“You do know I’m in a band, right?” I lean down and line up a new shot. “Ego and musician tend to go hand in hand.” Oh, the irony of missing my shot after that statement.
“Except you were always humble about your talent.”
I shrug, watching him pocket a red in the top corner as I pluck up the nerve to ask him what I came here to ask him. “So, ah, I wanted to ask your advice.” I rub the back of my neck.
My brother looks over at me. “Would this have anything to do with Ash’s pretty American friend?”
“You caught that, huh?”
“Your eyes were like heat-seeking missiles following her every move, Dil. You’re as subtle as a brick.”
“Well, shit.”
“Ro likes her too.”
“Yeah. I hope it doesn’t get messy.” I pot another few balls.
“See that it doesn’t.” He sends me a warning look as I miss my next shot. “Family first, Dil. Make things right with Ronan before you do anything with Vivien.”
He sinks the last of the reds, lining up to tap the yellow in the bottom corner.
“Make things right with Ro but not Ash?” I fight a smirk as he misses.
“Don’t look so smug, dickhead. You haven’t won yet.” He stands back while I effortlessly pocket the yellow and set my sights on the green. “And we both know you don’t have to square anything with Ash. She’s always Team Dillon. I bet she’s hoping for this.”
“I have fuck all experience dating.” I sink the green. “I don’t even know where to start with Vivien. Women usually pursue me; it’s never the other way around.”
“Yep, there’s that ego.”
“I might be cocky, but it’s the truth. I haven’t a clue what I’m supposed to be doing.”
“It’s not rocket science, Dil. Just be yourself. Don’t overthink it. Trust your gut and go with the flow.”
“I’m not exactly the easiest person to get along with.” I pocket the brown, and Ciarán rests his cue against the wall. “I figure I need to tone things down, but I’m not sure I can pull that off.”
“I concede,” he says, lifting a shoulder. “C’mon. Let’s sit and talk.”
I rest my cue on the table and follow him to the sofa area, flopping down beside him.
“Don’t change your personality, Dil. If she doesn’t want you, flaws and all, she’s not the one for you.”
“I don’t think Vivien would expect that, but the shit that comes out of my mouth sometimes is all wrong, and I have a habit of making her mad.”
My brother grins. “Passion is not necessarily a bad thing. Just try to use it for good things instead of pissing her off.”
I shift around, raising one knee up onto the sofa. “Like what?”
“Be passionate about the things she likes. Listen to her when she needs to talk. Support her when she needs a helping hand or a soundboard.”
“But how do I even get to that place? Right now, we have a tentative truce, but she’s still wary of me. How do I get her to like me so when I ask her out she won’t just laugh in my face.”
“Treat her with respect, Dil, and be committed. If you say you’re going to call her, call her. If you arrange a time to meet, show up on time. A romantic relationship is essentially a best friend with intimacy. You’re incredibly loyal and supportive to your friends, Dil. Start there. Be her friend. Be there for her when she needs it and build on it.”
My brother is not bad at this shit. “I can do that,” I say, bobbing my head, already feeling more confident.
“Go slow, Dillon, and let Vivien set the pace. Most girls don’t put out the instant you meet them. You can’t go into this expecting her to be the same as your little groupies.” His mouth contorts into a grimace for a couple seconds. “Watch Vivien for cues. Make sure she’s comfortable and she knows it’s all about her and your needs take second place.”
“I’m not an idiot, bro. Vivien is special. I know she’s not like the typical girls we hang around with. It’s one of the things I like about her.” Not being disrespectful to the girls we fuck around with. Just stating the facts. I can’t compare the casual sex I’m used to with the potential relationship I’ll have with Vivien because they are completely different.
