Page 12 of Not That Guy

Weston

Now that the teams were chosen, they’d separated us into two rooms, and we were at assigned tables. Brenner and I sat several seats apart. He hadn’t looked at me once, and I wasn’t about to be the first one to speak. Not after that nasty crack about how I’d used my father to get where I am today.

Bastard knew nothing. I hadn’t seen the man in years.

Matter of fact, only this morning, my dear old dad had emailed me with an invitation to his primary election night party, a week and a half from now. Me and his closest thousand friends. I’d deleted it.

A different facilitator, a young woman in a bright-green dress and purple-rimmed glasses, waited for everyone to finish getting settled.

They’d provided coffee and pastries for us, and I made sure to take an extra-large cup.

Black. The night before, Grady and I had gotten a little deep into the Grey Goose, and my head was still feeling the effects.

“Good morning, everyone. I’m Sara Lindstrom, your facilitator for the day.

I hope we’re all ready for a day of exploration and trust-building.

The purpose of this exercise is to allow you to open up and see the world not only from your point of view, but from others’ as well, something we all need, I think, don’t you? ”

She nodded at the murmurs of agreement. I heard a huff from the side and cut a glance at Brenner, who sat stone-faced. His usual piss-ass expression. Suddenly, I wanted to annoy the shit out of him, and I forgot about my headache.

“She’s right, don’t you think, Brenner?” I put on my most winning smile.

The full force of his withering stare pierced through me, and then he faced the front of the room again. Of course, I wouldn’t let that stop me. There was no denying—especially to myself—that I could be an annoying bastard at times, and this was going to be one of them.

“You’re going to have to talk to me at some point. Like it or not, we’re partners for the day.”

“Did you rig this deliberately to try and piss me off?”

I took a moment to answer and sipped my coffee, sensing it would be a minimum three-cup morning to deal with all the bullshit.

“I’m glad you think I have so much power, Brenner, but the truth is, I’m a mere mortal.

” I smirked. “Though many have called out to God when they were with me.” Damn, I was good.

“Unreal,” he muttered. “I’m sure they have. But hell is another dimension of the afterlife.”

I couldn’t help it and busted out laughing. Sara stopped speaking about partnerships, and the entire room turned to look at us. While Brenner’s face flamed, I shrugged. “Sorry.”

“Care to share what was so funny?” Sara encouraged.

I smirked at Brenner. “No. Sorry. It was personal. I don’t think Brenner would appreciate it.”

A multitude of brows rose high, and Brenner glared blue daggers at me before a wicked grin kicked up his lips. “Oh, I don’t mind. To paraphrase, Weston insinuated that being with him is out of this world, and I said hell is also.”

Snickers and laughter abounded, and I didn’t like how Brenner had turned the narrative around. “All right, can we return to the tasks at hand?” I called out. “I’m sure we have a lot of work for the morning.”

“Suck-up,” Brenner whispered.

A bit disconcerted by our interruption, Sara placed the perky smile back on her lips and picked up her script.

“Our first assignment is for each of you to face each other and give five strengths and five weaknesses about yourselves. Your partner will write them down, and at the end of the weekend, we’ll revisit them and see if you have a change of heart about any or all of them.

You will have thirty minutes to complete this. ”

Chairs squealed and shifted as people began the task. I followed suit, but Brenner remained frozen, staring at the tabletop.

“Is there a problem?” I asked.

“This isn’t going to work. We should be reassigned to different people.”

“The hell we are,” I growled. “And be the only ones who can’t do the assignment? You know they’ll report that to the senior partners. I’m willing if you are.”

It was the truth. Maybe Brenner would stop being the uptight dick I knew in law school, and we could start acting like adults. Not that I didn’t like to push his buttons, but I was curious to see what his answers would be.

That annoyed face reappeared. “I guess you’re right.”

“How much did it hurt you to have to say that?” I joked.

To my surprise, Brenner laughed, and an unexpected and shocking wave of heat rolled through me. My breath caught, and I grabbed my almost empty cup of coffee and finished it. What the fuck was that? I could barely get it up for Isobel, but Brenner laughing set my balls on fire.

“I, uh, need another cup of coffee.” Without waiting for him to respond, I jumped out of my seat and ran to the back of the room, where the machines were.

I took a second to settle my racing nerves.

Obviously, I was still worked up from the previous night and the two women Grady and I had been talking to.

Either that or the hangover I was fighting.

Brenner’s dark head was bent over the table as he wrote. He hadn’t shaved this morning, and a rough stubble covered his jaw…and why the fuck was I noticing that? Jesus . Now my libido woke up to make an entrance?

My hand shook, and I drank some of the new coffee I’d poured and refilled it. In a goodwill gesture, I decided to bring some to Brenner. Not knowing how he took his, I brought it to him undoctored.

“Here.” I slid the cup to him. “I figured we could both use some fortitude.”

“Thanks.” He peered inside the cup. “How did you know I took it black?”

“I didn’t. I drink it that way.” My grin was halfhearted. “I’m sure if you didn’t like it, you’d let me know.”

He rubbed his chin. “We only have around twenty minutes left. I’ve started my list. Better move on it.”

“You got it, boss.” I took up the pen provided. It wasn’t hard to list my strong points. As for the weaknesses? Hmm …might take a while. I gnawed on the end of the pen before scribbling out some things.

“Finished? I don’t want to run out of time.”

Of course not. Brenner wasn’t a rule-breaker. Some things never changed. “Yep. Let’s go.”

Brenner folded his arms. “Since you always claim number one, you go first. Besides, I know you love talking about yourself.”

I grimaced. “Funny. All right. My strengths: I’m a fast learner, I’m organized. I’m loyal, and I don’t stop until I win.”

“That’s four.”

I winked. “I’m a great lover.”

Brenner flushed, and his eyes shifted side to side. “What the fuck does that have to do with work?”

“Nothing. I just figured it’d get a rise.

I like annoying you.” Cackling, I waved a hand.

“Number five: I don’t lie, and I always say what I mean.

It goes hand in hand with always being able to spot a bullshitter.

It works in depositions or if I think people—including clients—are lying to me or trying to fudge the truth. ”

Brenner nodded, writing on his pad. “And your faults?”

I nibbled on my bottom lip. “Of course, that was harder. But I can be quick to judge, a bit of a wise-ass—”

“A bit?” Brenner snorted.

“Hey.” I jabbed my pen in his direction. “This is my self-assessment, not yours. To continue…I have a hard time letting go, and I tend to think I’m always right. Plus, if you hurt me or someone I care about, you’re dead to me.”

“So no forgiveness?”

“Forgiveness is easy if the person means nothing. But if you’re supposed to care…no. I don’t give a shit about explanations.”

All I could think of was when I’d been fifteen and on a class trip to Dallas.

I’d wanted to surprise my father, who’d also been there for a conference, so I’d sneaked out of our hotel to visit the one my father was staying at.

I’d stepped out of the elevator and turned the corner…

and my whole world blew apart, seeing him kissing a woman in the doorway of her hotel room before rubbing her ass and following her inside.

Meanwhile my mother had sat at home, sick and unsuspecting.

“That’s pretty harsh.”

“I don’t care. Some people don’t deserve a second chance if they abused their first.”

Brenner blinked, and his hand stilled. He lifted his head and met my eyes, and I almost flinched. The intensity of his gaze penetrated my soul, as if he were tearing apart the surface and digging beneath my skin. I had to switch up the mood.

“All right, I bared my guts. Your turn.” Pen poised to paper, I was truly curious.

Brenner clasped his hands. “Strengths: I’m tenacious, punctual, honest, hard-working, and compassionate.”

“Hard-working and passionate.” I spoke aloud as I wrote, waiting for him to respond. I wasn’t disappointed.

“I said compassionate ,” he snapped, a flush rising over his face. “Stop that.”

I grinned. “Wise-ass, remember?”

Brenner rolled his eyes. “My weaknesses: I hold grudges, have a tendency to make snap judgments, not into socializing, don’t trust easily, let work dominate my life.”

From where I sat, knowing what I did of Brenner, it was all true.

“Well, all this makes us a messy couple.” I slipped the page into my folder as Sara called out time.

“I hope you’ve finished and gained a little insight into yourselves. We’re going to take a ten-minute break, and when we return, we’ll do a trust-building exercise.”

Half the people left their seats to get snacks, stretch, use the facilities, or do whatever. I checked my phone for any texts or emails. Grady had texted: Dude, you surviving?

About to answer, my grin faded, replaced by the hot flush of anger at another text from my father.

The least you could do is respond. Paige and Emily will be at my side a week from Tuesday. I expect you to show your face and stop acting like a spoiled brat. Be a man.

My vision blurred, and I shoved away from the table. I had to get out of the room. I needed air and ran for the nearest exit. Once outside, I dragged in deep breaths, but the shaking didn’t stop.

Fuck him . Who the hell did he think he was to talk to me like that?

He’d treated my mother like crap and only cared about me now for his photo op.

For years I’d waited for an invitation to meet my sister, but none had come.

Knowing my mother would want me to step up and be a big brother, I’d bitten the bullet and called their house and left messages, but they’d never been returned.

Her first birthday had come and gone, and now she was almost four and I still hadn’t met her.

I leaned my hot cheek against the cool windowpane.

“West?”

Fuck . I closed my burning eyes for a second before facing Brenner with a forced smile. “Is it time already?”

“We still have a few minutes. Are you all right?”

“Yeah, of course.” I brushed the hair off my sweaty brow. “Why do you ask?”

“I don’t know, maybe because you look like you’re about to throw up? Plus, you ran out of the room like a bat out of hell after checking your phone. Did you get bad news?”

“No.” I pressed my lips together, but I wasn’t sure if it was to stop myself from spilling my guts or busting out crying. Neither of which I cared to do with Brenner.

Not that he believed me, as the expression on his face indicated. “Uh-huh.” He waited, and I collected myself as best I could.

“Aw, you want to walk in together, like we’re friends?”

Side by side, we headed into the conference room.

“You’re acting like more of an ass than usual,” he murmured. “And I don’t care what you say. I know you’re lying. I’ve seen prisoners looking happier than you.”

Ignoring him, I strode ahead and sat in my chair. With everyone in place, Sara once again stood up in front.

“This next exercise is one that many of you might be familiar with. We ask one of you to stand in front of the other and allow yourself to fall backward. The objective is to have trust in your partner to catch you. Both of you will do the falling and the catching, so no one gets an advantage over the other. And for those who don’t feel they can catch their partner, you can improvise by placing a chair under them as they lower themselves to sit. The premise remains the same.”

Brenner and I shared a glance, and neither of us appeared happy about this test.

“Well? You want to catch me or have me catch you first?” Putting on my most innocent face, I held my hands up. “I’ll let you choose.”

From the stupendous frown and deep furrows in his brow, I could only imagine the thoughts running through Brenner’s brain.

“You’ll let me. How magnanimous of you,” he sniped, but then his face cleared. “My decision is you make the choice. Why should you get to decide who decides?”

“Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds—even for you?”

That jab settled it, and Brenner straightened up. “If that’s how it’s going to be, I’ll catch you.”

I took off my suit jacket, rolled up my sleeves, and held my arms out. “Come and get me.”