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“Hey!” Kent shouts as he barges into my apartment.
“You ever heard of knocking,” I shout back.
“Why? You got a girl with you?” He shouts as he barges into my room with a goofy grin. “You know some women are attracted to the fantasy of brothers. You feel like sharing?” He raises a brow.
I grab the shoe I was about to put on my foot and hurl it at his head, “It’s going to remain a fantasy. I don’t share.”
“Pity,” he shrugs as he jumps onto my bed like a child, “I could have taught you a few moves that drive girls insane.”
“I date women, not girls. Grow the fuck up.” I grunt.
“Oh, we are testy this morning. What’s got your cock so backed up?”
I shake my head and stand. “Are you driving me to work or not!”
He spins his keys around his index finger. “I’ll take you for a ride.” He winks.
That earns him a smack behind the head. I think my moving home has only worsened his antics.
“Seriously, what’s got you so stressed?” Kent asks once we’re halfway to the office.
Heck with it. I’ll tell him. “I kissed Poppy.”
“Ok,” He shrugs. “What else?”
“Nothing else. I kissed her when she was leaving for work.”
“It was bad?” He glances over. “I hate when that happens. You see a ten, but they kiss like a one.”
“It was different,” I grumble, already regretting talking to him.
“What do you mean? Did she have a tongue piercing?”
“No, you idiot.”
“Oh shit!” He chuckles, “You like this girl. Like really like her. What the hell, you and Theo are too much alike. It always has to be all or nothing. No fun and games.”
“That’s because we’re mature.” I respond, “Who is Theo with?” Why am I just finding this out now?
“Nope. You’re changing the subject.”
“Well, you’re not offering any good advice.”
He turns into Sterling Defense headquarters, waves at the guard, and remains unusually silent until he shifts his truck into park.
“Listen,” he grips the steering wheel. I know you, Dad, and Theo think I’m an idiot who goes from girl to girl. I am. That’s because I don’t ever want to feel like Dad does.” He keeps his eyes ahead, looking at our building.
“What do you mean?”
His Adam’s apple rolls as he swallows, “Dad loved mom with his entire heart, and when mom died,” his jaw tenses, “it was like we lost both parents. I want to be like you, Dad, and Theo. I want a family one day, but how can I ensure my kids never feel what we felt—abandoned and alone? And I know what you're going to say: not everyone gets cancer. True, but at some point, everyone has to die. How can I settle down with someone knowing one day I’m going to lose them like we lost Mom?”
Fuck. Underneath my playboy brother is a kid who is still broken.
“Living in fear isn’t living. Think of all the good memories we had.”
“Uncle Dan is living his best life. He never married. It works for some.”
“Kent,” I pause.
