I had just gotten home from work, and slipped off my shoes when I heard a knock on the door. I found this to be strange that I had been home less than a minute—someone must have climbed the stairs behind me, and I simply had not paid attention. I was stuck in this thought, and did not move until I heard a second volley of knocks.
I walked up to the door, and checked the peephole. Standing on the other side of the door was a man I had met only once before. His name was Brad, and he had briefly talked to my sister. She had stopped talking to him because he had been too pushy with her. At the conclusion of their first date—their only date—he demanded a goodnight kiss. And my sister felt that she did not owe him anything. Brad was that type of man, and my sister was that type of woman. Brad went home that night un-kissed, and my sister had returned none of his calls.
Upon seeing Brad, I sighed, and contemplated remaining quiet, and not answering the door. Last thing I really wanted was to field one of my sister's strikeouts. There were better ways I envisioned spending my afternoon. But then, I thought, Brad had likely saw me climbing the stairs, and knew that I was at home. And knowing what I knew about him, he would likely spend an hour banging on the door. I unfastened the deadbolt, and opened the door.
Brad straightened up when he saw me. "Hi, you may not remember me, we met last week when I picked your sister up. I'm Brad."
I leaned against the doorway. I had been on my feet all day, and I ached from heel to toe. "I remember you. Ashley isn't here right now. She is picking up some extra shifts at the hospital."
Brad thought about this for a few seconds. "Hmmm. I was hoping to catch her home. I tried calling her, but no reply. I texted her this morning. Nothing. I just wanted to let her know how sorry I am about the other night. That's not who I am."
I shook my head. "I don't know what to tell you, Brad. I don't get involved in my sister's...things. It kind of works out better that way."
I could tell that Brad was not deterred by my statement. It was as though he had not heard me at all.
"It's just that I never met anyone like your sister," Brad said. "She is so smart, and attractive. She really is an awesome girl."
Brad just summed up how pretty much every man viewed my sister. Which was why my sister played no games when it came to men. She knew a thing or two about control.
"Again, Brad," I said. "I don't know what to tell you. Certainly, I cannot force her to call you. I'm sure you're a great guy, but there is nothing I can do. Is there?"
I thought that I saw something flash in his eyes. But he thought a few seconds before replying. "I thought maybe I could hang out a little while until she got home. What shift is she working?"
"She's working 2
nd
shift," I replied. "Not getting home anytime soon. Besides, I've had a long day and I'm thinking of turning up early. You probably only missed her by a few minutes."
Brad winced, and looked dejected. Then I saw something flash again across his eyes. "Well, what about you?"
I flinched at the question. "What about me?"
"What about you?" Brad asked again. "I've heard about you. What about it? You're alone, right?"
I stepped backward into the doorway. "Goodbye Brad."
Brad approached me, and stuck his foot in the door, keeping me from shutting the door on him. And a part of me was thankful for that. Brad was kind of cute, and his come on took me by surprise. It's not every day a man is so openly suggestive with me, and it got me thinking. A part of me was curious to see where this could go, and I now could blame it on Brad's persistence.
"Come on," he smiled. "Don't be like that. Look, I'm sorry for coming off like that. Can you at least let me come inside? I'm real thirsty. The car's A/C went out, and I had to drive twenty five miles to get here."
"You can drink your water outside," I replied, already easing my grip on the door.
"Come on," Brad said. He lifted his eyebrows, and subtly licked his lips. "I'm technically already inside. What's a little more going to hurt?"
Ashely was right; Brad was persistent as hell. I looked down at his leg already in the house. I stole a glance at his crotch, and looked him in the eye. "Well, what's in it for me?"
"Let's just say that I can make a
big
donation for you," Brad said.
My heart started to flutter, and I felt my temperature rise. Suddenly, I was thirsty, too.
"I know I probably shouldn't be doing this, but come on in," I said, stepping aside.
Me and Ashley always had a code. We did not share interests. But I did some mental gymnastics, and told myself that this one did not count. They only went on one date, and never even touched. And I knew that Ashley was planning on never again speaking with the guy. So, inviting the guy in for water in no way felt like the sharing of interests.
Brad walked in, and I shut the door—sliding in the deadbolt in the process. I tried to do so quietly, indiscreetly, but the deadbolt betrayed me. I was pretty sure my neighbors heard it slide home. I lifted my hand.
"The couch is right there," I said. "Why don't you have a seat while I get you your water. You said you were thirsty, right?"
"Thirsty?" Brad said. "Oh, right."
He sat down on the couch, and I disappeared in the kitchen to draw him some water. He stared at me, as I walked into the living room.
"What are you staring at?" I asked, handing him the glass of water.
Brad took a sip, and placed the glass on the coffee table. "Nothing. I just couldn't get over how much you look like your sister."
I rolled my eyes. There was no doubting my resemblance to Ashley. We could have told people we were twins, and it would pass. But for some reason, it caused a stab of jealousy being compared to her like this by him. I did not want to feel that the only reason he was sitting before me was my proximity in looks with Ashely. So, I decided to change things up, and say the most un-like Ashley thing I could think of. I wanted Brad to know he was dealing with something completely different.
"So," I said. "Where's this
big
donation you were talking about?"
Brad breathed in sharply. Brad grabbed his crotch, and I could see the outline of his penis through the denim of his jeans. While it definitely was not as big as advertised, it was big enough.
"You want to see it?" Brad asked.