Free Catch My Fall by Ella Fox

father’s house for the first time. 
    While Macy chatted happily to Brady and Chad, I took the time to furtively check out the house.  Taking us through the grand entry and down a long hallway, Brady guided us into what he called ‘the family room’.  Although that might be what it’s called, it was more like an enormous rec room.  Taking it all in I spotted two pool tables, a ping-pong table, five arcade games, three pinball machines, several giant televisions, a baby grand piano, a bar with seating for at least a dozen people and several mammoth sofas placed throughout the room.  Fifty percent of my house would fit into this room, but what I’m feeling isn’t jealousy — it’s disgust.  This isn’t a family room at all — it’s an excuse for excess. 
    I noted that there were tons of family photos strategically placed around the room (none of me, naturally), but it was the enormous photo from my father’s wedding day that caught my eye.  Of course I hadn’t been invited, so this is the first time I’d ever seen a photo of the event.  In the photo Teresa is in the center of a hug from my father and Brady, and the three of them looked overjoyed.  I have not one photo of my father with me like that, and even though I should have been over this by now, it stung.  Things that have to do with him always hurt.  Always.
    Guiding us across the room, Brady and Chad sat us at the bar before asking what we wanted to drink.  I asked for soda, and I figured that Macy would ask for a beer, but instead she giggled and said, “ Bartender’s choice.”
    Brady and Chad exchanged a look that didn’t sit well with me, but when I looked to Macy to see if she had caught it, she smiled at me like we were at a bar with the Prince of England.  Why was she suddenly unable to see reality? When we le ft tonight, I would have a very serious talk with her about the way she’s been acting lately.
    Brady and Chad conferred as they plucked bottles off the shelves and made drinks.  Chad set a glass in front of Macy and said, “We’re giving you a screaming orgasm, and you’re going to love it.”
    Every part of me wanted to get up and leave, but Macy was giggling as if Chad just said the funniest thing ever.  Setting a drink down in front of me Brady said, “I made you a light rum and Coke.”
    Stiffening my back I said, “I already told you I can’t drink tonight since I’m the designated driver.”
    “Aww,” he said with a smile that I could tell was just part of his act.  “I’m here to take care of you, little sister.  I would never let you drive drunk.  Like I said, it’s a light drink, just a splash of rum.  If you only have the one drink, you’ll be fine to drive in a few hours.  You can relax here, Mia.  It’s not like we’re trying to get into your pants.”
    I flushed from head to toe, but I wasn’t going to back down about this.  “I’m not drinking anything with alcohol in it.  You go ahead and drink it, I’m not thirsty.”
    His dropped the happy-go-lucky veneer and his eyes narrowed for just a second, but he quickly got it back and smiled at me before turning around and taking care of making drinks for himself and Chad.
    The giggling alien-esque imposter that had taken over my best friend ’s body was telling them how good her drink was, and I took deep breaths as I assured myself that in just a few hours this night would be over and I’d never have to think about it again.
    Setting another glass down in front of me, Brady smiled.  “Here ya go, a virgin Coca-Cola with tons of ice.”
    I took the soda with clammy hands and downed more than half of it in less than a minute as I took deep breaths and forced myself to calm down. 
    As the minutes ticked by I noticed that Brady and Chad were being charming and friendly, and for the first time, I started to relax.  Whatever Brady’s deal was, at least tonight he seemed to be on good behavior.
    I was feeling so relaxed that when Macy