Page 58 of Defending What is Mine

Chapter Thirty-One

Jack:Present—June

“Hank! Why in the hell is my towel wet?”

In some ways, staying with my brother has been its own kind of therapy. I swear, the man doesn’t have an off button. Just a lever that’s perpetually stuck somewhere between ‘fun’ and ‘more funner.’ Reluctantly, I use the why-in-god’s-name-is-it-already-wet towel to dry my leg off enough to slip on my prosthetic then wrap it around my waist and wander into the hall to fetch a spare from the linen closet.

Before I have time to retreat back into the bathroom Hank strolls out of the kitchen, stops at the end of the hall with a hand on his hip, and calls back sarcastically, “I don’t know, did you maybe just use it to dry off?” He smiles. “Cause in my experience if you rub a towel against your body when you’re soaking wet…”

In other ways though, it’s hard to believe it’s only been a month. I need to find another place to live. “Please shut up unless you’re going to tell me what you did to my towel.”

“Nothing, honest. I just used it to dry myself off. But, in my defense it was early this morning—I really thought it would be dry by now.”

So. Hard. To. Believe. “You’re disgusting, you do know that, don’t you?”

Hank rolls his eyes. “First time you’ve complained about it since you got here.”

I mock gagging, flip him the bird, and retreat to the bathroom to shower. Again. I really need to find another place to live.

But before I have the water running Hank is knocking at the door. “Hey, uh…? Seriously, when you’re finished, I have something important I need to talk to you about.”

The hesitation in his words has me curious enough to call through the door. “About what?”

“Come on man, don’t make me do this through the door.”

“Were you telling the truth about the towel?”

“What?” Hank asks as he twists the knob. “Come on, don’t be a dick.”

“What about the towel?” I growl.

“Fine. God. It was a freaking joke. I saw your towel this morning when I took my shower and thought it would be hilarious to screw with your head a little. I mean seriously, mister everything-always-has-to-be-neatly-tucked-or-folded. I knew you’d freak out; I just didn’t know you’d be like this about it. I’m sorry. It was just a prank.”

I pull the door open and throw the wet towel at him. “Wow, you’ve never caved like that before. And so quickly? Whatever you need to talk about must be really important.”

When the towel hits Hank in the face, he freaks out. “God, what the hell man? That’s disgusting.” He wipes his tongue against his palm. “Part of it went in my mouth.”

I stand in the doorway laughing and feeling triumphant for getting him back.

Hank, on the other hand, isn’t laughing. “Please get dressed and be serious.” He turns and walks back down the hall. “I’ll be in the kitchen when you’re ready.”

Heeding my brother’s request, I skip the second shower but still take the time to shave and finish cleaning up. When I finally amble into the kitchen, I find Hank seated at the table, one leg mindlessly bouncing while he stares at a red velvet box on the table in front of him.

“I’m flattered. Really, I am,” I say, bringing my hand to my chest. “But I mean, aside from the fact that we’re brothers…if I’m honest, you’re just not my type.” I do my best to play it straight, but I can feel my smile beginning to crack.

Hank doesn’t take the bait when he answers. And he doesn’t look away from the box. “I’m nervous man. I want to do it right. The proposal, I mean. It’s got to be perfect.”

My smile fades as confusion sets in. “Wait, what?” I shake my head. “That’s really an engagement ring? Are you fucking serious? No way. That’s not cool, man.”

Hank finally looks up. “Not cool? What’s that supposed to mean?”

Without another word, I turn and walk out of the kitchen.

Hank calls after me. “Hey! Asshole. What’s that supposed to mean?”

I return a minute later with a small, velvet box of my own. “It means…” I set my black box on the table next to Hank’s. “You can’t propose to Mollie because I’m going to propose to Sam.”

“What!? Bullshit. If anything, I called it first. Besides, I’m older.” Hank shakes his head. “Wait, I don’t get it. What’s the big deal?”

---