Page 56 of The Art of Falling in Love with Your Enemy
“I am.”
“I’m Zac’s brother. It seems you and I need to have a talk about my big mouth.”
“Ahhhhh.” Recognition takes over when he speaks. “You’re the man from the truck stop the other night, the one talking so loud I was able to hear every word he said. The man who loves to compete with his brother.”
“Also known as Tuck.” Stopping at the bottom of the porch steps, Tuck shoves his hands in his pockets. “I’m here to say I’m sorry. I’m the one who had the idea for him to ask you out.”
“Just because it was your idea doesn’t mean he had to say yes, does it?”
Tuck grins. “I like how you think, McCoy.”
Crossing my arms in front of me, I look him up and down, from the bottom of his feet to the top of his head. I make sure he knows I’m doing it, too.
“You sizing me up?”
“Making sure I can take you out if I need to,” I tease. Turning around, I head inside. “Cup of coffee?”
* * *
“So you two have been essentially in competition since you were little?”
Tuck nods, taking a sip of his coffee. “It’s sad but true. When you grow up like we did, you try to find ways to entertain yourself. I think we both have competitive personalities, but the fact it was encouraged doesn’t help.”
“What do you mean when you say ‘growing up like you did?’”
“Well, our grandfather was governor and our mom’s a bit of a big-deal lawyer. We had nannies, tutors, and were expected to do as we were told to do, not to do as our parents did…if that makes sense?”
“Totally. I take it because of the public eye being on you guys so much, you were kept insular?”
“Yep. We had each other to hang out with until we were finally shipped off to boarding school. Look, I was always jealous of Zac. I spent a lot of time taking things from him: toys, parts in school plays…”
“Ouch. You did?”
“Oh, I did. He wanted Robin Hood, but I won it from him, fair and square. We once bet on a car…”
“What?” I can’t even control my shock. “A car?”
“I’ll just say I loved that old Ford Focus with all of my heart.” Tuck’s cheeks flash bright red. “Look, Zac isn’t me. I’m pushy and always want to win. It’s why I ended up following in my mother’s footsteps and became a lawyer.”
It’s not like I don’t want to admit it, but wow. I’m starting to understand the way these Wright boys think. And that is scary.
Tuck reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a small card, holding it in the air. “This is the baseball card in question.”
“And you won it?” Taking it from his hands, I flip it over and look at its front and back.
“Yeah.” He snickers. “I won it, and the first thing I did was lord it over my brother and then use it to get him to play a game with me.”
“I could see that,” I say, handing the card back. “But it’s something that bonds you two. I can’t deny it’s weird that at your age you still get so crazy about competing with him, but I’m not here to judge anyone.”
“Yet, you have every right to judge me because it was my suggestion to use you as the bet. And for that, I am happy to spend as much time as I need saying I’m sorry to you.”
The whole time we’ve sat here, I’ve watched Tuck. I can see his sincerity and feel his apology, if apologies are things we can feel. It’s funny how I can see Zac in his movements and hear him in the inflection of his tone, too. Brothers. Family.
Coming from a family with two brothers myself, I’m starting to really get it. Tuck sitting here, talking to me is soooo familiar. There are things I’ve done for my family, especially for my twin, Jack, that I needed to do. I still pat myself on the back and take total credit for getting him together—FINALLY—with the love of his life.
As his sister, I firmly believe that if I hadn't interfered, they wouldn’t be married today. Now, looking at Zac’s brother sitting here in front of me, telling me his side of things and attempting to put me in the picture, I can’t help but wonder if I need to give this guy a chance. The same way I begged someone to give my brother a chance not so long ago.
“I think you can stop saying it now.” I’m surprised my voice comes out so low, barely a whisper. “Tuck, you’re forgiven. And thank you for coming here to tell me in person.”
