Page 53 of Promise Me Nothing
“Morning, Wyatt,” Ben says, his face friendly but distant. Just like usual.
“Hey, Ben,” I reply, feeling even more on edge. “How’re things?”
He bobs his head once. “Could be better. Could be worse.”
I take another sip of my water.
My relationship with Ben is a little bit difficult. Tense, some might say. But those people would be the ones in polite circles.
I’d say it’s a hot fucking mess with little chance of recovery. But then again, I’ve always been the pessimist.
I’m not here for me, though. I’m here for Ivy. Because she loves both of her brothers and it’s important we both get time with her. Even if he does live only a few blocks from my mom’s.
Though it makes sense why he never visits. When you get caught fucking the yacht club owner’s wife, and a rumor flies around town that you were accepting money to dick the rich housewives of the South Bay, it’s pretty easy to understand why mom isn’t too keen on welcoming you into her home.
But that’s not why things between us are bad.
Oh no, no.
I don’t give a shit who he’s fucking, as long as it isn’t the same person in my bed. The problems we have are a bit deeper than that. Stem from years of…
Well… that’s not what today is about.
The focus today is Ivy. And making sure she gets quality time with the brother she loves but never sees, because he isn’t allowed to come home.
“Look,” I say, “I’m only home for a few months. There’s no reason we need to be anything other than friendly.”
He sits quiet, just watching me with that same fucking face of his staring back, making sure not to reveal even a crumb of how he’s really feeling.
That’s the thing about Ben that drives me insane. Nothing can ever be simple.
Easy.
Straightforward.
You’d never assume we would be these people if you knew us when we were younger. Ben was the good boy. The one who never broke rules, followed directions, listened to our parents.
I was the rebel. The one who skipped class, slept around, partied. I liked to drink and smoke and stay out late. Even more, I liked to talk back, which I think was my greatest enemy. And I guess I still am the rebel.
But I’m definitely not the black sheep anymore.
That title has definitely fallen on Ben.
And I think that’s why he harbors so much resentment towards me. Why he can’t stand to be around me. His end of the anger between us is because I did everything my entire life that he always wanted to, and he was the one who toed the line. And yet I’m welcome home and he isn’t.
“Ivy’s birthday is next month,” I say.
“I know.”
“Well, we’re probably gonna have a party at the house, and I just wanna let you know you’re invited.”
His eyes fly to mine. If I’m judging his expression correctly, I’d say he almost looks surprised.
“I’ll work on mom. See what I can do.”
His shoulders sag, as if realizing his presence will have to be excused rather than welcomed.
“I’ll make sure to stop by and talk to Ivy before you guys leave,” he says. Then he stands, without saying anything else, and heads back inside the building, effectively ending our conversation.
