Page 13 of Dream with Me

I step back, and they file in. Finn is carrying several boxes of pizza, Ben and Jack are each carrying beverages, and Lincoln is palming two half gallons of ice cream with a giant grin on his face.

“Don’t mind him,” Ben says, tilting his head toward Lincoln. “He’s wearing that shit-eating grin ‘cause he gets to have ice cream.”

“Huh?” I ask.

“Shyley has him on a diet after he got his cholesterol results back, and they’re a little high. She’s cut off his nightly ice cream habit,” Jack says. We all chuckle at that, knowing if Shyley tells him no ice cream, there’s been no ice cream in that house.

“Yeah. It’s been tough,” Lincoln laughs. “But what happens at ‘Bro Night’ is protected, so none of you can rat me out.”

Hell, I forgot to text them back that I couldn’t make our monthly ‘Bro Night’ we’ve been holding since shortly after Finn and Shayna got married.

“Sorry guys, I meant to respond to your texts...”

“It’s okay,” Finn says as he sets the pizza on the counter. “We figured we’d bring it to you. We know you’ve had a lot going on.”

Over the next ten minutes, it’s a bit chaotic with five guys, all of us over six feet tall, trying to navigate our way around the small kitchen to get some food and then find a spot to sit in my cramped living room.

Once we’re all settled in a seat, I take a bite of my pizza. I’m grateful for it since I know that apple wasn’t going to cut it for dinner. Then I swallow and wash it down with a swig of beer to clear my throat. “Thanks for coming, guys. You didn’t have to do this. I know we usually go out on these nights. You could’ve gone without me.”

Lincoln throws his rolled-up paper towel at me. “Well, that’s a stupid thing to say. It wouldn’t be the same without you. We’ve always worked our schedule out around when we can all be there. Why would tonight be any different?”

I don’t answer immediately. When I look around the room, there’s a similar look on each of their faces—legitimate curiosity. Eyebrows are raised, heads tilted. Why don’t they get this?

“Guys...”

Jack sets his plate down on my coffee table. “What? You’re gonna have to spell it out for us, brother.”

I rub my hands over my eyes, not ready for this. When I look at them again, I take a deep breath.

“When... when?—”

“You think that this, us hanging out, will end when things with you and Shannon are final.” Finn’s voice is practically a whisper.

He gets it, yet he’s frowning at me.

It’s clear this is a shock to the others as Ben’s eyes bulge and Jack’s mouth hangs open.

Lincoln, though, his eyes are narrowed, his lips pursed. “What the hell, man?” His words are angry.

“Linc, come on. We’ll see each other at the Station, but we all know how this works.”

Lincoln stands so quickly that he almost knocks over his soda. “Screw you. You don’t get to decide not to be our friend. That’s bull, Troy.” Hurt and anger both flash in his eyes.

“I’m notdecidinganything. It’s not what I want. It’s how it happens. You think Shannon is gonna want her brothers and her brothers-in-law hanging out with her... her ex?” My voice catches on the word “ex.” I close my eyes and take a deep breath before I open them again. I need to let them know I won’t hold it against them. “You’ll all be in the middle, and you’ll try to stay friends with me at first, but it’ll get awkward, and I’ll hear from you less and less until you’re?—”

I literally can’t finish my sentence. Grief washes over me. I’m going to lose them all. Just like I lost my dad’s family after he left. It ended up being just me and my mom. That’s what happens. I’m losing my wife, I’m losing time with my kids, and I’m going to lose the only brothers I have.

Lincoln is now pacing around my small living room. I look to the others for help.

“No.” It’s a firm and resounding sound filling my apartment. “No. That’s not happening, Troy.” Jack stares at me, daring me to challenge his words. He stands and makes his way over to me. I’m not sure what he’s going to do. Punch me, maybe?

Instead, he puts a hand on my shoulder. “Some things might look a little different, but you’re still our friend, and you couldn’t be any more of a brother to us than you are. So, no. You aren’t leaving us, and we aren’t leaving you. No matter what.”

I look into Jack’s eyes and see nothing but sincerity there. I glance around the room and meet Finn and Ben’s eyes, too. I can see how they feel about me hasn’t changed, and they both nod, reassuring me they agree with Jack.

“You thought we were gonna ditch you, you asshole?” Lincoln’s voice is rough, and when I look at him, now done with his back and forth across my floor, his eyes are misty. He’s always been the most comfortable among us with letting his emotions out.

Before I can answer, he pulls me into a bear hug. In typical Lincoln fashion, he holds on longer than any of us are comfortable with. “We’re not going anywhere,” he says, still gripping me.

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