“I have two bedrooms and two full baths, so you can use the bathroom through that door, and you can change inside the bedroom right through there.”
“But how will we get to Ruby’s in twenty minutes if I shower and change?”
He looks at me as if I’ve just asked the most ridiculous question.
“Oh, you’re not going with me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Imagine the scene you’d cause if you show up in Ruby’s quiet little neighborhood and confront your stalker ex.”
“He’s not a stalker.”
“He hits you, calls you non-stop, and somehow traces your location to your co-worker’s home. That’s a damn stalker.”
“And I never said he hit me.”
“You didn’t have to. Now get dressed. By the time I get back, I’m going to be fucking starving. Hope you like seafood. We’ll eat, we’ll talk, and then work on finding your brother.”
“Did anyone ever tell you that you're kind of bossy?”
“It runs in the genes. I was born this way.”
“Sounds like an excuse,” I say as I paint on a faux smile, not sure how I’m liking this solo plan of his.
“If you ever met any of the men in my family, you’d know I’m telling the truth.” He cracks a small smile in return. “Keep your phone on, okay?”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to go with you?” I ask, as another random tear drops from my eyes.
“Did anyone ever tell you that you’re kind of a crybaby?”
“I don’t usually do this.”
“Well, why are you crying now?”
“I’m… I’m just scared,” I admit, being honest.
“Scared for who?” he asks resolutely, possibly offended that I may be questioning his manhood.
“For everyone.”
12
Bronx
I’m driving at a record pace towards Ruby’s house to deal with Karma’s ex when I make a hands-free call through the phone interface of my truck. A rich, baritone voice answers on the other end of the line, and it sounds a lot like mine used to once upon a time.
“Hello?”
“Seven.”
“What do you want, Bronx?”
My initial reaction is to become combative with my twin brother because that’s how most of our interactions have been over the last few years, but this time I realize I need to employ a new strategy with him. I have to swallow my bullshit pride if we’re ever going to have a meaningful conversation again.
After all, no matter how much things have changed between him and me, it was Seven who remembered that we had the find my iPhone feature turned on and discovered me by the side of the road first. His face was the last one I saw before I completely passed out from blood loss, and I remember his expression, like it was etched in stone. He is usually the more stoic of us two, the unflappable one. But that night, I saw tears in my brother’s eyes that I hadn’t seen since we were boys. He was petrified, and it was a fright based deeply in the fear of losing me.
I felt that.
