Chapter 20 #3
I did a double take at the pair, now apparently debating the best placement of one of the lizards I’d relocated.
The two did share a striking resemblance, right down to their lean build, brown hair, hazel eyes, and their names starting with “M”.
But where Mitch’s features were square, Marc’s were softer, sweeter.
Like the petals of a flower. I smiled to myself at the silly thought.
Marc was very much like a flower, resilient and beautiful.
“Does he know that you’re in love with him?” Andy asked softly.
I turned to look at him so fast that I was seriously worried about whiplash. “What? Why would you ask that?”
Both of his eyebrows shot up. “Whoa. Take a deep breath. No need to go all ogre on me.”
“Shut it, leprechaun.”
“I hate you.”
“You started it,” I sniped back.
“I’ll take that as a no. How long have you been dating?”
I clasped my hands together and stared at them so I wouldn’t have to see the judgement in his eyes.
Anyone who saw him and Mitch together for five seconds could tell they were endgame.
They weren’t just die-for-each-other love.
They were burn-the-world-down-for-each-other love.
While I couldn’t list a single relationship that had survived longer than a few weeks, if it could even be called a relationship.
“James? Did I say something wrong? I know I came in hot, but I promise I didn’t actually come here to start trouble. It’s a little silly, but I wanted to—”
“We’re not,” I admitted quietly. “We’re not dating and,” I took a ragged breath, “and Marc’s not my boyfriend.
” Even if I wanted him to be. Even if I wanted him to be so much more.
The conversation with my CO hung like a black cloud over me.
My value lay in being a soldier. That’s all I was good for.
“Are you sure? Because it didn’t look like that when we—”
I cut him off before he could pump me full of false hope.
I’d been down that road before. It only led to heartache, and I was already well on my way to a doozy of one without extra help.
“I’m sure. Look, Andy, why are you really here?
I doubt it was to pick apart my love life.
You’d have to give a shit about your idiot brother first.” I turned the full force of my anger on him, and if I hadn’t already known that lashing out was a mistake, seeing the shocked hurt on his face would have sealed it.
“I… I…” He swallowed thickly and looked away.
“Andy, I—”
“No, it’s… it’s okay.” He sniffled. It was such a small sound, but it gutted me as well as any bayonet would, and to top it off, Mitch’s head swung around like he had fucking bat hearing.
“You’re right, I have no business prying into your life like that.
We haven’t been… close for a really long time. I’m hoping we can fix that?”
His phone chimed with an incoming message. He checked it and looked across the room, leaving little doubt as to its origin. “It seems your uh… Marc found us a decent place to stay for a couple of nights. If you’re up for it, maybe we can all have dinner together? See how we feel about tomorrow?”
I nodded, shame spreading through my chest. “Sure thing, Andy.”
He shot a quick text back, then, as if summoned—which he probably was—Mitch appeared at his side.
Marc followed a few paces behind, looking between us, no doubt sensing the tension.
To my surprise, Mitch did not wrap his arms around Andy, but only took his hand, lacing their fingers together.
Envy rose so sharply in me I could have put a hole in any of the freshly resealed walls.
“So Marc says the food around here is awesome. Plenty to choose from,” Mitch said with unmistakably forced cheer.
“Yep, just depends on what you’re in the mood for. There’s seafood, of course, and McSharry’s Irish Pub.” Marc flashed me a grin that wavered when I didn’t return it. “Um, then some world-class sandwich joints, and there’s always Ravenite Pizzeria.”
Unsurprisingly, Andy perked up at the mention of pizza.
Growing up, we’d probably dined on just about every delicacy out there thanks to the circles our family ran in, but he’d forsake it all for a slice of pizza.
Destination and time decided, they drifted away where Marc gave them his number in case they got turned around.
And in case anyone missed how much of an asshole I’d become in the last thirty minutes, I didn’t even say goodbye.
“So, um, your brother being in town. That’s…
cool?” Marc said uncertainly as he walked back from locking the front of the shop.
“Did you, uh, want to talk about it?” he asked from the other side of the counter.
Irritation prickled the back of my neck at having the physical barrier between us when all I wanted was for him to comfort me the way Mitch had comforted Andy.
But guys who were total jerks to their kid brothers didn’t deserve that kind of compassion, especially when their brother was trying so hard not to be a caustic asshole.
“I think I just want to be alone for a while.” I tapped the counter with my knuckles and turned to go out the back, then paused. “Don’t worry, I’ll… I won’t be a killjoy at dinner.” Without another word, I left, and Marc didn’t call me back. Not that I expected him to.