36
Tiff
When the scruffy head of my baby brother walked into the bar midweek, I squealed, surprising Sam and a number of patrons who were at the bar.Without waiting a beat, I threw my apron at Sam, shouted, “Taking my break!”and then rushed around the bar to wrap Theo in a hug.
“You just keep getting taller every time I see you.”I patted his head like I would a golden retriever, laughing when he smacked my hand away.
“Fuck off, Tuff Stuff.”He chuckled.
“Language,” I said, mimicking mama’s tone perfectly.
Taking in his tired appearance, I couldn’t help but be elated at seeing him again.I took the opportunity to squeeze in another hug.“You made it!It’s so good to see you.”
“You, too.What’s it been?Three months?”
“Almost nine, you asshole.”God, had it really been that long?He looked so much the same and yet older, wearier.“But I’m glad you’re here now.Can you stay long?”
A seat opened up at the edge of the bar, and I ushered him over to it, keeping us out of the way of paying customers.He looked relieved to be off his feet.“I can’t stay late, but I’ve got some time.So, hey, I know we already talked about this when it happened, but I’m sorry about Hannah.”
I nodded solemnly, not wanting to rehash the past.Only getting to see my brother every once in a while meant relaying life events via text and then cramming in our congratulations or consolations in person, long after it had passed.“Thanks.”
It was at this point that Sam wandered over because, of course, it was.What better timing to have my current fling arrive than at the moment my brother brings up my ex?
Which was how I would explain the sudden butterflies I felt if anyone asked.Nothing at all to do with the fact that this was the first time someone I was sleeping with met my family.
Fuck.
My mouth turned dry.
Without asking, Sam passed me a glass of water, then turned to Theo.“Can I get you anything?”
“Just a light beer.”
“This is my baby brother,” I said, hoping the non-sequitur would be put down to my usual brashness and not because I was irrationally fearful they’d hate each other (though, really, how irrational could that be?I hated Sam in the beginning.That said, Theo was an angel compared to me).
“Good to meet you.Theo, right?Tiffany’s told me lots of good things.I’m Sam, the owner.”He put the beer on the bar, then held out his hand.
Theo shook it before giving me a sly grin.“Really?Because I’ve heard only terrible things about you.”
Nurses don’t need their external limbs, right?
I was relieved when Sam laughed.“Now, that doesn’t surprise me.”
When Theo went to hand over a bill for the beer, Sam pushed it back.“On the house.”
It was busy enough tonight that Sam couldn’t stay to chat, and I was as disappointed as I was relieved.
“He seems like a good guy.”
Instinctively, I looked over in Sam’s direction.He was cleaning glasses while taking an order, his easy charm pulling a smile from the burly guy he was talking to.I didn’t blame him.Sam was like a slow-burning flame, warm and comforting.“He is.”
Theo was immediately interested.“Oh, is he now?Just how good are we talking?”
I smacked him.“Not a word.”
“Is it serious?”
“No.”But it sounded like a question.
