Not like I didn’t know that. At least he has the decency to look sheepish.
“Do you feel better?” I reach for the pint of beer just as our server arrives with it. I manage to choke down a large swallow, allowing the thick liquid to burn against my dry throat.
“Actually, I don’t,” he says, also taking a drink of his beer. “For all intents and purposes, I came here to make things right with you, but when I saw your reaction to me dancing with Gracie, everything that happened between us came rushing back.”
I stare at him and clench my jaw. Despite the sincerity in his eyes, I just don’t know that I believe him.
“You always had everything,” he starts. “You had the girl, the grades, all of Mom and Dad’s attention, and then finally, you got Dad’s company. I’ve always been second best to you, Andrew.” He calls me by my full name. “When that shit went down with Melissa, it wasn’t because I wanted her.” He clears his throat, his neck turning red with shame. “I wanted to hurt you.”
“Mission accomplished,” I grind out.
He sighs and runs his finger around the rim of his pint glass. “And when I did, it was the worst fucking feeling in the world.” His voice breaks on that admission. “You were the one person I always respected and I betrayed you in the worst possible way because I was angry. When I saw how hurt you were, I knew I had the upper hand. I spent years doing anything and everything to piss you off, and all it did was destroy us.”
“Why are you telling me this now?” I spin my own pint glass around in my hand, my stomach turning in disgust as he speaks. I can’t even bring myself to drink my beer.
He shrugs again. “It was time. That’s really why I came to New York. To apologize to you. I’m sorry. Very sorry.”
Everything he’s saying and the way he’s looking at me tells me he’s sincere. But these last years can’t just be erased. He betrayed me in the worst possible way. How can I ever fucking trust him again?
I simmer in my thoughts, making him squirm.
“Say something,” he says, and all I can do is shake my head while the last five years play like a slide show through my mind.
“You’re my brother,” I manage to get out before pausing. “The one person I should’ve been able to trust more than anyone.”
He nods, his eyes dropping to the wood table between us. “I know.”
More silence. The laughter and conversations in the bar fill the void between us. “Will you ever forgive me?” he asks, looking at me.
“I forgave you a long time ago,” I manage to say. “I let what you and Melissa did eat away at me for a long time, and I lived in the hate I had for you until one morning I couldn’t do it anymore. I forgave you. I had to, for me.” His eyes widen in surprise. “I just haven’t liked you very much.” I smirk and take a long swallow of beer, suddenly feeling better getting all of that off my chest.
“Rightfully so,” he answers.
“I appreciate your apology,” I finally tell him, and he nods. There’s a look of relief in his eye.
Our server delivers Aaron’s pretzel and a large bowl of melted nacho cheese. This was Aaron’s favorite snack when we were growing up, one he only got a handful of times at ballgames or at the movies. He slides the plate closer to me and offers me some first.
I shake my head. “No thanks, not really hungry.”
“Same.” He frowns.
I think about it and sigh heavily. “I assume this is why Gracie told me to be nice to you.” I let out a small laugh.
“She did?” His brows twist in confusion.
“Mmmhmm. How’d she take the apology?” I ask, feeling a fraction more at ease now.
“She’s a spirited one.” He chuckles.
“Yeah, she is.” I shake my head.
“She accepted the apology. Told me if I ever hurt you again, she’ll rip my balls off.” He shudders.
I nearly choke on my beer. “She said that?”
“Yep. And said she wasn’t apologizing for slapping me or kneeing me in the nuts. That it was deserved and you don’t apologize for things that are deserved.”
We both laugh at that, the mood lightening, and Aaron finally takes a piece of his pretzel, dunking it in the cheese.
“I like her,” he says with a shrug. “She’s good for you.”
She is good for me. “I love her,” I respond. This is the happiest I’ve felt in five years. Mending fences with my brother and falling in love with Gracie all in one week. But I have to add, “And if you touch her again, I’ll be the one cutting your balls off.”
Sixteen
“So were you going to tell me you had coffee with my brother?” Drew asks, raising his eyebrows as he opens the door to the pizzeria where I assume we’re having dinner.
I shrug. “Were you nice to him?”
“As nice as I could be,” he says with a sly grin. “Table for two,” he tells the hostess.
The pizzeria is around the corner from Drew’s new condo. The atmosphere is moody and dark. Red candles sit in the center of the tables and just a few lighting fixtures cast a dim light throughout the small space.
After we’re seated, Drew promptly orders a bottle of white wine and fried mozzarella cheese for an appetizer.
“So back to the question at hand,” I say. “Were you nice?”
“We worked through some shit today,” he says, leaning back in his chair, and I can tell he looks more relaxed than he ever has.
I smile. “Good. Aaron took me for coffee to apologize for yesterday.”
He returns my smile, softly running his hand over where mine rests on the table. “I know.”
The server brings an ice bucket with our bottle of wine and offers me a sip to taste. Pinot Grigio is my favorite. It’s chilled, crisp, and perfect. After pouring two glasses, she leaves quickly.
“I accepted his apology,” I tell Drew.
“As did I.” He releases a contented breath. Something inside me flutters and makes my heart happy. “But don’t get too excited that everything will magically be better. He’s Aaron. He’s unpredictable, stubborn, and moody.”
“Sounds exactly like his brother,” I tease, pulling the large wine glass to my lips to hide my smirk.
Drew shakes his head and laughs at me. Our appetizer arrives and Drew orders a pizza for us to share.
“I’ll tell you more about Aaron later,” he starts, “but I have something else I want to talk to you about first.” His tone turns more serious and my stomach suddenly drops. Obviously, my face must also convey my concern because his hand tightens over mine. “It’s good, I promise.”
I let out a long breath and take another drink of wine to calm my fraying nerves. The cool liquid warms my belly and I offer Drew a stiff smile.
“Tomorrow the furniture is being moved into the condo. I’d like to hire some movers to bring your things to the condo at the same time.”
I narrow my eyes at him and stare at him for a long moment. “I’m not moving in with you.” What in the hell is he thinking?
He sighs loudly. “I thought you’d say that.”