Fox in the Hen House

So, I head up to the bar to get another drink as Steff is driving tonight anyway.

"Well, imagine going years without seeing you, and now twice within two weeks. How are you, Dave?" I hear Jacob ask me as I turn to greet him.

"I'm doing fine, Jacob. Although I'd be happier if I was back at home right now."

"Yeah, I never pictured you as a political groupie. Are you only here because of Steff?"

"Nah, the think tank I work for is one of the sponsors tonight."

"Yeah, same with ours. Where's Steff anyway?"

"She's over talking with one of her best friends, keeping him company." I answer while gesturing in their direction.

"Oh, Brad Dawson. I'd keep an eye on that one." Jacob replies after looking over at their table.

"Do you know him?"

"Yeah, I've met him with Steff and Chrissy a few times. Our think tank engages with the PAC he works for quite a bit. Their office is right near ours as well."

"So, you've probably met Megan too. She works with Brad; she's a real busty little brunette."

"Oh yeah, I have met her as well, she's kind of hard to forget."

"But why would you say that I should keep an eye on him though?"

"Because he always seems like he's a real ladies' man. He's always got some attractive woman on his arm, usually the busty little brunette or sometimes Chrissy, amongst others. Just make sure that Steff doesn't end up being one of them."

"She won't. The four of them have been best friends since they all went to college together."

"Okay, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't watch out still. I've never known any handsome guys like him that have attractive women as good friends that they haven't already slept with, or aren't trying to sleep with. Unless they're gay or a complete simp, of course. But I don't think Brad's either of those."

"He's not, but I trust Steff. Chrissy and Megan might be sleeping with him though, but I know Steff isn't."

"That's good. I'm just saying to be watchful with guys like him. That's all."

"Yeah, I agree. So, how long have you been with the Marshall Institute, Jacob?"

"Since I left college. That is if you don't include a short stint as a waiter while I was waiting to land my job just after I graduated. And you, Dave?"

"I've been with America Untied pretty much since I left college too. It was either a lobby group or work for the government."

"Or both. Most people in the different administrations just have a revolving door job when their side is in power. When they lose, they go back to their lobbyist firm or think tank until the next election."

"No doubt. Anyway, I might go back to my table. Maybe if Steff sees me sitting all alone, she'll come back so we can leave soon." I chuckle a little.

"Alright, keep in touch Dave."

"And you too Jacob." I reply before heading back over to our table.

While sitting here waiting for Steff to return, I can't help but look back over to where they are, watching her with Brad. There's definitely a familiarity between them, a closeness that only best friends have. It's the fact that they're both attractive that probably makes most people look at them and think they're together. And I can see that now too.

But while I know the truth, that doesn't mean Jacob isn't right either, that I should keep a closer eye on Brad being around Steff. But how do I do that and not come across as being a paranoid and jealous boyfriend? That I don't know. Maybe I should talk with her when we get home, to go a little deeper into her relationship with Brad back in college, and maybe since then too. But I know she'll just tell me what she's told me before, that nothing has ever happened between them. And I'd just come across as not trusting her for not letting this go.

No, I'll just keep a wary eye on him while still showing Steff that I trust her, because I do. It's him I don't trust, that's all.

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The following Wednesday I'm again catching up with Steve for lunch at his usual café. No sooner have we ordered than Steve raises the old topic of Brad and Steff once more.

"Guess who I saw in here having lunch for the third week in a row now?"

"Let me guess, the Tooth Fairy." I answer a little snidely.

"I know you don't want to hear it, Dave. And I know that you trust her as well, but still, I thought I'd just let you know and leave it at that." Steve replies.

"She mentioned that she had lunch here with Brad the other week, I didn't have to even ask her about it. Was it Brad she was here with the other two times since as well?"

"Yeah, last week with Chrissy too though, but yesterday they were on their own again."

"Well, thanks for letting me know her itinerary, but again, they're just best friends. And best friends sometimes meet out for lunch, like we are right now. I wonder if anyone thinks there's something going on between you and me, huh?" I laugh a little with my comment.

"Maybe they would if we were looking at each other the way they do. I know you think that there's nothing there, but I'm just saying that maybe you need to be careful with this guy, that's all."

"You're the second guy to tell me that within a week. Remember Jacob from college? He works with Steff now; he told me the same thing about Brad as well."

"Well, maybe you should listen to us then, perhaps?"

"I am, believe me. I trust Steff, and we're getting married soon. It's Brad that I don't trust, not as far as I could throw him. But there's nothing he can do about it if Steff has no interest in him like that, if she only ever wants to be good friends with him."

"Yeah, I agree. But guys like Brad have a way of getting what they want in the end. He's like a fox circling the hen house. You need to be the ever-watchful rooster Dave, or sooner or later he'll find a way in."

"Thanks for the analogy, Steve, but I'm sure I'll manage. Anyway, can we talk about something else for now?"

And we did, before I eventually went back to work and back to my deadlines. But again, I do spend part of the afternoon thinking about Steff and Brad once more. That even though I trust her, maybe I need to do more to stop Brad, to make it harder for him to get into that proverbial hen house if that's what he's after when it comes to Steff.

But what can I do? Tell Steff that I forbid her to see one of her best friends again because I'm paranoid just because he's a guy? That wouldn't go down well at all while also making me look petty and jealous. Maybe I should tell her that other people are insinuating that something's going on between her and Brad instead, making her realize how their closeness can be misconstrued as something it's not.

Maybe then she'll try and distance herself from him a little, be a little more concerned with the perception of their relationship. After all, Steff always says that in this town, appearances are everything.

That night as we're having dinner together at home, I'm contemplating the best way to raise the topic of her and Brad, and the perception others have about them when Steff interrupts my train of thought.

"Dave, I've got another overnighter coming up this Saturday night. I'm going to Miami this time, for a big fundraiser for the Marshall Institute."

"Again? Did someone drop out once more?"

"No, this time they asked me straight up. This is good for my career, Dave, so please don't be upset about this once more."

"I wasn't upset last time. I just don't like you being away, that's all."

"I know, and I'm sure this won't be a regular occurrence either. But it's good that they believe in me enough to let me represent the Institute on these nights. It shows that maybe I have a good future where I am." Steff replies as I'm sitting here feeling a little stunned none the less.

"So, can you take me as your plus one this time? Or will you and Chrissy be run off your feet once again?"

"Chrissy isn't going this time. But I'll be working my socks off the entire time I'm there, so I'm sorry, but I need this for mt career. This isn't a holiday, Dave."

"Alright, but as long as Brad won't be there either."

"Brad? What's he got to do with this?" Steff asks, sounding a little surprised by my statement.

"People are talking, Steff. About you and Brad. Different people have insinuated to me that you two have something going on."

"That's ridiculous. I hope you told them the truth, that we're just good friends."

"I did, but people are free to believe what they want to believe. Like you always say, in this town, gossip, innuendo and appearances are everything. Just make sure that you and Brad don't become the latest juicy gossip, Steff. I don't like being asked if my fiancé is sleeping with someone else."

"I'd never, you know that, right?"

"I do, but other people don't. If word gets around that you like to sleep around on your fiancé, well, you know how that story goes. Maybe you need to be more careful about the time you're spending with him, especially if you two are alone out in public together."

"I can't believe this. Are you asking me to drop Brad as a good friend because other people might think we're sleeping together?"

"That's up to you Steff, not me. If you don't want the rumors to grow, maybe you shouldn't see him alone like you're both out on a date. That's all I'm saying."

"Really? And this isn't just coming from you because you're being a little jealous right now?"

"Steff, imagine if different people told you that they think I'm sleeping with an old girlfriend of mine. That they've seen me out alone with her multiple times, and that we look very close together, like a boyfriend and girlfriend would. How would that make you feel?"

"I wouldn't like it, but I'd also know they're wrong too. I know you'd never do that to me."

"And that's exactly how I feel right now. That's all I'm saying, Steff."

"Alright, I get it. But I'm not going to stop being friends with Brad just because some people like to make up rumors."

"I understand. But maybe you should make sure that Megan or Chrissy are with you when you're out somewhere with Brad in the future. People probably wouldn't suspect anything then."

"Yeah, maybe you're right." Steff replies as she gets up from the table to clear off her half-eaten meal.

"You haven't finished your dinner yet."

"I've lost my appetite. I'm going for a shower." Steff answers as she heads into the kitchen.

Well, that could've gone better, but I did get my point across to her. I was hoping for a bit of sexy time with Steff later tonight when we went to bed, but I was sorely mistaken. To say she wasn't in the mood would be an understatement. However, maybe we can put all this behind us soon enough.

On Saturday after returning home from mountain bike riding with Pete and Steve, I drove Steff to the airport. It's been a little chilly between me and Steff since our talk on Wednesday night, but at least she gave me a warm hug and a nice kiss goodbye before she caught her flight down to Miami.

This time I've already arranged for me, Pete and Steve to go out for a few beers together, even if I know Pete will probably head home early so that Justine won't be home alone for too long with a three-year-old while being heavily pregnant with their second.

We're having a good night, but I sense that both Pete and Steve are not wanting to mention Steff or the fact she's away in Miami right now. I'm betting that Steve told Pete it's a sore topic with me at the moment. He might be right, but it is a little unlike them to not want to stick the knife in when one of us is feeling down about something. It's always been our way of getting over things, by confronting whatever issue through a little bit of friendly banter. It's what friends do; besides, we always know that we have each other's backs and there's never any malice to it.

But tonight, they leave me be.

Getting home to an empty house once more, I don't like this feeling or want it to become a regular thing. Even if only for one night again, I miss her.

On Sunday morning I visited my Mom, before getting some lunch at a diner for a change. I don't need to be at the airport to pick Steff up until four pm this afternoon, so I need to find something to do until then. I figure I might cook us both a good meal when we get back, so I stop off at the grocers to get what I need.

When I see Steff exit the arrival corridor for her flight back, she sees me and smiles, although she looks tired. We greet each other warmly before we go back to our car for the drive home.

"So, did it all go well last night?" I ask, trying to make small talk on our way home.

"Yeah, it was great as always." Steff answers, she looks half asleep though.

"As always? I didn't know you enjoyed the overnighter in New York that much last time."

"It was fine, Dave. I'm tired, I just want to get home and shower before I crash."

"I'm cooking us a good meal tonight though."

"Can we have it tomorrow night instead. I'm sorry, I just need some sleep."

"Were you up late last night? What were you doing?"

"Dave, can we not talk about this right now. I'll tell you all about my weekend in the morning if you want, I swear."

"Alright, sorry for asking."

"It's not that Dave, I'm tired and I just need a good night's sleep, that's all. I'll be my normal happy self in the morning, I promise."

"Okay, I'll let you be." I answer as we silently drive the rest of the way home.

Steffanie did crash straight after her shower, even though it's now only seven in the evening. She must have worked hard last night and this morning, she's usually a bundle of energy, always outlasting me on our night's out.

I's Monday morning as I make my way into the kitchen to get a coffee, Steff is already in here drinking hers.

"Here's yours Dave. I heard you stumbling out of bed." Steff informs me, pointing at the coffee sitting on the kitchen bench.

"Thanks, I need one before I start to get ready for yet another week."

"Me too. Dave, I'm sorry about how I acted last night after you picked me up from the airport. I was worked to the bone late on Saturday night, then I still had more work to do in the morning and again after lunch as well. By the time I went through all the airport bullshit and finally got home last night, I was just so tired and irritable." Steff offers.

"Yeah, I get it. But these nights away better not become a regular thing, Steff. I miss you when you're gone, but then to cop an attitude when you get home as well, let's just say that I'm not a fan."

"I know, and again, I'm sorry. Maybe I can make it up to you tonight by cooking that meal you were going to make me last night. Then maybe I can show you how much I missed you too." Steff replies, before walking up to me, giving me a soft kiss on my lips.

"I won't say no to that." I respond, kissing her again.

Shortly we were both getting ready for another Monday, commuting into DC together from Clarksburg once more. Before lunch, I'm attending a small function up the street from where I work, it's for political data analysts like me mainly, so I know a few familiar faces at least. I'm only here to represent my think tank, America United, so I'll listen to the talk, shake a few hands, and talk shop a little as well. The free lunch is always welcome too.

We're all in a function room in a large hotel, and there's another function going on right next door to us with some other lobbyists and the like. As I'm leaving after a good meal, I see Jacob standing out in the foyer. I think about nodding as I pass, but decide I better quickly stop to say hello.

"Hey Jacob, were you in the other conference room upstairs, the one filled with political lobbyists?"

"Yeah, and I'm guessing you were in the data analytics talk next door."

"I was. At least they serve some good lunch meals here. Some places only give out finger food." I reply.

"True, one of the perks working here in Washington, you rarely have to pay for your own meals."

"So, are you working with Steff this week? Or do you two not spend that much time together?"

"We spend a bit of time, although I'd say she works with Chrissy the most. Those two always seem to find a way to be working together on most things." Jacob answers.

"And what about on those overnight jaunts? Do you get you to go on those very often as well?"

"No, what overnight jaunts are you talking about?"

"Like last Saturday night, Steff had to go to Miami for work. And New York a few weeks earlier."

"I don't know anything about that. As far as I know, we didn't have anything going on in Miami over the weekend. We have another lobby group we're associated with in Florida; they always take care of anything we need down there." Jacob answers honestly.

"That's alright, forget I said anything. Don't mention it to Steff either, she'll think I'm checking up on her or something."

"Yeah, no problem. My Uber's here, do you need a ride back to your office?" Jacob asks.

"Nah, my office is just down the street from here, but thanks anyway."

"Okay, maybe I'll see around again shortly. Bye Dave." Jacob says as he walks out to get in the Uber.

Now I'm confused, did Jacob simply not know about the Miami thing or was he right about their partners in Florida looking after those nights? Something feels off, and I don't know what it is.

After getting back into my office, I decide to search the Marshall Institute website, looking for anything about the Miami function held on Saturday night. There are mentions of other past and upcoming events, fundraisers and functions, but nothing about Miami. I then checked for the New York function with the date that Steff went away too, and again, I don't find anything.

Maybe they don't list everything, maybe some of these events, meetings and fundraisers aren't made public. Who knows? I don't know why, but then I checked the 'America Unleashed' website, looking at their events page as well.

And there it is, they had a big fundraising function in Miami on Saturday night. I then checked the date a few weeks ago for New York City, and again, there's an event coinciding with Steff's last-minute trip. What the fuck? Is Steff attending the functions being held by Brad and Megan's lobby PAC?

Why the hell would she lie to me if that's the case? What is she hiding? That deep dark sinking feeling is creeping into the pit of my stomach, I have the feeling that I don't want to know the answer, that my life will be turned upside down if I do.

No, it can't be what I'm fearing, she can't have gone away on those weekends just to be with Brad. There's just no way she'd do that to me. I refuse to believe it.

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Steff texted me later that she's working late again tonight, that she'll get a ride home with Chrissy instead. Great, so now I'll have to wait longer to speak with her about what I've discovered this afternoon. It does give me time when I get home to think about what I want to say to her, about how to approach this. Just thinking about it is infuriating me though, I just know I won't be able to keep calm if we get into this.

For that reason, I decide that I won't raise it with her tonight, I need to calm down a bit before we have this discussion, as maybe I'm jumping to conclusions, as likely as they are. And so much for Steff cooking me the meal she promised as well, it's almost ten at night and she still isn't home.

I heated up some leftovers earlier, watching a bit of TV while still going over these thoughts in my head. I don't want to talk with her tonight at all now, as while I still have no solid proof that she's done anything wrong, I can't help but think about what I fear she's been doing behind my back.

Right now, I don't trust myself with how I might react. So, I get up and go to bed, maybe I'll be able to deal with this better in the morning.