Communication Tune Up

"Okay..." Kaila breathed, Stretching her arms over her head. "I hate having to do this couples therapy crap with you."

"Yeah, but what's the other option? Both of us get mad, storm out, and then have make up sex later?" I objected, thinking of our usual pattern.

"Well, the make up sex is always worth it," Kaila pointed out, quite correctly. She glanced over my shoulder, then back into my eyes with a loving gaze.

"Yeah, but one of these days, we're not going to want to make up. We can both get angry, hon." I offered. "So, we need to talk this one out the supposed right way. What the hell, might work."

"Okay... I'm... I feel that you," Kaila stumbled over the words, "Gah... I fucking hated those classes. Ok... gah... I statements, right... Another thing I'm mad at your dad for!"

"Sorry, I ... Gah, don't apologize. See, just as rough for me..." I shrugged. "I feel that my father's a fucking asshole and should have been taking care of my sister."

"Finally, FUCK... Thank You, Brent." Kaila groaned. "I know you want to protect her but if I'm right you're, well, a father to somebody who really needs you. Our kid better be a higher priority than your sister who wants to stay sixteen forever. Hell, your kid with... If you knocked up Helen, your kid with HER better be a higher priority."

"I'm... I'm fine with that. So, if we're going to be priority, it has to be one for both of us," I took a sip of my coffee. A little too much sugar, but I wasn't going to complain. "This whole week, I don't feel like I've been a priority. Hell, the whole marriage, I've always felt somebody was more important to you."

"Of course you're... oh, you mean my putting Carla first," Kaila sighed.

"Yeah. Exactly. If we're really going to be having kids, I can't have you telling her everything before you tell me. You started doing the same thing with Helen and Charlotte. If you're going to get on me about doing it with Imogene, I'm going to get on you about doing it."

"I'm not the one who was planning on fucking my sister," Kaila spat out, a bit more angrily than I expected.

"I wasn't planning on trying to fuck Carla!" I blurted in response.

"What? NO... NO!" Kaila's anger seemed to dissapate. "Oh, shit Brent, that's... I meant Imogene and you and... I'm still angry about her, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," I nodded. "I get it. "

"No seriously, I think she was trying to break us up," Kaila shrugged. "She kept... I mean I would be in the mood, and we'd have a date, and then next thing you know, there's Imogene. I half expect her to run up to you shouting "Oniichan!!!!"

"Huh?" I boggled at her.

"One of these days, Brent," Kaila shook her head, "You're going to have to bite the bullet and actually watch some anime. So, Carla's meeting us..."

"Yeah, I got that one already..." I began, "Shit... sorry..."

"It's fi... no, it isn't fine, so yes, I accept your apology, that one was appropriate. I'm sorry I didn't... I'm sorry I... you know we should really wait for Carla on this one." Kaila began, breathing calmly and slowly. "This is so much fucking WORK. Ugh... so much easier with women."

"Wait what?" I blurted.

"Really Brent, women... you don't have to spell out everything. With men, you do. Handing a guy a key in his doorway isn't a fucking invitation to... " Kaila anger began to cool. "Would... I should have told you about that asshole that night. I just didn't want to worry you."

"Yeah. You should have, " I nodded. "That happen a lot?"

"More than I like. It's been getting worse too." Kaila sighed. "Carla and I have to watch out for each other around the clients. They see us... well, when you're working a gig, you know how it is..."

"Yep, good old show appreciation to our generous client bonus," I groaned. "Two hundred the going rate these days for a stage-door Johnny?"

"BRENT!" Kaila barked suddenly. "That..."

Her face fell silent for a moment. She shook her head silently.

"I guess it really depends on whether you trust me or not," Kaila sighed. "That's what you're really asking me, isn't it? Whether I fucked any of those guys who offered me money? Because there were a few who offered. Not going to lie. Carla too. Had an guy with a video camera offer us five thousand dollars for a sister act."

Was I asking... yeah... It was a question that I didn't want to address, but it had been rattling around in my head since that first confession. But... Kaila, well, we had our problems, but I did trust her. I trusted her to tell me the truth.

"Yeah. I guess that is what I'm asking," I smiled softly. "But... I think I already know that you didn't."

A broad smile began to grow across Kaila's face.

"Just... like that? No proof required?"

"Nope..." I popped my lips around the last plosive syllable. "I trust you. I mean, I know you keep secrets with your sister. I didn't realize it, but... I really didn't trust you before. You... dammit, Kaila, you're both smarter than me and you know it. You're better with the bills, better with people... hell, I never would have even been with Helen if it hadn't been for you suggesting it."

"We knew you two just needed some time alone," Kaila smiled.

"Yeah, I see it, NOW... but... you were way ahead of both of us, weren't you? " I sighed.

"You should have seen the way you looked at each other while trying to play it cool. You were SO cute. We were loving it." She smiled, waving her hand over her head in a fanning motion.