Stained Red Chapter Two
Isaac groaned inwardly as he sat at his desk at the studio. Zac was off getting lunch which left him here with Taylor who was on the phone with his flavor of the month. Isaac was sure this was his own worst nightmare. Listening to his brother lovey-dovey talk to some chick who would be gone in a month.
Picking up the half-empty cup of coffee that was on the table, Isaac took a drink. It was cold but that would be expected since it had been sitting there for over an hour now. It had been his fifth cup of the day.
Lately it seemed that coffee was the only thing keeping him going. Ever since leaving Natalie he had been staying at hotel downtown. It was nice but he just hadn't been able to sleep or clear his mind. He had never expected his marriage to go down this road, even if he hadn't loved her when he married her. He had come to depend on her and to be comfortable with her. Everything had been fine until their last argument. Things had been said that neither could take back.
Shaking his head he put the cup back down. Seeing that Taylor was off the phone finally, Isaac decided to try to make a conversation with him. Anything would be better than thinking of Natalie and the fact that she had probably gotten the divorce papers he had filed for two days ago.
"So, whose the new girl?" Isaac asked as he turned his chair slightly, the wheels squeaking when he did so.
Taylor made a face when he heard the squeak of the wheels as Isaac moved in that damn chair of his. Turning in his own chair, he came face to face with his older brother. He was half sure Isaac had aged a lot in the past month but Taylor knew that was probably because of his failing marriage.
"Her name is Nikki," he shrugged a smirk appearing on his lips after he said her name. "She was at one of our shows this past summer. That's how I met her."
Isaac tried to hide his amusement that Taylor was dating yet another fan of theirs. It seemed that was all he had ever attracted to him. "I'm not surprised she is a fan," Isaac laughed as he shook his head.
Taylor furrowed his brow some at Isaac's comment, "What does that mean?" he asked feeling slightly offended by his brother's words.
"It just means you have a type Tay," Isaac shrugged. "Brunette and a fan of our band," he sighed as he leaned back in the chair. He knew from Taylor's tone he had offended him. He hadn't really meant too but he was being honest.
Taylor rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Well that's funny, considering, I was with Natalie before you married her," he said his tone going harsh. He knew it was a low blow but he was even more offended now by Isaac's words.
"Oh trust me, I never forget that," Isaac nodded as he kept his face neutral, tryin not to show that Taylor's words had hit a nerve. He hated being reminded that Taylor had been with her first. He also hated that Taylor liked to throw it in his face whenever he got mad at him. "I also know Zac was with her too before she married me," he muttered under his breath not even caring that Taylor didn't even know that bit of information.
Taylor was about to respond to Isaac's words until he heard the last thing Isaac chimed in with. Zac had been with Natalie too? "When was Zac with her?" Taylor asked as he raised an eyebrow and let his chair slide closer to Isaac. He may have been mad before but now he was curious.
Isaac laughed some when Taylor's mood changed at the drop of a dime. He was half sure his brother was bipolar.
"After she hooked up with you. Though apparently unlike you, Zac wasn't just a one night stand," Isaac shrugged feeling a bit uncomfortable talking about his wife's past sexual encounters with both of his brothers.
Taylor smirked some at Isaac's words. He had never known about Zac and Natalie and now he was kind of amused at the idea. "I bet Kate doesn't know about that," Taylor said mentioning Zac's wife of six years. Kate was also Natalie's best friend and had been her best friend since high school.
"No," Isaac said as he shook his head no, "Kate knows nothing of it and I was sworn to secrecy to not tell anyone, but I guess I kind of broke that vow just now," Isaac sighed. Sometimes he was so bad at keeping secrets. He would eventually spill them.
"Don't worry, the secret is safe with me," Taylor nodded as he looked down. "Does it weird you out knowing that Natalie had sex with both of your brothers?"
Isaac looked at Taylor and had to wonder if he was being serious with his question. He knew Taylor could be dense at times but he hoped that Taylor wasn't that dense. God he really hoped that Taylor wasn't that dense.
"Of course it weird’s me out Taylor," Isaac admitted as he shook his head. "Wouldn't it weird you out?"
Taylor had to think over Isaac's question for awhile, "Yeah, I guess it would," he shrugged. "Is that why you two are having problems now?"
Looking away from Taylor, Isaac wasn't sure how to answer his question. Taking a deep breath he looked back at his brother, "It's part of the reason," he shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I mean we never loved each other and if she hadn't been pregnant with Theodore the marriage wouldn't have happened to begin with."
"You mean you never came to love her over time?" Taylor asked curiously. He would have thought that after almost eleven years that Isaac and Natalie would have came to love each other.
Isaac closed his eyes as he took a deep breath again. Why was Taylor playing a question game right now? Isaac didn't like it. He hated having to answer questions and he hated that Taylor was bringing up the very things he wanted to avoid. Talking about Natalie and his marriage to her.
"I...I got comfortable with her," Isaac said as he opened his eyes. "I got used to the routine we had and the fact that she was there. The fact that I had someone. I'm not sure I loved her, not like I should have anyway."
Frowning Taylor looked away from Isaac. He wasn't sure if he felt sad for his brother or just sad that the marriage was never made of love. He had always just assumed that after so many years they would have came to fall in love with each other.
"Does she know you don't love her?" Taylor asked finally looking back at his brother.
Isaac nodded his head in response to Taylor's question, "That was one of the things I told her in our last argument," he shrugged feeling kind of bad for that now. He knew when he argued he had a tendency to be a douche and he was sure that qualified as douche material.
"Ouch," Taylor muttered as he heard Isaac say he had told her that. Now it kind of made sense why they were separated and why Isaac was staying in a hotel.
"Yeah, ouch," Isaac shrugged as he looked down and turned his chair around, scooting away from Taylor. "We need to get back to work," Isaac said wanting to end their conversation. It had gone farther than he had wanted it too and he was going to end it before Taylor could think of anything else to ask.
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Natalie arrived back home with all three kids, a small smile playing on her lips. Opening the front door she watched Henry and Theodore run upstairs and she shook her head, "You guys make any messes and you are going to have to clean it up before dinner time," she called after them as she walked to the couch and laid the baby carrier down.
"Whatever mom," Theodore called down as he ran into the room he shared with his little brother. They had both decided on the drive home to play with their lego collection.
Natalie couldn't help but roll her eyes at Theodore's words. Bending down she got Audrey out of the baby carrier and sighed, sitting down on the couch. She still had a few hours before she had to fix dinner. Before she had to face Isaac again.
Hearing Audrey coo, Natalie looked down at the child in her lap, "Mommy is nervous," she said knowing it was probably pathetic to be telling a four month old how she felt. "Daddy is coming over tonight and mommy doesn't know what to do," she said as she held Audrey closer to her.
When Audrey cooed again, Natalie nodded, "Yes, mommy knows she is silly," Natalie laughed as she leaned down and kissed her daughter's head. Sighing Natalie closed her eyes. She was nervous about Isaac coming over tonight. She knew they would talk about the argument they had and she wasn't ready for that. She wasn't ready to confirm what he had asked her and she had been unable to answer the last time. She didn't want to break his heart, though, if he had been telling the truth about not loving her then maybe it wouldn't break his heart.
Feeling Audrey move in her arms, Natalie opened her eyes and stood from the couch, "How about we go take a nap while your brothers play?" Natalie asked as she headed upstairs with Audrey. She would put Audrey in her nursery and then Natalie would go to her own room. Maybe after a nap Natalie would feel like facing Isaac. Maybe then she could answer whatever questions he threw her way tonight.
Isaac groaned inwardly as he sat at his desk at the studio. Zac was off getting lunch which left him here with Taylor who was on the phone with his flavor of the month. Isaac was sure this was his own worst nightmare. Listening to his brother lovey-dovey talk to some chick who would be gone in a month.
Picking up the half-empty cup of coffee that was on the table, Isaac took a drink. It was cold but that would be expected since it had been sitting there for over an hour now. It had been his fifth cup of the day.
Lately it seemed that coffee was the only thing keeping him going. Ever since leaving Natalie he had been staying at hotel downtown. It was nice but he just hadn't been able to sleep or clear his mind. He had never expected his marriage to go down this road, even if he hadn't loved her when he married her. He had come to depend on her and to be comfortable with her. Everything had been fine until their last argument. Things had been said that neither could take back.
Shaking his head he put the cup back down. Seeing that Taylor was off the phone finally, Isaac decided to try to make a conversation with him. Anything would be better than thinking of Natalie and the fact that she had probably gotten the divorce papers he had filed for two days ago.
"So, whose the new girl?" Isaac asked as he turned his chair slightly, the wheels squeaking when he did so.
Taylor made a face when he heard the squeak of the wheels as Isaac moved in that damn chair of his. Turning in his own chair, he came face to face with his older brother. He was half sure Isaac had aged a lot in the past month but Taylor knew that was probably because of his failing marriage.
"Her name is Nikki," he shrugged a smirk appearing on his lips after he said her name. "She was at one of our shows this past summer. That's how I met her."
Isaac tried to hide his amusement that Taylor was dating yet another fan of theirs. It seemed that was all he had ever attracted to him. "I'm not surprised she is a fan," Isaac laughed as he shook his head.
Taylor furrowed his brow some at Isaac's comment, "What does that mean?" he asked feeling slightly offended by his brother's words.
"It just means you have a type Tay," Isaac shrugged. "Brunette and a fan of our band," he sighed as he leaned back in the chair. He knew from Taylor's tone he had offended him. He hadn't really meant too but he was being honest.
Taylor rolled his eyes and crossed his arms, "Well that's funny, considering, I was with Natalie before you married her," he said his tone going harsh. He knew it was a low blow but he was even more offended now by Isaac's words.
"Oh trust me, I never forget that," Isaac nodded as he kept his face neutral, tryin not to show that Taylor's words had hit a nerve. He hated being reminded that Taylor had been with her first. He also hated that Taylor liked to throw it in his face whenever he got mad at him. "I also know Zac was with her too before she married me," he muttered under his breath not even caring that Taylor didn't even know that bit of information.
Taylor was about to respond to Isaac's words until he heard the last thing Isaac chimed in with. Zac had been with Natalie too? "When was Zac with her?" Taylor asked as he raised an eyebrow and let his chair slide closer to Isaac. He may have been mad before but now he was curious.
Isaac laughed some when Taylor's mood changed at the drop of a dime. He was half sure his brother was bipolar.
"After she hooked up with you. Though apparently unlike you, Zac wasn't just a one night stand," Isaac shrugged feeling a bit uncomfortable talking about his wife's past sexual encounters with both of his brothers.
Taylor smirked some at Isaac's words. He had never known about Zac and Natalie and now he was kind of amused at the idea. "I bet Kate doesn't know about that," Taylor said mentioning Zac's wife of six years. Kate was also Natalie's best friend and had been her best friend since high school.
"No," Isaac said as he shook his head no, "Kate knows nothing of it and I was sworn to secrecy to not tell anyone, but I guess I kind of broke that vow just now," Isaac sighed. Sometimes he was so bad at keeping secrets. He would eventually spill them.
"Don't worry, the secret is safe with me," Taylor nodded as he looked down. "Does it weird you out knowing that Natalie had sex with both of your brothers?"
Isaac looked at Taylor and had to wonder if he was being serious with his question. He knew Taylor could be dense at times but he hoped that Taylor wasn't that dense. God he really hoped that Taylor wasn't that dense.
"Of course it weird’s me out Taylor," Isaac admitted as he shook his head. "Wouldn't it weird you out?"
Taylor had to think over Isaac's question for awhile, "Yeah, I guess it would," he shrugged. "Is that why you two are having problems now?"
Looking away from Taylor, Isaac wasn't sure how to answer his question. Taking a deep breath he looked back at his brother, "It's part of the reason," he shrugged, trying to downplay it. "I mean we never loved each other and if she hadn't been pregnant with Theodore the marriage wouldn't have happened to begin with."
"You mean you never came to love her over time?" Taylor asked curiously. He would have thought that after almost eleven years that Isaac and Natalie would have came to love each other.
Isaac closed his eyes as he took a deep breath again. Why was Taylor playing a question game right now? Isaac didn't like it. He hated having to answer questions and he hated that Taylor was bringing up the very things he wanted to avoid. Talking about Natalie and his marriage to her.
"I...I got comfortable with her," Isaac said as he opened his eyes. "I got used to the routine we had and the fact that she was there. The fact that I had someone. I'm not sure I loved her, not like I should have anyway."
Frowning Taylor looked away from Isaac. He wasn't sure if he felt sad for his brother or just sad that the marriage was never made of love. He had always just assumed that after so many years they would have came to fall in love with each other.
"Does she know you don't love her?" Taylor asked finally looking back at his brother.
Isaac nodded his head in response to Taylor's question, "That was one of the things I told her in our last argument," he shrugged feeling kind of bad for that now. He knew when he argued he had a tendency to be a douche and he was sure that qualified as douche material.
"Ouch," Taylor muttered as he heard Isaac say he had told her that. Now it kind of made sense why they were separated and why Isaac was staying in a hotel.
"Yeah, ouch," Isaac shrugged as he looked down and turned his chair around, scooting away from Taylor. "We need to get back to work," Isaac said wanting to end their conversation. It had gone farther than he had wanted it too and he was going to end it before Taylor could think of anything else to ask.
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Natalie arrived back home with all three kids, a small smile playing on her lips. Opening the front door she watched Henry and Theodore run upstairs and she shook her head, "You guys make any messes and you are going to have to clean it up before dinner time," she called after them as she walked to the couch and laid the baby carrier down.
"Whatever mom," Theodore called down as he ran into the room he shared with his little brother. They had both decided on the drive home to play with their lego collection.
Natalie couldn't help but roll her eyes at Theodore's words. Bending down she got Audrey out of the baby carrier and sighed, sitting down on the couch. She still had a few hours before she had to fix dinner. Before she had to face Isaac again.
Hearing Audrey coo, Natalie looked down at the child in her lap, "Mommy is nervous," she said knowing it was probably pathetic to be telling a four month old how she felt. "Daddy is coming over tonight and mommy doesn't know what to do," she said as she held Audrey closer to her.
When Audrey cooed again, Natalie nodded, "Yes, mommy knows she is silly," Natalie laughed as she leaned down and kissed her daughter's head. Sighing Natalie closed her eyes. She was nervous about Isaac coming over tonight. She knew they would talk about the argument they had and she wasn't ready for that. She wasn't ready to confirm what he had asked her and she had been unable to answer the last time. She didn't want to break his heart, though, if he had been telling the truth about not loving her then maybe it wouldn't break his heart.
Feeling Audrey move in her arms, Natalie opened her eyes and stood from the couch, "How about we go take a nap while your brothers play?" Natalie asked as she headed upstairs with Audrey. She would put Audrey in her nursery and then Natalie would go to her own room. Maybe after a nap Natalie would feel like facing Isaac. Maybe then she could answer whatever questions he threw her way tonight.
