Page 52 of The One for Me
Connor laughs and then leans back in his chair. “You know, I remember how hard it was, no pun intended, when Ellie and I were under the same roof. I wanted her so badly, but she was in pain and there was no way I was going to be ‘that’ guy.”
“So what guy were you?”
“The patient kind. The one who dealt with it, knowing that when she was ready, she’d come around.”
I shake my head and sigh. “I don’t know what Devney is waiting for or coming around from.”
Connor shrugs. “Does it matter?”
“Well, isn’t this the saddest bunch of idiots I’ve ever seen,” Declan says as he makes his way up the steps.
“Be nice,” Sydney chides. “It’s good to see you guys. Happy Birthday Eve, Sean.”
Tonight is my fucking thirtieth birthday dinner, but my actual birthday isn’t until tomorrow. My brothers and I haven’t been around each other for a birthday like this in years. We would’ve been fine keeping to the tradition we’ve had, which is send a text or ignore it completely, but the women in our lives wouldn’t hear of it.
Sydney, Ellie, and even Devney demanded that we act like brothers, which is what we thought we were doing all along. When we told them that, Sydney brought up Mom.
She struck low and it stung.
Now we’re here, forcing a little family time before the big night.
“Thank you, Bean,” I say as I kiss her cheek and then look at a very content looking Deacon in her arms. “It’s good seeing you. And you, little man, are just the luckiest Arrowood alive.” I touch his cheek and smile.
“He’s such a good boy,” Syd says.
“Nothing like his father then.”
“Definitely not,” Declan agrees. “Thank God.”
We all laugh, and she pulls the blanket a little tighter. “Speaking of God, don’t forget that Christmas dinner will be at our house this year and breakfast is at Connor’s.”
Christmas is soon, but after the fight that Declan and Connor had about it the other day, it makes me wonder what Syd did to get her way. “Are you sure? I thought that Ellie was hosting dinner,” I say, knowing it’ll make my sister-in-law’s head explode.
“Watch it, Arrowood. Watch it.”
“Seriously, are you trying to get me killed?” Dec asks.
“Just need some entertainment.”
She points at all three of us. “I’m going in to see Ellie and Devney, you guys don’t stay out here too long and get sick.”
“Yes, Mom,” I say sarcastically.
Syd leaves, and Connor hands Declan a beer. “Helps with the cold.”
He laughs and pops it open. “And helps with being around you idiots.”
Even though our father was an alcoholic and beat the shit out of us, we forced ourselves to learn restraint. We drink, but we never get drunk. We fight, but we never get physical, and we loved, but never enough to get hurt. That last one seems to be a failing concept.
Declan and Connor love their wives past the point of sanity.
“Sean here wants to know how to get Devney to give it up.”
“Yeah?” Dec asks. “Give up what?”
“Her heart,” I say without pause.
I wait for the smart-ass comments to fly. These are my brothers, after all, and they are bound to make fun of me.
