“Nah, you go ahead.” Brendon sat down on thecouch, which Ryan had thought to uncover before he got there.
Fifteen minutes later when Ryan was brushing histeeth and feeling half way human again, his phone rang. “Can youget that, Brendon?” he yelled.
He figured Brendon got it because it stoppedringing. He slipped on his shorts and walked out. Brendon was stillon the phone and was using that 'sexy' voice on whoever was on theother end of the line. Ryan smirked at Brendon.
“Hang on, he just got out,” he said, handing thephone over.
“This is Gracin.” Ryan barked into the phone.Okay, so he didn't have the phone manners his momma tried to teachhim.
“Mac?!” He choked and looked at Murray. Murraywas making that sexy voice at his baby sister? Well shit, it lookedlike he would have to kill his friend. “Whiskey Tango FoxtrotBrendon?” He glared at the blond, who just shrugged. Whiskey TangoFoxtrot was their radio speak of asking WTF?
Ryan rolled his eyes at his sister’s reaction.“No, Mac, I don't think you're stupid. Yes, Mac, I realize thatyou're nearly twenty-two. No, Mac, I don't think you're a littlegirl anymore.” Like hell. She was his baby sister and even thoughhe didn't see her as often as he should, she was still his babysister. “Mac! Don't talk like that. No, I figured you knew whatWhiskey Tango Foxtrot was. Fine. Fine. Yeah...I'm a bastard. Forfuc...Fine, Mac. Yeah. Okay. So are we done playing bitch Ryanout?”
He glared at Brendon when the other man began tolaugh. “No! No...as in HELL no,” he barked. “I will not! You havelost your fucking mind, Mackenzie. I will not let you talk toBrendon.”
“Dude! Don't be a jerk. Let me talk to your babysister,” Brendon drawled out lazily.
“Brendon, I love you, man. I do. But, you eventhink about Mac I'll fuck your shit up,” Ryan griped. “Fine. Fine.Yeah. No. Mac...seriously shut up! Alright. Yeah. Love you too.” Hehung up the phone and glared at Brendon for the millionth time.“Don't even think of it, Murray. I'll fucking kill you.”
“She sounds cute...from what I can remember shewas cute when I saw her.” Brendon waited until Ryan was just feetaway and then ducked. “Dude, come on. Give me a break; I wouldn'tmess with your sister.”
Ryan wanted to believe Brendon. But he knew theguy. Brendon didn't know limits when it came to women. Ryancouldn't even find the boy Brendon had once been. Sophia had done anumber on Brendon. After AIT Brendon went back home. Sophia hadtaken one look at him and suddenly wanted him back. Two days beforehe left again he caught the girl in bed with some other guy. Fromthen on Brendon had been the love 'em and leave 'em type.
But he settled for a fake punch and a warninggrowl, for now. They sat down.
“So, Kenneth's worse,” Brendon said.
That took the steam out of Ryan's selfrighteousness. “Yeah. We have to do something.”
Brendon nodded. “Hell, we're all bad off.Patrick still can't handle the Fourth. Mark said Patrick had tomedicate himself last year.”
“Yeah, he did. I still grab for my weapon when acar is moving toward me too fast.”
Brendon nodded. “I can't handle loud noises ifI'm not prepared,” he admitted. “But Kenneth is drinking thebiggest part of the time. Last week he called from some chick'shouse saying he didn't remember getting there. He sounded almostscared.” He sighed. “He's looking rough. I don't think he's eating.And his drinking is getting worse and worse.”
“He's drinking and driving,” Ryan said. Theyboth looked at each other. “What are we going to do?”
***
Patrick was on board with their plan. He saw thedifference in Kenneth too. All three were sitting at the barwaiting for Kenneth to get in. He refused to stay with Ryan orPatrick. Instead he was staying at a local motel.
“You know what? Fuck this. Let's go.” Patrickgrabbed the keys to Mark's truck. They all piled in and went to seetheir friend.
When they got there Ryan winced. Kenneth's carwas double parked and it looked like he hadn't bothered to shut thedoor. The car had been ransacked already. “Fuck.”
“Room 231,” Brendon said.
They all got to the room door after lockingKenneth's car up. Ryan started pounding. When that did no goodPatrick started pecking on the window. And Brendon beganyelling.
The door opened slowly. “Y'all are worse than awoman. Fuck,” Kenneth groaned.
They all went in and looked at the place. Fourbottles of cheap whiskey sat on the table; one had already beendrunk.
“Dude!” Brendon exclaimed. “When did you havetime to drink a bottle of Jack?”
“I'm good like that,” Kenneth said roughly.
All three looked at each other. Patrick was theone who started.
