Chapter 3 #2
Gage huffed, then glared at his brother. “If you barf in my truck again, I’m throwing you out in the middle of the road.”
Cooper didn’t so much as twitch.
“Sorry, again, and thanks for the help.” Gage pulled out his wallet. “Did he pay his tab?”
“He didn’t. It’ll be about forty.”
He handed me sixty. “For the help. Thank you.”
I took the money, as he was being kind, and I figured it made him feel a little better to tip me.
Not that I needed it, but his offer was sincere, and it didn’t feel right to spit in his face.
Gage, though, looked so tired. His shoulders slumped, mouth drooping under his forced smile. I found myself opening my fat mouth.
“Does he do this often?”
“Daily, feels like.”
I stared at the kid and felt pity. He had a brother who loved him this much and he was still trying to destroy his liver? Stupid kid. Then again, having been a stupid kid myself… “Look. Tell me to shut up if I’m out of line, but you gotta let him crash and burn.”
Gage’s head lowered and he looked…miserable. “I know. I vowed to myself I’d stop, and I actually did follow through on that earlier, but then there’s moments like now, where I didn’t feel good about forcing you to deal with him. He’s not your problem.”
“He’s not yours, either,” I pointed out. “I realize he’s your brother, but he’s not your child. And honestly? The only person who can help him is him. Until he’s ready to clean up his act, nothing you do actually helps him.”
He stared at the kid for a long moment. “My mother babied him to the point where he’s useless.
She still loses her mind when she sees him like this.
Demands I help him. I’ve been drawing boundaries.
I don’t let him drive my trucks anymore, he’s not allowed in my house.
I’m still picking him up from bars and drunk tanks, though. I can’t seem to stop doing that.”
“In other words, your mother is still enabling him, but she’s doing it through you.”
“Ouch. That hit a little too close to home.”
Poor guy, he looked so defeated. “Those are good steps, but unfortunately you have to go complete scorched earth, in a sense. I speak from experience. Let him crash. Let him fail so completely he has to pick himself back up. It’s the only way he’s going to learn.”
“And if he still doesn’t learn?”
“Then he can’t learn, and nothing you do will change that.”
“That’s…harsh. Wait, how do you know?”
“Oh, you know, personal experience.” I used my chin to indicate Cooper.
“I was just like him at that age, but I crashed and burned because I wore everyone out. No one would give me the time of day, except one grandmother who loved me through it all. Even she gave me stern boundaries, saying she would only help me in certain ways. Brutal as it was—and I don’t mind admitting I cried myself to sleep more than one night—the tough love was exactly what I needed.
Sadly, that’s all you can really do for him now.
Let him fail so completely he has to pick himself back up. ”
“Still, it gives me hope. If you can do it, maybe he can, too.” He gave me a wan smile. “Thank you. I need to toughen up. Or just block his number so he can’t call me.”
“Whatever you gotta do, man.”
Gage rocked back on his heels, staring up at the night sky, and blew out a long breath.
“Friends have been telling me for years I’ve got to cut Cooper loose.
Somehow, hearing it from you, I realize the situation really is that bad.
When a man who barely knows my name is telling me to let go, it’s past the point of no return. ”
I shrugged, having nothing to say. He wasn’t wrong. Honestly, it was rare for me to give advice. I normally just helped people to their cars and that was it. I wasn’t sure what it was about this man that drew words out of me.
Probably ’cause he was handsome as sin and I wanted to help him. I was a sucker for a pretty face.
I’d also noticed the rainbow bracelet on his wrist, tucked up against his watch band. He probably wasn’t straight if he was wearing that. Sadly, this didn’t seem the right moment to hit on him, but maybe we’d cross paths again and I’d get a chance.
For now, I had a bar to run, and he had a drunk to wrangle. “Good luck, Gage.”
“I need it, so thank you.” He gave me one last smile before heading around the truck.
I walked back to the bar, casting a glance over my shoulder as he pulled out of the parking lot.
It was a sad day when a good man like Gage had to deal with shit like this.
How much had he lost from pouring energy into Cooper?
I hadn’t seen a wedding ring. Had he sacrificed his own social life by constantly running to his brother’s rescue?
I sensed this was the case, which was a damn shame.
Siblings could only sacrifice for so long before resentment built up.
Gage wasn’t the kid’s father; he wasn’t meant to be parenting a younger sibling.
Eventually, he’d get sick of it and wash his hands of Cooper, which was best for the kid.
Speaking from experience, my entire family had basically cut me off, and my grandfather had disowned me before I’d gotten my act together. Even then, it had taken years.
Well, still not my problem. My bar inside, that was mine, and I needed to get back to it. I walked through the door and started back up at the bar, slinging drinks and wiping up spills.
Silas’s glass was empty, so I stopped to refill it. “What’s this?”
“Last beer.”
I was glad he knew because I’d kind of lost track.
“So he was fine,” Silas teased.
I gave a long sigh. “And not probably straight. He had a rainbow bracelet on his wrist. I wish the timing hadn’t sucked so badly.”
“Why is your timing with men always so lousy?”
“Ask the dating gods, not me.” I eyed him sideways as I loaded the dishwasher. “Wait a damn minute, your love life sucks as much as mine.”
Silas shrugged, not bothered by my observation. “But I do try and put myself out there. Just haven’t found the right person yet. You’ve not really been trying.”
“I do try.”
“Uh-huh.”
“Bitch, don’t take that tone with me.”
He snickered, delighted at my ribbing, as always. Half of our friendship was taking jabs at each other, I swear.
Midnight passed, and I made a last call for patrons to settle their tabs.
People called for friends, designated drivers, Lyfts, what have you.
Our friend Casey came to haul Silas home, both leaving after a quick hug goodbye.
Finally, everyone left, and I was able to lock the doors and start the cleanup.
I was loading the dishwasher when Heather approached me with a tray of dirty glasses. “Hey, Boss.”
“Yeah?”
“You really going to get us a new location?”
“Really am. Tired of paying rent, for one.”
“I mean, rent’s just money out the window, so I don’t blame you. But where you looking?”
“Not far from here, actually.” I indicated the direction down the street. “Y’know that building they just put up for sale? The one about eight doors down?”
“Oh, sure. The old…apartment building? I think it was apartments this last go-around.”
The building in question had started out as a mercantile store, and then operated as a restaurant for a while.
Later, someone converted it over to office space, and then it was turned into apartments.
It was a two-story brick building, narrow, but went deep.
I’d walked the space and had a feeling that if I could knock out some walls, it’d make a great bar.
The building’s location made it prime real estate, in a way, and I wanted it because it was within walking distance just off the square. Great location for me.
This was the final step in achieving my dream of owning a bar, which I’d had ever since I was a teen.
I’d worked like a crazy man for years to be able to afford my own space, and I had finally, finally reached that benchmark.
I had a high enough credit rating, enough of a down payment, and enough money stashed for renovations.
I could finally move forward. I wanted to be in my own building, my own bar, so badly I could almost taste it.
“I’m meeting up with a contractor Monday to see if it can be renovated into a bar. If they say yes, then I’m buying the place.”
“That’s a great location,” Heather said. “Plus there’s parking right next door, which is handy. Will we shut down for the move?”
“For about a week. Yeah.”
“Okay, well, keep us posted.”
“Will do.”
I was hopeful I’d get it. I’d hired a gay renovation company, as I’d heard good things about them, and I’d seen some of their work. These guys stood by their product, which I appreciated.
Fingers crossed the building worked out. ’Cause I ain’t got a backup plan.