Page 64 of Almost Priest

“What happened?”Braydon asked as Kelly carried Sam through the kitchen door.

“Nothing. I just got our girl here a wee bit drunk. She’s fine.”

“She doesn’t look fine. How much did you give her?”

“Just a flask full, I swear it. She needed a break from reality for a moment.”

Braydon gave Kelly an exasperated look. “This coming from a guy who thinks reality is a result of an alcohol deficiency. Nice.”

“Where’s Colin?”

“I don’t fucking care. Here, give her to me and I’ll take her to my room.” Braydon lifted Sam out of Kelly’s arms and she groaned. “I got you, Sam.”

He carried her up the stairs and into his room. The bed was made so he laid her on top of the covers. She began to make little snoring noises and he tried not to laugh.

What the hell was wrong with Colin? He reached out and swept her hair over her shoulder.

“What happened?”

Speak of the holy devil.

Braydon turned and saw Colin standing in the door. He hid his satisfaction at seeing his brother with the shadow of a bruise on his jaw and a split lip.

“You care?”

“Shut up, Bray. Yes, I fucking care!” Colin hissed.

“That’ll be two Hail Mary’s.”

“Knock it off.”

“Why should I? You’re still the same self-righteous prick you’ve always been and apparently you have no plans of changing.”

When Colin didn’t reply he turned to see if he left. The hurt he saw in his brother’s eyes made him regret his last jab. Maybe he’d gone too far.

“Is that how you see me?” Colin rasped. “A self-righteous prick?”

“No, that was a little harsh. I’m just not real happy with you right now.”

“I’m not real happy with myself,” his brother confessed. “What happened to Sammy?”

“Kelly got her drunk.”

Braydon laughed when he saw his brother’s jaw tick. “She needed it,” he said. “Next time try talking to her instead of running away. If you really plan on letting her go tomorrow, for good, then at least have the decency to be there for her today.”

“I never meant to hurt her, Bray. You have to know that. I just…I don’t know what to do.”

“You certainly have a choice to make, but I can’t make it for you and neither can anyone else. If you ask me, the answer is obvious.”

“I never meant to fall in love with her.”

“You falling in love with her doesn’t surprise me in the least. It’s the fact that you somehow managed to get her to fall in love with you. Love that isn’t given easily is not something you throw away, Colin.”

“I’ll never stop loving her. It isn’t wasted.”

Braydon couldn’t see things from his brother’s perspective no matter how hard he tried. “Then what are you doing, man?”

“I don’t know.” Dismissing any further conversation Colin asked, “Are you taking her to dinner tonight?”

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