Falling in Love by Stephen Bradlee Read Free Book Online Page A

smile and utter, “Hi, Brian. It’s nice to meet you.”
    Barely above a whisper, he returned, “Hi.”
    Paul looked at us and asked, “You two know each other?”
    “Not really,” said Brian. “But I think we’ve met.”
    Paul laughed. “In your dreams, Buddy. Isn’t she something else?”
    Brian agreed. “Definitely.”
    “Well, let’s have a drink,” Paul suggested and quickly bought a round. We sat down at a table near the stage. Unlike the times with Paul when I had barely sipped my glass, I began staying with Paul drink for drink, petrified that at any moment Brian would tell Paul about our sick tryst. But Brian wasn’t saying much of anything. Paul told Brian how we had met and how doing a good deed was being repaid by changing his life.
    When the music started, Paul tried to coax Brian in singing. “We have to find a song that all three of us can sing,” Paul insisted.
    Brian said, “I don’t think I’m in the mood.”
    “Nonsense,” said Paul. The place was getting crowded and Paul couldn’t find the waitress, so he got up to get us another round.
    When we were alone, Brian seemed to be mulling over what to say. I hoped it was about which song to sing but I knew I was wrong. He finally snapped, “What are you doing?”
    I wanted to explain everything, that it had all been a bad mistake. Instead I hoped against hope that he hadn’t remembered me, saying, “Having a drink.”
    “You know what I mean.”
    Of course, I did. But I just couldn’t bring myself to admit it. “No, I don’t.”
    “The other night. When you screwed half of the guys at Nick’s party?”
    “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I insisted.
    “What?” He looked around for Paul and I got scared.
    I grabbed his arm. “Look, that wasn’t me,” I tried to explain. That part I truly believed was true. Then I began lying. “Some one put some drug in my beer.”
    He turned and stared at me. “Connors drugged you? I can’t believe that.” He jerked his arm away.
    “I’d never do anything like that,” I insisted. My voice was a plea.
    “You have to tell Paul. He’s sure to find out.”
    No! That would be the worst thing I could do. “I can’t,” I said. “You can’t.”
    Paul returned, armed with three drinks and a smile, and sweetly asked me, “He can’t what?”
    I attempted a sweet smile. “I didn’t want you to know that I started smoking again. I mean buying them. I met Brian in line at the Quick Mart. Right, Brian?
    Brian got up. “Paul, I’ve got to go.”
    Paul couldn’t believe it. “What? It’s because I want you to sing, right? All right, you don’t have to. But it’s not like you’ve never been on a stage before.”
    “Forget it,” said Brian and headed for the door.
    Dumbfounded, Paul watched Brian leave. He turned to me. “Sorry about that. But don’t worry about it. Brian gets a little moody now and then.”
    Within a few minutes Paul had forgotten about it, and we ended up singing several songs together. He sang with gusto but my heart wasn’t in it, except for one duet, “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”
     
    The next morning, Paul gave me his credit card and told me to go into Sparta and buy myself a beautiful dress. He also planned to shop for something special before jogging along the lake with Brian.
    Hearing Brian’s name made my heart sink to my stomach. I tried to mention offhandedly that I hadn’t known that he had made plans with Brian.
    “I didn’t,” Paul replied. “He just called this morning and said that he wanted to get together. I guess he’s trying to make up for being so rude last night.”
    How I wished that were true but I knew that it wasn’t! I flashed anger at Brian. He was trying to take my Paul away from me. I wanted go along, to stop Brian from telling Paul but before I could say anything Paul gave me a quick kiss, promised to pick me up at seven and was out the door. I turned to see Arlene entering the room. She had seen Paul