“Shut the fuck up!” I exclaimed. Suri’s older brother had been best friends with Chuck. “Little Suri? Aren’t you way too fucking old for her?” I teased.
“Shut the fuck up,” he grunted. “I love her, Linc.”
“It’s serious,” I observed. It had to be for him to be thinking about happily ever afters.
“Yeah. Mom and Dad serious, Linc,” he added. My eyes shut slowly and stayed shut.
Overwhelmed with emotions, all I wanted to do was shut down. It was too much. I was happy for Chuck. He was a good man. A great brother. Way too good of one to be stuck with the likes of me. He deserved the kind of happiness our parents had shared.
“They really loved one another,” I noted, even though I knew he knew it.
“They did. They loved us, too,” his voice rasped, heavy with emotion.
“Right,” I muttered. “Too bad they left.”
“They didn’t leave, Linc. They didn’t leave us. They died,” my brother corrected, and I fought from scoffing.
“What’s the difference?”
“The difference?” he repeated gently, and the line went quiet between us. “Are you serious right now?” he asked with an edge in his tone.
“I—" I paused. I never talked about this shit. But for some reason, I needed to at that moment. “Yeah, Chuck, I am.”
“Linc, Mom and Dad would have done anything not to leave this world to have just one more day, hell, one more hour with us. Don’t you know that?”
“I guess… I just… it’s hard.” My voice cracked. “It wasn’t fair.”
“I get that, too. You were younger, and after they died, I was barely keeping my head above water working to keep a roof over our heads. I wasn’t there for you… to talk about things and—"
“That’s fine… I wasn’t a talker.”
“Still aren’t. Though I think this is the longest I’ve kept you on the line since you left for the Navy.”
“Probably.” I laughed, opening my eyes. I was a little more relaxed. “Hey, man, look… umm, I’m sorry about all that, Chuck.” I was being sincere, too. “I didn’t make it easy on you.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’s in the past.”
“Right…” Of course, he would forgive me as easily. I had always been able to count on Chuck.
Chuck, who was marrying his buddy’s sister.
Chuck, who was in love and in a relationship.
If I asked anyone for help, right then and there, it would have to be him. “Hey, umm, can I ask you something?”
“Anything. I’m always here for you, Linc.”
“With Suri… How did you know you… umm…”
“Loved her?” he guessed, and I grunted. “I just did. When I would think about my life without her, it sucked. I didn’t want that version. I mean… I could. It would have been the same, but you know… not as good as it is with her. She makes me want…” He paused as if collecting his thoughts.
“What?” I felt like I was on pins and needles waiting for him to finish.
“She makes me want to be a better man, Linc.” I made a noise so he’d know I was still listening, but fuck, I felt his words. Deeply.
That was exactly what I felt when it came to Joy.
“Have you…”