Brody (23 page)

“Mom’s gonna kick your ass for getting crumbs all over the floor,” Cole said, pointing at the mess his dad was making on the travertine tile.

“I’m gonna kick your ass if you don’t get out of here and let me talk to your uncle in private.”

“Okay,” Cole said, backing out of the room, “but can I have the car tonight?”

Ryker grimaced before shooting me a look. “I guess so.” When Cole left the room, he said, “I’m such a wuss. At his age, I was riding a Harley, but after Zane’s accident, every time one of them leaves the house behind the wheel, my heart’s in my throat until they get back.”

“That’s ‘cause you’re a good dad,” I said, looking him in the eye. “Those kids are lucky to have you.”

“Thanks, man.” Ryker rounded the island and grabbed two bottles of water from the fridge, then handed one to me. “Speaking of fathers, I called ours.”

I was stunned, to say the least. Ryker was the last one I expected to reach out to Jack, since he was the one most impacted by his vanishing act. “You did? When?”

“Yesterday.” He took a drink of water. “When you texted me his number in case I ever wanted to call, I was tempted to just delete it. But something told me not to.”

I waited, hoping he would tell me what changed his mind.

“I spent a lot of years resenting him, bro. I know I was justified, and I never once felt guilty about it.”

“You shouldn’t have,” I said, the counter at my back as I crossed my legs. “If anyone has reason to hate him, it’s you.”

“We all have reason. He abandoned us all.” Running a hand over his face, he said, “But Mac reminded me that people can and do change and that you wouldn’t have been willing to hear him out if you didn’t believe he was a different man than the one who left us.”

I wasn’t willing to go all in with Jack yet, but I was coming around. “My reasons for going there had nothing to do with him and everything to do with Tanner and Beck. At least at first.” At Ryker’s questioning look, I said, “I’ve had a couple of conversations with him, and they helped me put some things into perspective. I don’t know that I’ll ever be able to forgive what he did, but I kind of understand it now, Ryk. He was pretty badly abused as a kid. His old man was a real bastard.”

“I guess we have that in common then, don’t we?” Ryker asked, smirking.

“Sounds like our grandfather would have made Jack look like Ward Cleaver.”

“Jack, huh? You two are on a first-name basis now?”

“I can’t call him Dad,” I said, trying to explain. “He’s never been much of a dad to any of us. He knows that.” I didn’t want my brothers to resent me for giving Jack a chance, and I didn’t think they would. If it came down to a choice between my brothers and our old man, I’d choose them every time. They were the ones who’d always been there for me, who’d taught me the real meaning of family.

“He sounded apologetic,” Ryker said, nodding slowly. “I’m not sure that I believe him, but I’m willing to entertain the possibility he might be remorseful.”

After talking to Jack, I believed he was, but I wouldn’t try to sell Jack to Ryker. My brother needed to make that decision for himself. “Does Mac know you called him?”

Ryker smiled. “Mac knows everything, little brother. I don’t keep secrets from her.”

“Smart man,” I said, returning his smile. “How about the kids? Did you tell them?” Since Cole had already questioned me about his grandfather last Christmas, I suspected it would only be a matter of time before he asked about him again, especially now that he knew we were in touch again.

“I told them,” Ryker said, seeming hesitant. “But they know I’m taking it slow, trying to figure out whether that bridge is worth repairing.”

“I hear you, man.”

“So how does it feel to be an engaged man?”

“Pretty damn good,” I said, unable to contain my smile. “Ri’s packing up the condo. The movers are hauling her stuff over to the house in the morning.”

“You guys are moving into the house already?” Ryker asked, sitting at the kitchen table. “Wow, that was quick.”

“Yeah, the house was empty. Apparently the couple who’d lived there split up and were just anxious to dump it.”

“Huh.”

“Yeah, so…” I claimed the chair next to Ryker, feeling awkward now that I had to tell him the real reason for my visit. I hated talking about feelings and shit, especially with my brothers, but this conversation was long overdue. “I probably wouldn’t be engaged at all if it weren’t for you, so I figured I should say thanks.”

Ryker chuckled, scratching his head. “What the hell did I do? Aside from all the times I told you to stop being a dumbass and put a ring on that girl’s finger already.”

“You showed me it’s possible to have a normal, healthy relationship even if you did have a messed up childhood. When you and Mac broke up, it made me think if there was no hope for you guys, the rest of us really were screwed.”

With a grim smile, Ryker said, “That was a shitty time, no doubt about it. But Mac and I are stronger than we’ve ever been, so I guess it was worth it, being apart for a while.”

“I think it was worth it for me and Riley too,” I said, leaning forward as I peeled the label off my bottle. “Being without her taught me I can’t do it.”

“Sometimes that’s what you need,” Ryker agreed. “A good solid shot upside the head, in the form of the woman you love walking out on you, to remind you how much you need her.”

I studied him, wondering how the hell I’d gotten so lucky. Lots of kids were abandoned by one or both parents, and most ended up in jail, out on the street, or in the system. But Ryker hadn’t let that happen. He’d somehow managed to keep us all together because he’d promised our mom on her deathbed he would, and he was a man of his word.

“A girl like Riley wouldn’t even have given a guy like me a shot if not for your influence.” My throat burned when I realized this was the first time I’d ever said these words to him. “You taught me how to be a man.”

Ryker looked moved, but he grinned before kicking my chair away from the table. “I’m pretty sure Riley can take all the credit for that.”

“I’m not talking about that,” I said, knowing Ryker was referring to what happened between Riley and me behind closed doors. “I’m talking about the fact you led by example.”

“Not in the beginning,” Ryker said, looking out the window. “I did a lot of stupid shit that year after Mom died. It wasn’t until I met Mac and had her to remind me how much you guys all counted on me and looked up to me that I started to get it together.”

I’d been too wrapped up in my own grief after our mom died to pay much attention to what Ryker was doing. All I knew was we were still living in the same apartment and there was food in the fridge. I didn’t ask how it got there or what he’d had to do to support us. But Ryker was just a little older than his sons now were when Mom died, and looking at Cole and Zane, who were just normal, carefree teens, had made me realize how much Ryker had to sacrifice to be there for us.

“A lot of brothers would have just walked away, said screw it, it was too much responsibility for a teenager. You gave up your life to give us a shot at a better one, and I’ve never thanked you for that.”

Ryker shook his head, looking at the burled walnut table. “I didn’t give up anything, man. I did exactly what I wanted to do, no regrets.”

That was so typical of him. He never wanted to take credit for anything, but he was the first one to take the fall if something went wrong.

“So any advice on how to make this marriage thing work?” When he looked up, I said, “I can’t screw this up, Ryk. I can’t lose her again.”

“You want my advice?” Ryker asked, rubbing his eyes. “Be there for her. Listen to her. Ask her what she wants, then try to give it to her. Compromise when you need to. Hold your ground when you feel you should. I’d say don’t be a doormat”—he smirked—“but we both know there’s zero chance of that happening and Riley wouldn’t want you if you were.”

“You’re right about that.”

“Don’t try to change too much, Brody,” he said, looking me in the eye. “She fell in love with you just the way you are. The only thing she ever wanted was to know you would be around a year from now, that you wouldn’t bail on her. Now that you’ve given her that, that’s all she needs.”

“I guess you’re right.” I stood, offering him my hand. “Thanks, man. Seriously. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

Pulling me into a half-hug, he said, “I love you, man. I’m glad you finally found your way back home… to stay.”

***

After my trip to Ryker’s, I passed by Kane’s, hoping to catch him at home. Thankfully, his truck was in the drive and he didn’t appear to have company this time. Which was good, since the company he’d been keeping was the reason for my visit.

Kane answered after I rang the doorbell, and he grinned when he saw me. “Hey, man. I thought you’d be too busy with your gorgeous fiancée to pass by here. Aren’t you guys moving into the house tomorrow?”

“Macy told you that?” I asked, following him into the kitchen.

I watched him reach into the fridge and hold up a beer and a ginger ale to give me the choice. I pointed at the soft drink.

“Yeah, she said she’s over at the condo today, helping Riley pack. You must be stoked, huh?”

“Yeah, I am.” I took a drink while Kane reached into the cupboard for a bag of tortilla chips.

“I’m hungry as hell,” he said, glancing at his watch. “Even though I just had lunch a couple of hours ago.” He reached into the fridge for a jar of salsa, dumped it in a small glass bowl, and slid it across the island while I sat on a stool and dug in.

“So listen,” I said, thinking of the most diplomatic way to get the lowdown on his new
friendship
with my future sister-in-law. “Ri mentioned Macy was here the other night when she passed by.”

“Yeah, so?” Kane asked, looking wary. “What about it?”

“You guys seem to be getting pretty friendly. I know I don’t have to remind you she has a boyfriend.”

He reached into the cabinet below the island and pulled out a stainless steel bowl, then dumped the chips into it. “They’re not getting along. She’s thinking about breaking up with him.”

“And you think that’ll leave the door open for you?” I asked, shooting him a dirty look. Even though Macy had an older brother, he’d lived out of state since he graduated high school, so it was my job to look out for her. Especially now that we were going to be family.

“We’re just friends, man. Nothing more.” Kane scooped up a handful of chips before leaning against the counter behind him, popping the chips into his mouth one after another. “I don’t mess with girls who have boyfriends. You know that.”

“Has she asked you what she should do about Brendan?”

Kane shrugged. “She might have.”

“And what did you tell her?”

He leaned forward and grabbed another handful of chips. “I told her if she’s not feeling it anymore, she should ditch the guy.”

“You ever think of advising her to try to work it out? I know this dude, Kane. He’s a decent guy, and he loves her. She could do a lot worse.”

Kane scowled before popping the top on his soda. “Macy shouldn’t have to settle. She’s too good for that.”

It was time to stop pussy-footing around the real issue. “What the hell are you doing with her? You got a thing for her, or what?”

“That’s none of your business,” he said, setting the can down carefully before crossing his arms.

“The hell it’s not. She’s going to be my sister-in-law. You’re my brother. Can’t you see how that would be a disaster for me and Ri if things went south for you two? We’d be stuck in the middle, and that’s the last place we wanna be.”

“Understood.”

That should have made me feel better, but it didn’t. “Besides, she’s too young for you.” Not that I expected that to make any difference. Kane rarely dated women his own age. He said most were divorced with kids and he wasn’t into drama.

“She’s eight years younger than I am, not twenty.”

“Then you have thought about hooking up with her?”

He reached into the fridge and grabbed a platter of sliced cheese and grapes. Something told me Kane hadn’t done that, which left Macy as its creator. Unless he was seeing someone I didn’t know about, which I doubted.

“She’s a beautiful woman,” he said before popping a grape in his mouth. “I’d have to be blind not to notice.”

“It’d be crazy to start anything with her.” I tried to think of all the logical reasons this union would never work. “She’s going back to Nashville soon. She loves it there. Music is her life, you know.”

“I know.” He popped a square of cheese into his mouth. “I asked her to bring her guitar over last night. I wanted to hear some of the songs she’s been working on. She’s really talented.”

“She was here again last night?” I asked, swiping a hand over my hair. “What the hell? Have you guys been seeing each other every day, or what?”

“Again, none of your business.”

I knew my fiancée was as concerned about this as I was, and the only thing I wanted her thinking about right now was her business, settling into our new home, and planning our wedding. But Riley’s family would always be a priority for her, just like mine would be a priority for me.

“Would it do a damn bit of good if I asked you to back off… for me?” I rarely asked Kane for a favor, so when I did, he took it seriously.

“I don’t know where this thing with Macy is going—maybe nowhere. But you know I don’t make promises I can’t keep.”

Riley

“So have you heard from Stephan since he checked into that treatment facility?” Macy asked as she packed the last of my crystal glasses.

“Yeah, he called me this morning as a matter of fact. He wanted to let me know he was doing well and he thinks this place is going to help him get back on track.”

“Good,” Macy said, adding my juicer to the box containing the rest of my small kitchen appliances. “Maybe now he’ll leave you alone.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure he will. I told him Brody and I were getting married, and moving in together tomorrow.”

“How did he take it?” Macy asked, scooping a handful of tea towels and dishcloths out of a drawer and tossing them into a half-empty box. She wasn’t as meticulous about packing as I was, but since I needed the help, I didn’t complain or offer direction—she wouldn’t take it anyway.