82 82 Question

"Hey Ethan, how have you been doing?" I walk up to the bar where we had agreed to meet after work for a quick drink.

"Doing alright, work has been hellish lately. We had two interns mess up some of the legal codes and now we're having to audit every single contract they have done the underwriting for." Ethan grimaces as he recalls it.

Knowing all too well how tedious that is, I pat his shoulder, "I know how that goes. At least it was just contracts that they've gone over and not the whole departments. Or have they been writing for the whole department?" 

Ethan turns to me, wide eyed, "You've had to audit your whole departments contracts?!"

I nod, "Yeah, we had a skeleton crew working on current contracts while the rest of the department had to go over others. It was hellish for a few weeks." 

We order our drinks as Ethan leans back, "How many people are in your department?"

I shrug, "Around fifty, but I only consider about thirty of them worth their salaries. There's a small group who do enough to avoid reprimand but won't apply themselves to do better to achieve recognition either. Then they complain when evaluations come out and they get only the base percentage raise." 

Ethan sighs, "Yeah I think every department has those employees though. Anyways, how are you doing?" He takes a sip of his drink, the ice tinkling against the glass.

Letting out a weighted breath, I take a nice big gulp of my drink as well, wishing I had ordered alcohol at the moment. "I'm dreading Saturday. That's when I'm supposed to 'talk' with her..." That last word was practically poison dripping out of my mouth. I groan, leaning my head against hand, "Part of me just wants to get this over with, but another part of me prefers to squeeze the truth from her like juicing an orange."

"Wow, that's a brutal analogy there, Mel." Ethan raises both his brows and laughs awkwardly. "Although I believe I can sympathize with you on it. It's going to be pretty painful period." 

Groaning again, "I know. Anyways. Let's change the subject." 

"Alright. I wanted to ask you a couple of questions anyways." Ethan drawls out his words. He starts to bounce his knee as he gets lost in thought before leaning forward and stopping his nervous tick.

"Do you think.... does Alyssa ever talk about me?" He starts to flush before clearing his throat and waits for me to answer him. 

I can't help the curl of my lips at his question. "She has... what do you want to know though? It seems you are inquiring for specific information."

Ethan flushes again, his ears bright red as he tries to find his words, "You know what I mean Mel."

"Ethan... Why are you asking me though? You've gone over to her house and spent time with just her and the twins. Can't you tell if she likes you in that manner?" I chide him gently.

Ethan runs his hands through his hair, "It's just, her husband who passed, David. The way everyone talks about him... Everyone thinks the world of that man. How can I compete with a dead man?"

Shaking his head he groans, "That didn't come out right. I don't want to compete with the man. I know I'm nothing compared to him, I don't want to replace him... I just.. I've really grown to care for her and the twins are adorable. I'd be a lucky man to have a family like that."

Ethan's eyes water with his emotions and I can see he's head over heals for all of them, not just Alyssa. A sudden thought pops into my head. I pull out my phone and send a text. It's not long until I get a response and I send two more texts out.

"Come on, have another drink. You know, I think that you are a pretty damn good man too. I've always thought the world of you, too. I never met David but I know what you mean when it's hard to compete with someone who's not around."

I get a text and grab some cash out to pay our tabs and haul Ethan with me. "Come on, we're going to go pay a visit to Sarina and Brian."

"Do what now?!" Ethan exclaims as I pull him outside to the car that is waiting. 

"Don't worry, I think you should talk to Sarina about her brother. I'm not the person who should tell you about him, as I never knew him. I think you'll be surprised though what she has to say. Also she'll know for certain if you should ask Alyssa out for a date or if you are considered to be just a friend. She'll keep this a secret, I can assure you." I say as I push him into the car. "Thank you, David." I smile as David starts to drive once we're in the vehicle.

Ethan's still wrapping his head around the situation before he finally asks, "How am I supposed to ask these questions? I came to you to be subtle, Mel. This is not SUBTLE." He says annoyed.

"Don't worry, I told her we're just coming by to hang out and chit chat for a bit, that my nerves are getting to me about Saturday and that you're with me. While we're there you can look at the pictures and casually mention or ask a question about him." I suggest with a broad smile that must make me look at little mental.

Ethan shakes his head, "Do what now? Mel. No. I'm not going to do anything of the sort. I would rather just ask her straight out about her brother and Alyssa. If there is even a possibility that Alyssa may be open for a relationship again. I'm not going to put on an act about it."

I roll my eyes and sigh, "Thank goodness. I was just fucking with you, she knows exactly why were coming over. In fact her words were, 'about time! come on over'!" I start to giggle as his eyes widen at me.

He closes his eyes and grunts before returning his gaze to mine, "I swear Mel.. You and this whole group are just something else.." He can't keep a serious expression on his face as I grin at him and nod in agreement.

"We sure are. Why do you think they've welcomed you into the fray? You're one of us, whether you can admit it yet or not." I stick my tongue out at him like we were still young in college and he breaks out into laughter. That laughter soon dies down as David pulls into the drive of Sarina and Brian's home in Preston Hollow.

We climb out and David follows us in, something that Sarina and Lirael have insisted on that he does so he's not just sitting around in the vehicle which I love. David's quiet but when he does join in on conversations he's pretty witty.

"Avone calling!" I cry out as I enter the door after a quick knock.

"Kitchen!" Sarina calls back letting us know where she is.

We find her cooking away while entertaining her daughter Eliana who was in her high chair, giggling. 

"Hello beautiful." I give her a hug as Brian walks in with their son Vincent. "Hey Brian." I flash him a smile as he puts his son in his high chair.

"Hey Mel, Ethan, David." Sarina smiles at us warmly as Brian waves and asks us what we would like to drink. He gets us set up, sets the twins finger foods up on their high chairs and lets them get to work on their dinners while Sarina plates us all a stir fry style dinner with chicken, rice and veggies.

We all sit down and thank her for dinner and join them at the table. As we eat giving the parents some time to eat the majority of their meals, the twins are baby babbling like crazy. I notice Ethan wistfully look at the twins every so often.

"So Ethan, what would you like to know?" Sarina inquires once our plates are practically empty. 

Ethan shifts uncomfortably in his seat being put in the hotseat. His eyes dart around at everyone who looks at him expectantly except for the twins who are still smashing green beans between their fingers.

Brian sits back with his doctors face on, a face I've come to recognize from our sessions. I give Ethan an encouraging smile before he sighs. 

"Do you believe that Alyssa is open to the idea of a relationship again or would any attempt be futile since she's still in love with your brother?" 

Brian and Sarina have a silent conversation between them before Sarina answers, "I honestly can't answer if any attempt would be futile, but I do believe she is open to one with you. She speaks highly of you and how you are with the twins when you have gone over to help her out. We appreciate you helping her out too by the way." 

Brian speaks up next, "Why don't you ask her? I mean, she should know better than us if she's ready."

Ethan makes a low groan as he says reluctantly, "Because... I don't know how to say this without sounding completely stupid but... I don't want to compete with the memory of your brother David?" He quickly adds, "I'm not trying to replace him or make her forget him either. I wouldn't want to do that. I know he has a special place in her heart, I just don't know if I'm good enough to deserve a place in hers as well."

Brian and Sarina have another silent conversation with looks before Sarina gives Brian a hard look that says, do it, without being subtle.

Brian sighs, "Come take a walk with me Ethan." He stands and motions for Ethan to follow and they head farther into the house.

Sarina winks my way and smiles, "They are going to be a little while." She starts to pick up the plates and I quickly start to help her when she turns to David, "David, we have some strawberry pie or peach cobbler for dessert. Would you like some with a scoop of vanilla or by itself?" 

David's eyes widen, "I'll take some cobbler by itself, Sarina. Thank you."