Jeremiah (Stud Ranch 5)

18

Jeremiah

I waited until my brother and Charlie came back out of the house and rejoined the party before pulling him aside. I’d been seething the entire ceremony. I didn’t know if I was more pissed at Reece or Ruth—him for putting me in this position and getting in between me and Ruth when we’d had something—no, I shook my head. It was better it self-imploded now rather than later.

We’d both just been running too high on insane sexual chemistry and overflow wedding pheromones. All of it was surface and based on a lie. Reece was only marrying Charlie so quick because of the baby.

Although… I had to admit, the way my little brother looked at his bride during the ceremony when they repeated the vows after Xavier… I shook my head. It didn’t matter if my brother had found the real thing. Love.

What mattered was the lies. It was all based on a lie. And him being impetuous. Which always led to disaster. Sure, it all smelled rosy and looked beautiful now. But who was gonna have to pick up the pieces when everything blew the fuck up, huh?

Cheery band music played in the distance as I stood cross-armed outside the house. Finally the door cracked and I straightened as Reece looked out as if checking for the all-clear. When he saw it was just me, a look of relief crossed his face.

“The in-laws aren’t anywhere around, are they? I’ve finally got Charlie back in a celebrating mood and her stomach’s settled. I don’t want anyone else ruining her day.”

My arms went back across my chest. Oh, he was gonna pretend to be Mr. Responsible now? Mr. Protective Caretaker?

Where was this guy when he shoulda been putting on a rubber however many months ago? Nowhere, because my brother was all about whatever got him his jollies right there, right then. And now he was a husband and about to become a father?

“You and me need to talk,” I stated, and his demeanor changed because he could tell I meant business.

He pulled the door tighter behind him to block Charlie, calling over his shoulder. “Just a few more minutes, babe. I’ll be right back. No, nothing’s wrong. Just keep resting. I’ll come get you in a few.”

Then he stepped out to join me and shut the door behind him.

“All right. Fine. It’s been a long time coming,” he said, glaring at me. “Let me have it.”

I was a little taken aback. Usually when it was time to school my brother, he stood back and took it.

“Actually, you know what?” he said, shaking his head. “No. I’m fucking fed up with your high and mighty bullshit. You being born a few minutes early doesn’t actually make you older. We’re the same fucking age. I’m a grown ass man and I’m tired of your judgmental bullshit. My wife knows enough to tell off her parents when they’re trying to get into our life when it’s none of their business and brother, I’m ready to do the same to you.”

“It’s not the same at all. I took care of you when—”

“Did you? ’Cause the way I remember it, we took care of each other.”

I scoffed. “You have no fucking idea the shit I did for you.”

He threw his arms out. “Because you won’t tell me! You think you’re so high and mighty but you don’t even know how to communicate. Being with Charlie has taught me what actual grown-up relationships look like and brother, I can finally see that you’re still the child. We were never taught how to talk about shit, much less how to heal from all the trauma—”

I scoffed again and started to turn away when he grabbed my shoulder. I yanked away but he just got in front of me.

“Yes, fucking trauma. The way we grew up, that was fucking traumatic. We fucking survived and that makes us survivors. But you don’t just go through that shit and come out normal. You have to deal with it. You can’t just keep ignoring it. You have to talk about it, work through it—”

“I work just fine,” I said through gritted teeth.

It was his turn to scoff. “Oh, that’s what you call whatever the fuck it is you’re doing?”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

“Stomping through life, gruff and grumpy as hell? Pushing anyone away before they can ever get too close? You think that’s healthy? Shit, if I wasn’t so forgiving, you would have pushed me away too.”

I stared at him. I wanted to punch him to get him to shut the fuck up.

But he just kept going. “For example, what the hell is going on with you and Ruth? Anyone with eyes in their heads can see you have feelings for the woman.”

“She’s moving.”

He registered surprise and I remembered she hadn’t told anyone else yet.