Sorry to tell you this, big brother, but you are not.
“Can you get out so I can change for the cast party?” I gesture to the door behind Nate.
“What about our picture?”
Is he for real right now? I’m standing here crying, because of him, and he thinks I want to take a picture? Men!
“This isn’t really a Kodak moment.” My voice is flat, emotionless despite the sarcastic comment.
“But it’s tradition, Care Bear.”
Nice try, buddy.
“Well…seeing as you just broke my heart, I think it’s okay for me to break our tradition.” I move around him and pull the door open. “Get. Out.”
I can’t even look at him when he finally does as I ask. He was supposed to be the man in my life to protect me—because let’s be honest, our dad certainly doesn’t care enough to fill the role—and instead he hurt me the most.
Jase may love me enough to walk away from us to protect the relationship I have with my brother, but if he thinks I’m letting him go without a fight, he has another thing coming.
Chapter Fifty-Eight
BROADWAY BABY: HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT! HOLY SHIT!
THE BIG HAMMER: What’s wrong? Are you okay?
BROADWAY BABY: I’M NOMINATED FOR A TONY!!!!!!!!
THE BIG HAMMER: Holy shit that’s amazing!
BROADWAY BABY: I can’t believe it.
THE BIG HAMMER: I can. You were AH-MAY-ZING
BROADWAY BABY: Lol, I can’t believe you just said ah-may-zing.
THE BIG HAMMER: *GIF of Rebel Wilson in Pitch Perfect saying, “Aca-believe it!”*
BROADWAY BABY: You know what this means?
THE BIG HAMMER: ??
BROADWAY BABY: I’m going to need a date.
THE BIG HAMMER: …
BROADWAY BABY: Woooo!!!! Look who’s going to the Conference Finals!!! I hope Jake and Ryan aren’t too sad you guys beat them.
THE BIG HAMMER: Yeah, that was pretty nice.
BROADWAY BABY: Pretty nice? Um…I’m pretty sure Cali’s picture of you two gloating over the two of them went viral.
THE BIG HAMMER: It did. Still not sure if JD and Skye are happy or mad about it.
BROADWAY BABY: It was hilarious. They should be happy.
THE BIG HAMMER: You know what this means though?
BROADWAY BABY: What?
THE BIG HAMMER: We have to play your team to make it to the Cup.
BROADWAY BABY: *GIF of Will Smith shrugging*
BROADWAY BABY: I miss you.
THE BIG HAMMER: I miss you too, baby.
BROADWAY BABY: Then why the FUCK aren’t we together?
THE BIG HAMMER: Because I refuse to be the reason you lose your brother.
BROADWAY BABY: That’s stupid.
THE BIG HAMMER: I know, but it doesn’t make it any less true.
BROADWAY BABY: No, it doesn’t. If anyone is the reason for it, it’s Nate himself.
THE BIG HAMMER: Whoa, you called him Nate.
BROADWAY BABY: Yeah, well, when you start tossing out ultimatums like you’re a petulant child and not a 25-year-old man, you lose the right to your childhood nickname.
THE BIG HAMMER: Harsh.
BROADWAY BABY: And don’t you forget it.
THE BIG HAMMER: Maddey would totally approve of your use of the word petulant.
BROADWAY BABY: Oh I know. She already praised me for it.
THE BIG HAMMER: You still talk to The Coven?
BROADWAY BABY: *GIF of Michelle Tanner rolling her eyes saying, “Duh.”*
THE BIG HAMMER: Yup, you are def still talking to my sister. I can’t believe she’s still watching Full House. I would have thought she’d be done all these weeks later.
BROADWAY BABY: Oh she is. She’s on to Saved By The Bell now, thanks to my recommendation.
THE BIG HAMMER: I’m surprised you’re still talking to them.
BROADWAY BABY: Why?
THE BIG HAMMER: Because…
BROADWAY BABY: Listen…
THE BIG HAMMER: I thought I couldn’t “listen” to a text.
BROADWAY BABY: God you’re lucky you’re cute. But just because you have some misguided notion that we need to be broken up, that doesn’t mean I accept it.
THE BIG HAMMER: …
BROADWAY BABY: That’s one hell of a right hook you have.
THE BIG HAMMER: Yeah…well…I gotta protect my boys. I’m not gonna let a dirty hit slide, even if the refs miss it.
THE BIG HAMMER: What about the goal or the assist I had tonight?
BROADWAY BABY: Oh those were nice too, but the right hook was the highlight of Game 4 for me.
THE BIG HAMMER: You do realize I used that right hook on your brother, right?
BROADWAY BABY: That was my favorite part *smiley face emoji*
THE BIG HAMMER: …
BROADWAY BABY: What? *shrugging emoji* Maybe you’ll knock some sense into him and he’ll butt out of our relationship.
THE BIG HAMMER: …
BROADWAY BABY: *picture of Mr. Potato Head with Jase Donnelly and Chris Callahan bobbleheads*
BROADWAY BABY: Kick butt tonight. You bring this series back home for Game 7.
THE BIG HAMMER: Where did you get those?
THE BIG HAMMER: And I thought you were a Bruisers fan?
BROADWAY BABY: Ebay.
BROADWAY BABY: And seeing as the reason I am a Bruisers fan is the reason you refuse to be my boyfriend anymore and will only text me (at least you text me back this time around), a part of me can root for you.