3 Seconds (Time for Love 6)

“Perfect,” I said, then gave them both a hug and said, “I love you guys.”

“We love you too, Bronagh, and we’ve always got your back. No matter what.”

Chapter Nineteen ~ Brendan

I was so intent on the words I was writing that I barely registered the sound of my door opening and footsteps coming toward me. My fingers were stained various shades of blue and black from the numerous pens and pencils I’d used over the last couple of days.

“Jesus.” I jumped at the word muttered from behind me, and turned to see Brady surveying the room with dueling expressions of disgust and admiration.

There were mostly empty pizza boxes, take-out cartons, and crumpled-up pieces of paper strewn across every available surface, and taking up a good chunk of the floor.

After I’d left Bronagh’s, I’d come straight home, grabbed my guitar, and started writing. I’d eaten when I’d gotten hungry, and hydrated when it was necessary, but I hadn’t slept. I’d been too consumed with creative energy and I didn’t want to lose it.

“How long have you been at it?” Brady asked, clearing off a chair and sitting across from me.

“Since the barbecue.” I rubbed my face, conscious of the fact that I had four days worth of growth.

“Seriously?” Brady asked, running his hand over his short, dark hair. “That was days ago … What happened?”

I finished my thought, picked the guitar up off of my lap and placed it on the floor, leaning it up against the chair, then looked at my brother.

“Bronagh ended it.”

“Why?” Brady asked seriously. “Did something happen? Something at Brock’s?”

I pulled my beanie off of my head, took a rubber band off of my wrist, and secured my hair back, before putting the knit cap back on. I was overdue for a haircut.

“Nothing that anyone there did exactly,” I began, not really anxious to talk about it, but realizing that if I didn’t tell Brady what he wanted to know, he’d go all pit bull on me and get the information himself. “Being around Dec, and everyone else’s kids, brought up a conversation that we hadn’t had yet. I told her I don’t want kids, and that was a deal breaker for her.”

Hoping that was enough information to hold him off, I picked my guitar back up and started strumming. I’d come up with about five decent songs, but was stuck on this last one. I needed to work through it.

“Since when do you not want to have kids?”

I bit back my frustrated sigh. I’d been hoping he’d get the hint and leave me to finish what I was doing, but apparently, he was feeling chatty.

Great timing.

“Since … ever.”

“Why?”

I put the guitar back down and looked at my brother, exasperated.

“Do we have to do this now?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, do you want me to leave so you can wallow in your own filth?” Brady said sardonically. “When’s the last time you sprayed yourself with water, Bren? You obviously haven’t been cleaning up after yourself, but at least you’ve been eating and drinking plenty of water … I mean, shit, did this woman really have her claws in you that good? You’ve only been seeing her for a few weeks.”

“You’re fucking hilarious, bro…” I replied, angered at his lack of sympathy. “What the hell would you know about it anyway? You aren’t exactly a pro when it comes to relationships … And you didn’t even give Bronagh a chance. Barely said five words to her at Brock’s place, so don’t pretend to know her, or what happened between us.”

Brady looked surprised at my outburst, but didn’t say anything further. He sat there, watching me, waiting patiently for me to fill him in on what was going on.

I hated that about him.

Already feeling guilty for talking to my brother that way, I sighed heavily and sat back in my chair.

“I don’t want kids and she does. She said that she’s running out of time to have as many kids as she wanted, and is getting a late start because of some stuff that happened in her past. She can’t continue a relationship with me, knowing that I don’t want the same things she does … It’s a waste of her time.”

Brady’s eyes narrowed and he leaned forward.