Page 59 of My Undead Heart
I’ve always been a hard worker. It comes with the territory. You can’t be a successful fighter without putting in effort. But this pace I’m keeping between the gym and two other jobs is running me ragged. It’s not only the physical exertion, it’s mental as well. There’s only so many nights I can run off of less than five hours of sleep before it gets to me. The week passes at a manic pace and by Saturday morning I’m just thankful I survived. I’d like to sneak a nap between teaching classes and heading to Zig’s, but there’s a stack of mail in my office and overdue bills that need to be paid.
My brother shows for my second class of the morning, and he’s always a sight for sore eyes. I don’t think it will matter how old we are. He always brings this positive energy to my day, no matter what kind I’ve had. It’s because he believes in me, one hundred percent, and still looks up to me with an awe only little brothers seem to have. It’s also fun to share my passion with him. He might not be a natural fighter, but he enjoys the training part of it. Or at least the physique that comes from hard work in the gym, and it’s nice to have something in common for once besides our DNA.
“Good work today, Danny,” I say to him after class.
“Thanks, man. I’m getting better at my right hook, huh?”
He’s not, but I can tell he’s trying. “You’ve almost got it, and your push kicks look great.”
“This class is the real deal. I keep trying to tell my colleagues at the office they need to come down and try it. They’re all too scared to suck.” He pours some liquid from his water bottle over his head and wipes it away with a towel.
“You know that doesn’t matter. I let you join!” I tease with a laugh.
His smile is wide when he agrees. “That’s what I always say!”
“Everything going good this week? I didn’t see you at class as much.”
“Yeah, just quarterlies due for some clients. Long days at the office. I’ll be back to my regular schedule in a few weeks.”
“Good. I miss your face around here, ugly as it is.”
He shakes his head. “Not as ugly as yours. Hey, that reminds me. Nikki wants to have you over.”
“Oh, sure.” Right. I promised to get together with them soon. I don’t have a second of free time, but my brother is important. I’ll make it work. “Let me know when and I guess just shoot me the address.”
My brother glances at the floor and a sheepish smile sneaks onto his face. “It’s ... ah ... You already know it.” He chuckles before meeting my confused stare.
“I’ve never been to your girlfriend’s house, Danny.” I’d sure as shit remember something like that.
“Actually, you have.” His smile grows as though he has one up on me. “Because I asked her to move in with me.”
My eyes widen with shock. That’s a huge step. “Wow! Congrats. That’s great news.” I give him a hug.
He steps back, his smile full of joy. “I think so, too. We wanted to have a few people over to celebrate, just our closest friends, and I want you to be there.”
“Sure. When you thinking? I’ll make sure I get off work.”
“Actually, I know it’s late notice, but tomorrow. Cocktails and appetizers at five. Dinner at six. Oh, and don’t be late. Nikki likes things to run on schedule.”
It’s really difficult to not give in to an eye roll. I’m perfectly aware Nikki prefers everything to run on her terms. “I’ll be there on time.”Shit. Tomorrow I have plans with Mia. She’ll probably love me having to reschedule, but I don’t want to. It’s been the one thing keeping me moving forward this week. Spending more time with her is like a dangling carrot in this rat race of a life.
“Good.” Danny beams and slaps my shoulder.
Sure, good.Even though this gathering at his place sounds more like torture. I have a feeling Nikki and her pretentious friends will overthrow any fun my brother’s friends try to instill. A stroke of brilliance hits me, and although I don’t want to waste one of my dates on this, I don’t want to go it alone even more. “Hey, would it be okay if I brought someone?”
“Like a date?” My brother’s eyebrows shoot up with his question.
“No, my bike.” A chuckle escapes my lips. “Yeah, a date. There’s someone I’ve been seeing recently.” I stretch the truth a little.
“I didn’t think you did that.” My brother genuinely appears surprised.
“Date?”
“Yeah. Actually, Nikki had me wondering if maybe you were gay. Wait, are you? We’re both totally cool with that.”
“How nice of her.” I roll my eyes because this woman is a piece of work.But my brother loves her.I just keep telling myself that. My answer to his ill-advised assumption is full of annoyance. “And for the record, no, I’m straight.”
“What? It’s a valid conclusion. Though my bet was on a freak ball accident that somehow curbed your erectile abilities.”
