Chapter Thirteen #3
He was so in. For the rest of his life, Kirkland was so fucking in.
Tidy sat at the island in the quiet kitchen.
It was close to two in the morning. He hadn’t been to bed.
Still, he made coffee. Tidy had watched Fabrice set up the fancy latte maker more times than he could count.
While he knew he could still go to bed, Tidy already knew he wouldn’t sleep.
The high-dollar machine didn’t take long.
With the press of a button, the perfect drink filled his cup.
He reclaimed the stool he had been occupying for the last two hours.
The door swung open and Shore strolled inside. He focused on Tidy. “Why are you sitting in the dark?”
They had grown up together. Lived side by side for nearly their entire lives. There had never been secrets between them or anything they couldn’t talk about. “The dark suits my mood, I suppose.”
“Coffee smells good.”
“I just made it. Have at it, if you’re interested.”
Shore moved to the cabinet and grabbed a cup. He stood in silence as the mug filled. When he turned, his features were highlighted by the many electronic devices in the room. Tidy couldn’t make out much, but Shore’s image was as familiar as his own.
“Is it okay if I join you, or is this dark spot reserved for the night?”
A soft laugh rumbled from his chest. “Sit. Misery loves company.”
Shore chuckled as he sat. “Yeah. It seems it does.”
His words were nonchalant, but Tidy heard the true emotion behind the statement. “What’s got you down tonight?”
“That’s a drunken discussion.” He sipped his drink.
Tidy motioned in the direction of a small room off the dining room that had a bar and liquor. “We could justifiably add some whiskey to these. It’s not like it’s midday or something.”
Shore shook his head. “Nah. I might be down, but not so much I’ll kill myself mixing caffeine with alcohol.”
Tidy realized he smiled. Sometimes he forgot how much he enjoyed his brother's company. They had shared many late-night conversations. “I hear you. It’s the wedding thing, isn’t it? The life we’ve lived didn’t prepare us to want those things for ourselves.”
“Yeah.” Shore took another drink. “I never thought I’d feel jealous over such a thing.”
A sad smile tugged at the corners of his lips. “Or lonely.”
“That too.”
They drank their coffee in comfortable silence until their peace was disturbed by Jett rambling in. He switched on the lights. “Why are you two sitting in the dark?” His gaze swung toward the machine. “I thought I smelled coffee.”
Shore and Tidy exchanged smiles.
Jett poured himself a cup. He didn’t join them. Instead, he leaned back against the counter on the opposite side of the island and drank. He eyed them. “You two look miserable.”
Shore leaned Tidy’s way. Their shoulders touched and stayed. They were literally leaning on each other for support. “Nah. We’re just enjoying some family time.”
Jett nodded. “I get it. I’ll take my coffee to go.” He took one step and paused. Jett looked between them. “Unless you two would like to join me in my room.”
They didn’t even look at each other before answering simultaneously, “We’re good.”
Jett lifted his cup as if giving them a silent cheers. “I’ll leave you to it, then. If you change your minds, you know where to find me.”
“Okay.” Once again, they answered in unison.
With a short bow, acting ridiculous, Jett scooted sideways toward the door. “I bid you goodnight.”
“Good night.” This time, Shore answered alone.
Tidy wasn’t sure he cared if Jett had a good night or not.
A friendship like theirs had grown a little stale, being one of many juggled, and always feeling like the final choice.
The one he settled for. He was back to brooding, but not for long.
Shore’s comforting heat at his side warmed his chest with love.
“I guess it was some shit finding out you’re not related by blood.”
The subject didn’t hurt any longer. All the brothers had talked it over already.
This was just the first time he had discussed this privately with anyone other than Crisp.
“Yeah, but I’m over it. You guys are everything to me.
I know I don’t hang around often and show it, but I love you guys. Nothing can change that.”
“Mhmm.” Shore took another sip. “I, for one, was relieved to find out we’re not blood.”
Tidy hadn’t been looking at Shore. His head whipped around.
He found Shore staring at him. He looked completely serious.
Too many words ran through his head; Tidy didn’t know which ones to use.
His first reaction had been a stab through the heart.
Shore’s expression stopped that bullshit in its tracks.
Heat blasted him. Him. The final choice. “You want to take this coffee to go?”
Tidy nodded without his brain’s permission. It seemed his body knew what he wanted before his mind could accept a thing. “Yeah, we should do that.”
Together they slipped from their stools and headed for the door. He always made dumb decisions, but—oddly—Shore didn’t feel like one.