Leo closes his eyes, but I know he’s listening to me.
“I’m in town for Dash’s engagement party,” I announce, loud and proud.
This time, Leo can’t hide his reaction. His whole body jerks, and his eyes flash open to glare at me. “The fuck?”
“Yeah. I didn’t think you knew.”
And I wasn’t supposed to tell him.
But the difference between my baby brother and me is that I haven’t given up hope.
Maybe it’s naive, but under Leo’s asshole exterior, I’m betting there’s a sliver of a good man to be saved. And I’m willing to carve my nails into his soft underbelly if it means I can dig that decent bit out to the surface.
Leo’s jaw clenches hard, and I watch as he silently commands his body to relax. But I have his undivided attention now.
“Our little prince is getting married. Or I guess I should say,mylittle prince. Seeing as how I’m the only one he told. The only family member invited.”
Leo’s fingers clench around his glass, and I rejoice in the knowledge that I’m getting to him.
“Actually,” I continue, “he asked me to be his best man. Or best woman, I guess. Whatever you call it. On the happiest day of his life, I’m going to be standing beside him.” Leaning in, I drop my voice to a low, unforgiving note. “Where will you be?”
“What is this? You rubbing the shit in my face?” Leo faces the bar again and waves for another shot and throws the alcohol back faster than the first.
“No.” I straighten on my stool.
“Sure seems like it. You get off on bragging? Want to list how many of my exes you fucked next?”
That earns a bark of laughter out of me. My brother scowls my way, and I hit him with a smirk.
“Sure you wanna know?”
“Fuck you,” he mutters without real heat. All that’s left is weariness. An exhaustion usually reserved for men twice Leo’s age.
The guy is my twin, but sometimes, he seems decades older. Other times, I would swear he never made it past the teenage nonsense. The back-and-forth must wear a guy out.
“I’m here because I’m confused,” I admit. “And pissed off.”
“You’re mad at me now, huh?”
“Yeah, Leo. I’m mad.” I pick my soda up and swallow half of it in one go, the carbonation burning my sinuses. I blame the sting in my eyes on that too. “Why are you still living like this? I don’t get it. I can’t believe you want to be a part of that life. That you want to be Bill 2.0.”
“I don’t,” Leo growls, then presses his lips shut.
Finally. God, I could cheer just from that one small confession. That hint is all I need.
“Leave then.” I strip my voice of every ounce of judgment and anger. All that’s left is desperation. This choice is life and death. “I’ll help. Whatever you need.”
My brother shakes his head and waves for another tequila. “Leave it alone.”
I tilt my head at an odd angle until I capture his eyes with mine. “Never.”
Leo snorts, then swallows the fresh drink. As if the alcohol took some of his openness away, he glares at me. “I don’t need you. That’s Dash. Go baby him.” My twin laughs hard. “Or is that why you’re here? He has a new woman to take care of him, and you’re looking for someone else to baby?”
I ignore his words as I consider the problem.
Leo wants out, but he won’t leave.
Why?
