I picked up my brother the day before New year's and drove him to my place. It was after work, so by the time we got back I ordered a pizza. He sat on my couch while he watched tv and I could tell he was visibly relaxed here with me. It was constant fighting at home between our mom and him. I sat beside him and drank a glass of wine. "Wine and pizza Marlene, how classy," he said sarcastically.

"I'm very classy, look my pinky is up and everything." We laughed.

By ten I was already falling asleep. I helped him set up the couch and locked up my door going to take a shower. Once I was in bed I heard the doorbell ring making me really annoyed. Who could be here at almost eleven at night?

But as I opened the door, there stood Harry. He had a smile on his face and a box in his hand.

"Hi, you were asleep?" I giggled.

"No, just umm my brothers here come in." I moved aside and let him in. Jeff was in the shower so I let Harry walk into my kitchen to set down the box. "What are you doing here so late?"

"Well actually I was doing some shopping earlier and I saw how you used that small little machine to mix your batter, and before you say anything it only cost me twenty dollars." He opened the box and pulled out an almost brand new looking mixing machine.

"What! Harry that looks new." He chuckled.

"I swear I got it at the thrift store, saw it and thought of you and your muffins." He blushed. "That sounded weird." I looked at him and quickly jumped up hugging him.

"You're going to want sweets all the time aren't you?" He nodded hugging me back. I heard someone clear their throat and we pulled away looking at my brother.

"Oh hello." Harry waved.

"Harry this is my little brother Jeffery, Jeff this is Harry." I had told my brother about Harry and how he was pretending to be my boyfriend only for my mom. But this sneaky kid did something.

"You're the boyfriend?" Harry looked at me and nodded. "Ahh yes, Marlene talks about you all the time and how cute you are." My eyes widened and Harry chuckled.

"Oh really?" He put an arm around me. Jeff nodded. "What else did she say?" I gave Jeff a look and he instantly smirked.

"She just went on and on about how great you are and how your voice is so sexy-"

"Jeff time for bed." I walked over to him giving him a death stare. "Go away." He chuckled going over to my room. I turned and saw Harry looking outside. "He was joking you know."

"Sad, it's kinda nice to be talked about." He smiled getting closer to me. It felt like he was flirting with me so I got closer as well. "Are you sure you haven't talked about me?" I bit my lip shrugging.

"I might have mentioned how sweet you are." Something about the way he looked at me made me want to jump up and kiss him. I leaned forward about to press my lips to his when he suddenly pulled away.

"Marlene, the other day was a mistake. I can't kiss you again, that's not fair to Emily." I felt my cheeks heating up in rejection. I looked away and backed up a few feet.

"Right, sorry I just thought- it's stupid." I shook my head. "Thanks for the machine, here let me pay you back-"

"No it's a gift, you don't have to do that." He shook his head. I looked up at him and he smiled and then looked away. "You're very pretty, and It's not that I'm not attracted, but I would never cheat on Emily. We may not always be on good terms, but she wouldn't cheat on me." I nodded feeling a little better. He thinks I'm pretty. "I should go."

I walked him out and he stood at the door for a second before putting his hand out for a handshake. I shook his hand and waved as he left. As I closed the door I heard a groan from behind me.

"That was painful to hear." I looked at Jeff who was shaking his head.

"What did you hear?" I crossed my arms.

"You tried to kiss him and then he calls you pretty. What kind of fucked up game is this?" I shrugged.

"Why does he have to be so cute, this isn't fair. I'm going to tell you something that stays between us, and I'm serious." He nodded. "His girlfriend is abusive." His eyes widened. "He came to me once and cried, told me everything. I want to take care of him, and treat him with the respect he deserves as a human. But instead, he chooses to be with an abusive, manipulating, woman who's probably sleeping with other men and treats him like dirt." I crossed my arms.

"And you want to have sex with him?"

"Well, obviously Jeffery." I walked towards my room. "I'm going to bed, I've had a long day." He agreed saying good night.

*

For New Year's Eve, we decided to go out for dinner and as I was getting dressed I texted Harry to let him know that we would be eating at an Italian restaurant and that if he wanted he could join us if he was alone for New Year's.

We took an uber to the restaurant and I gave them our name waiting at the bar with Jeff. "So why a table for three, did you invite the boyfriend?" I nodded. "Jesus, Marlene why do you do this to yourself?"

"Do what?" I ordered a drink while he scolded me.

"You always go for the unavailable guys. Either they're married or emotionally unavailable. No wonder you've never had a proper boyfriend."

"You sound like mom." I took a sip of my drink. "Fuck off I don't go for married guys. Besides if he was happy, I would have backed off, but he's not." He shook his head.

"Oh shit." He looked behind me. I turned and walking into the place was Harry. He looked so good in his black dress pants, black dress shirt and a nice black blazer on top. The top three buttons were undone and his hair was a bit messy.

He was so hot.

He saw us and smiled walking over. "I made it." I nodded not saying anything, he literally took my breath away. "Is she alright?" He asked Jeff.

"My sister's weird, oh look they're calling for us Marlene." He smacked my arm and I quickly snapped out of my trance.

"Right, yeah let's go I'm so hungry."

*

Our dinner was served and we all ate in comfortable silence. That is until Jeff started talking to Harry. He had already told him he knew we weren't actually together and that he could act normal. "So Harry, like any sports teams?"

"I like American football, the Packers are my favorite." Both Jeff and I looked at each other.

"Huh check it out Marlene, dad would love him." I kicked Jeff under the table.

"Your dad loves the packers?" I nodded.

"So does Marlene." Jeff smiled. He looked at me and I looked down at my food. "Right Marlene?" I knew what Jeffery was trying to do with Harry. He was being a wingman, I appreciated it, but I also wanted him to shut up.

"This food is good." I took a bite making Harry chuckle.

"Ugh, I have to pee." Jeffrey stood up and walked away leaving Harry and me alone.

"Call me crazy but I think your brothers hyping you up." I giggled nodding. "So are you two close?" I shrugged.

"He's seventeen so he has high school problems, I can't really relate since I was a bit of a loser in high school -until I rebelled." Harry's eyes widened.

"You seem way to confident to have ever been a loser in high school." I let out a laugh.

"No, I was picked on because I was the smartest kid and I hung out at the library during lunch. My mom's really religious and I wasn't allowed to wear cool clothes. I always had to wear skirts and dresses that were hideous. I also never had a boyfriend and that was kind of a big deal at my school." He listened carefully.

"What changed?" I shrugged.

"I guess during my last year and college I went a little crazy with my friends and broke out of my shell. I stopped listening to my mom's rules and just became independent." My brother came back and sat down looking between us.

"So what are we talking about?" I glared at him.

"Just about your sister becoming more confident." Jeff looked at me and smirked.

"You know Harry, Marlene once got arrested-"

"Jeffery!" I smacked his arm. "I was held at a station, not arrested." Harry just took a bite of food and chuckled.

*

After dinner, we went back to my apartment and I showed the boys up to the roof with a bottle of champagne. We hit the bar for a drink and the time got the best of us because it was already close to midnight. "This is a nice view," Harry said looking out. He took a sip of champagne and took his phone out to take a photo.

When midnight came around and the fireworks went off across town I hugged my brother and he quickly gasped. "I promised I would call mom." He ran towards the door and told me he'd be back. He left Harry and me alone again and for a second I was grateful. That is until Harry began calling Emily.

"Hi, darling- I know it's early over there, happy New Year's." He smiled. I looked out at the fireworks and sighed.

He has a girlfriend.

He has a fucking girlfriend, stop having feelings.

"I'll call you later bye." He hung up and looked at me. "You okay?" I nodded leaning against the wall.

"Another New year's alone." I shrugged. "You'd think I would be over it by now." He put his arm around me. I quickly pulled away and shook my head. Maybe it was the alcohol coursing through me or the anger I felt towards Emily, but I turned to him and pulled him down by his shirt collar and kissed him.

He didn't react for a second but then he kissed me back. It was as if something sparked in him as it did in me because he put his arms around me and pulled me in closer. His lips moved against mine and his tongue touched my bottom lip. I moaned against his lips, turning my head when he suddenly pulled away. "Oh my god, I have to go."

"Wait, Harry, please don't-"

"Marlene! I have a girlfriend! I just cheated on my girlfriend and with you!" The way he said 'with you' like he was disgusted made my heart crack. I looked down and felt embarrassed.

"You kissed me back," I said in a small voice.

"I didn't mean it- I have to go." He began walking away.

"Harry I can't help my feelings for you, I understand if you don't want to be my friend anymore. " He turned to look at me and looked like he was having an internal battle with himself. He sighed turning to leave while I stood there alone on the roof and felt tears falling. By the time my brother came back, he seemed confused. "Let's just go inside and eat our feelings."

"Alright, sounds like a plan." He shrugged.

*

By that following Monday at work, I had felt like Harry was purposely ignoring me. He was doing busy work to avoid me at all costs. On Tuesday, I showed up earlier and began packing up my stuff to move to an empty cubicle on the other side of the office. Harry walked in as I put my knick-knacks in a box. "What are you doing?"

"Moving into a different cubicle." He sighed.

"Marlene please don't do that-"

"Why shouldn't I? I already made an idiot out of myself. You don't like me the same way I do and you have a good reason. It would be wrong for me to stay." He groaned shaking his head.

"You know I like you, but I can't like you. Please don't leave, I like having you here." I looked down at my stuff. "Please?" His eyes were soft as he stared me down until I felt like I was melting in his touch.

"Fine." He smiled leaning down to hug me. "Ugh, Harry this is not helping." He chuckled. "Just stop being so nice to me, you make it hard not to like you." He sat on his chair and nodded. "Also button up your shirts, you have a very nice chest area." He smirked.

I sat down and began placing my stuff back.

I give in too quickly.

Later that afternoon I yawned wanting to go back home. I was sad that my brother had gone back, but it was nice to get home and walk around naked again. I made it to my apartment and fed Polly before stripping down to take a hot shower. I heated up a dinner plate, one of those frozen meals before sitting on my couch to watch cartoons.

Harry

I drove home and went up to the elevator to my apartment. I took Marlene's words and smiled. She admitted she had feelings for me and it was honestly nice. It felt like I wasn't worthless and ugly. She was a beautiful woman and although I was taken, I thought of her in that light.

I had thoughts of kissing her and holding her. Walking hand in hand and going on dates. I didn't love Emily the way I used to, I only liked the idea of how she used to be. Maybe if we could try and actually work out our problems, she could be the woman I met. My feelings for Marlene would go away and things would be normal.

My thoughts were jumbled as I walked into the apartment early. I closed the door and noticed a jacket on the couch. A leather jacket and a pair of woman's shoes.

Then I heard moaning.

I felt my stomach drop at the sounds of moans in the next room. I shook my head thinking I had to be dreaming. As my feet carried me to the bedroom I felt my heart beating out of my chest. I slowly opened the door and looked inside.

There on the bed was Emily and her friend Katie, kissing while a man with dark hair layed his head between her legs. They didn't hear me as I quietly backed out. I walked carefully out of the apartment and walked all the way down and out of the building.

Not only was Emily cheating on me, but she was also having an affair with two people. I was beyond confused but I knew that this was the final straw.

*

Thanks for reading. Xx

-k