.

Our food finally arrives and we stuff our faces with the loaded bowls we ordered. A bit of a splurge for chickpeas, chicken, avocado and rice but hey I knew what I was signing up for when I moved here.

After a nice long day full of editing and working on the same scene my head was ready to fall off its shoulders and my wrists were going to snap. I feel a nice weight off my chest knowing that I patched things up with Max and I feel like I learned my lesson.

I run into no one other than Brandon on my way out of the office. My iced coffee was dripping in my hand from the condensation. The burning LA sun seemed unforgiving this afternoon.

"You were surprisingly calm today." He nudges me as we walk side by side to the parking lot. "Why wouldn't I be?" I ask.

"Well I mean you seemed pretty out of it at the party. Like I can tell when your stressed because you have that one vein in your forehead that pops out." He starts chuckling to himself. I roll my eyes because he's trying to act cute. "I wasn't out of it," I pause trying to collect myself like I talked about.

"That girl you brought, she happens to be very vindictive and annoying. I knew her once upon a time from school and she brought me nothing but insecurities and trauma. But you knew that already didn't you?"

He stops in his tracks and I stop shortly after. "Summer? I didn't even know her until the party, I actually bumped into her at the door and we just started chatting."

I froze in disbelief. "What made you think that?" he pokes. "I guess I just assumed, you guys acted like you have known each other for years." I shake my head.

"Yeah, I noticed you seem to do that a lot." He continues walking next to me as we almost reach my car. "Your bike is all the way over on the other side of the lot, what are you doing?" I ask him hoping to escape this conversation once and for all.

"Look, if she bothers you that much, I'll ditch her. Easy." He slides in front of me to make his statement loud and clear. And there it is. "Ah, that's great. No doubt you got plenty of other blonde prospects to hit up." I snark.

"Well, I mean it is LA after all," he jokes. I scoff and push past him to get into my car. As much as it's been a lovely day I am dying to get back home, change into my silk pj's and pour myself that glass of California wine.

"But honestly, last night." He reaches over me and closes my car door just as I am about to get in. "When I saw you in that dress," he exhales loudly through his mouth. My mind goes to a million different places trying to predict what he is going to say next. I swallow my thoughts and force myself to speak. "Please." I try to shut him down.

I don't know if want him to finish that sentence. "Red is really your colour. You should wear it more often."

I try to accept his compliment only because it seems genuine. Although I am feeling slightly uneasy by the fact that he has thought about me in that dress for this long.

And just like that he lets go of my car door and I try to hide the fact that I'm paralyzed by his utter confidence. Before he fully steps back he leans in and under his breath, I hear him say, "Summer's got nothing on you."

I think I got a problem.