Riley bristled at Charlie calling Brent a doormat. He didn’t have a lot of confidence in himself, but that was too far.
“He’s not a doormat,” Riley defended, unable to let the remark go. “If anything, he’s a saint. He puts up with everyone’s crap, mine included, and never complains. He doesn’t do that because he’s weak, he does it because he’s strong.”
He realized a moment too late that Charlie was baiting him. Charlie would never say that about anyone, not seriously.
Riley was falling for his own tricks, coming from his little brother.
He was torn between frustration and pride.
“I see your point,” Riley said, before Charlie could start again.
“A wise man once advised me to tell someone how I really felt about them, because I’d regret it if I didn’t. He might wanna take his own advice.”
Riley snorted at that. He never really felt wise. All his wisdom came from telling other people not to make the same mistakes he had.
Maybe that was how wisdom worked.
“Sometimes, I hate that you’re so smart,” Riley said.
“You love me,” Charlie responded. “I never wonder about that. And you have a lot to give. I just want you to be happy.”
Riley sighed, looking down at the pamphlet in his hands again.
It was a stupid excuse. The idea of raising a family with Brent made Riley’s heart swell, when he wasn’t busy panicking that he’d lost him forever.
“Hey, how come you have one of these on hand?” Riley asked, realizing that it was a weird thing to have lying around.
Charlie blushed bright red, looking down at his coffee. “I, uh… I… well… I want a baby, and I think adoption is a better choice than surrogacy?”
“Children aren’t dogs,” Riley pointed out.
“No, but they all need love just the same. I want to love a child.”
Riley narrowed his eyes. “And what does Scott want?”
Charlie wet his lips. “I, uh… might not have gotten around to asking him yet. I’m in the research phase. I figure we should get the wedding over and done with first?”
“And you’re lecturingmeabout excuses?” Riley raised an eyebrow.
“This is a do as I say, not as I do moment. Besides, I already did the hard part, and it paid off. I know Scott will take it well and we’ll be able to have a meaningful, adult conversation about it. I’m just…”
“Scared?” Riley offered.
“Well, yeah. Putting your hopes and dreams out thereisscary. I’m not pretending it isn’t. But that doesn’t mean you can just chicken out.”
Riley knew that. Deep down, he knew that fear was only hurting him.
If Brent would reject his friendship over his feelings, then Brent wasn’t the man Riley thought he was.
He’d told Emily that. And Emily had gotten her heart bruised, but not broken.
He could handle a little bruising, couldn’t he? It was better than locking his heart away forever out of fear that it’d get hurt.
“Okay,” Riley said. “I’ll talk to Brent, but you have to promise me something.”
“Anything,” Charlie said, meeting Riley’s eyes.
“If I’m gonna be brave,youhave to be brave. You need to tell Scott what you want.” Riley smiled at the thought. Scott would make a great dad.
