“Really? Wow! That’s…”
“If you don’t clean your room, we won’t be watching anything today or going anywhere…ever.”
“Okay,” she says in a dejected voice. “I be right back, Uncle.” Her little feet pitter-patter across the tile floor as she races down the hall to her room, probably to play, and not clean anything.
“You look like shit, man.” Sammy chuckles.
“Why are you here?” I grumble.
“Hello to you too. Someone has cranky panties on today. Oh wait…you’re cranky every day.”
I hold up my most mature finger at him. “For your information, I didn’t have time to put panties on because my daughter was letting strange men into our apartment.” I waltz into the kitchen and open the fridge. “You want a beer?”
“Sure.” He rests his ass on the couch, stretching his feet out on my coffee table, flipping through the channels like a tenant. “Such a gracious host.”
“Here.” I hand him a bottle of IPA and plop down on the other end of the couch. I take a long pull from my beer, narrowing my eyes at him with a critical stare. Sammy has always been a supportive brother, but sometimes he’s a little…overbearing.
“So you’re a big racing fan now?” His smirk tells me he’s about to give me one of his opinions.
“Kiely likes it,” I mutter.
“Huh. Here I thought it had something to do with a certain sexy, dark-haired race car driver named…”
“Shut up, and don’t call her sexy.” I shoot him a scowl.
“But she is.”
“Not to you, asshole, if you like your face.”
“Have you spoken to her since she came over last week?”
“No. She texted a couple of times to see how Kiely was feeling, but that’s it. I told you, it’s over between us. I don’t have time to get involved with anyone right now.”
“Because…you’re a jackass?”
“So I’ve been told. What the hell are you typing?” I insist, watching him text on his phone furiously.
“I’m having pizza delivered.” He grins “For the race.”
“Wonderful. Make sure you get plain for Kiely.”
“Already done. And I got her some of those little garlic twists she loves.”
“So why are you really here?”
“Jeez…can’t a guy come and visit his favorite niece without getting the third degree? Relax, man.”
I sigh. “Sorry. You’re right. I appreciate everything you’ve done. And Kiely loves seeing you.”
“I bet I’m all she talks about.”
“Yeah…especially when you keep buying her Nerf guns. Thanks for that. Do you know what it’s like to have PTSD, and wake up in the morning with a Nerf bullet to the eye?”
His laughter fills the room. “God, I love that kid.” He surfs through the channels some more until he lands on the pre-race show. “I do have something I want to talk to you about.”
“I figured. You just can’t let shit go. We’ve been over this already. I’m trying to navigate shit here. I don’t have time for anything else. I don’t want to fuck this up.”
“Tell me this, little brother…If you didn’t have Kiely, would you pursue this woman?”
“I don’t know.” Definitely.
“Cool. Maybe I’ll ask her out then.” He lifts his shoulder in a half-shrug. “She’s pretty hot.”
“Maybe I’ll knock your teeth out,” I growl.
“So tell me why she can’t be in your life again? Because I’m confused. Oh, that’s right, you have a daughter now. You can’t have both, right?”
“Sammy,” I warn, ten seconds away from throwing his provoking ass out the door.
“Did Charlie ever tell you that a kid would cramp her style?”
“No.”
“No. That’s right…I forgot…she came over and cooked scrambled eggs for your daughter, and helped you order groceries because she doesn’t like kids, right?”
“She’s a professional race car driver.” I throw my hands in the air. “She doesn’t have time to play mommy and housewife.”
“Did she say that?” He cocks his head with a glare.
“No.”
“Did you ever ask her what she wants?” He drums his fingers annoyingly on his beer bottle.
“No.”
“Then what the fuck is your problem, dude? She’s walking around miserable, snapping at all the guys. The crew is walking on eggshells afraid to talk to her for fear of getting punched in the face.”
“Whatever. I’m not going to keep going over this with you.” My stomach churns at the thought of Charlotte miserable.
“Look…I was pissed at first when I found out you slept with her. I was going to tell Colton to fire your ass. But it’s obvious you have real feelings for her. I’m pretty sure she has them for your dumb ass. Maybe it won’t go anywhere. Maybe it will. But you could at least give it a shot. Just because you have Kiely doesn’t mean you stop living. What are you going to do…take a vow of chastity until Kiely goes off to college? Grow a massive beer belly and run down to the shelter to get some cats?”
“You should be a motivational speaker.” I roll my eyes. “Anyway, I’m allergic to cats.” I take another swig from my beer; staring at the TV screen when they show Donavan racing team is leading the Indy season in points so far this season. Charlie Brooks’s face flashes up on the screen, and I can’t tear my eyes away.
“So housewife…huh?”
“Shut up.”
“You really like this girl.”
“I do like her…It’s why I don’t need to complicate her life.”
“Do you love her?”
I rake my fingers through my hair. Do I? That’s the big question swimming around in my head. Somewhere along the way, I fell. Hard. I’m head over combat boots in love with her. “Pretty sure I do.”
“Don’t you owe it to yourself to go tell her? Life is short, Brother. I’m sure I don’t have to tell you that. Don’t forget to live it.”
“How do I navigate everything here and have a professional race car driver for a girlfriend at the same time?”
“Uh…the same way everyone else in the world navigates their relationships. With patience and understanding. With compromise. With love and respect. For a big badass Marine, you’re pretty dense.”
“Fuck you, man.”
“Dude, you go to races and bring your daughter with you. Or you stay home with Kiely when she’s unable to go. Maybe her sister helps out. Maybe Uncle Sammy watches her for a weekend. Hell…Colton and Rylee offered to babysit whenever you need. She has like a million uncles now, with all of Rylee’s boys in their lives. Rylee got her into that preschool program, didn’t she? And helped you find a good therapist, right?” I nod, hating that he makes sense. “My point is, you don’t have to do it alone. It takes a village, and you and Kiely have one now. Go get your girl. She doesn’t have to be a mom or a housewife, but at least give her a chance. She only has to love you and your daughter.”