Page 13 of What If I See You

“What the fuck Scar?” I scoff, dropping my jaw and gesturing to Layken. “She’s the sicko who came up with a woman covered in jizz named Sticky Nicky.”

We all laugh again because that shit is funny.

“Yeah well I guess we have a lot to learn about our new friend, Layken, huh?” Scarlett says with a wink.

I smile down at her, watching with a sense of pride as she continues to type our ideas into her phone. “I guess we do.”

And I kind of want to know everything.

Gage

Hi Griffin. I miss you. Love Gage.

Me

Hey little bro! I miss you too! You doing okay? I can’t wait to come visit for your birthday!

Gage

Yeah. I am good. Mom is making my favorite smash burgers for dinner tonight. It smells good in here.

Me

Good! That sounds fantastic! Give Mom and Dad a hug for me, okay?

Gage

Yep!

“Everything okay over there?”August asks as the beers we ordered are placed in front of us. The women, as planned, are off shopping while us guys take a few hours to follow the Ale Trail, stopping at several breweries and micro-breweries in the surrounding area. This place is our third stop.

“Yeah. Just Gage checking in,” I tell him. The small pang of guilt I get whenever I hear from my younger brother settles inside my chest as it always does.

“Gagey!” Harrison smiles. “We haven’t seen him in a while. You hiding him from us or what, Ollenberg?”

“Nah. They don’t travel a lot during flu season is all. Mom would be beside herself if Gage got sick.”

He nods. “I get it. Well, we miss him. His high-fives are killer.”

I chuckle. “That they are.” A memory pops into my mind of Gage watching me play hockey in high school. He must’ve only been in the seventh grade at the time, but hell, if he wasn’t the biggest fan of our team at each and every game. He led every chant. Made everyone get up on their feet and was without a doubt the world’s proudest brother.

Another core memory slides through my mind and almost takes the air out of my chest remembering the very first time I wore pajama pants in public.

I wore them for him.

For Gage.

So, he wouldn’t feel alone.

I never wanted him to feel alone.

But what did I do in the end?

I went to college to play hockey and then I was drafted into the league.

I left home…and left him.

“You and Hobbs seemed mighty chummy on the plane.” Ledger’s words pull me from my reverie. He lifts his glass to his mouth, watching me as he sips his beer.

---