Friendly Fire (Ricochet 2)

Rick swallowed thickly, an unfamiliar anxiety blossoming in his chest. “Good. I’m good. How are you?”

His brother chuckled. “Really good. Actually, I was going to call you next week.”

“Oh?” Rick and his middle brother had been the closest of the three Brennan boys. Their oldest brother, Kyle, was a dick ninety percent of the time growing up just like their dad. “What were you calling me about?”

“I’m getting married.”

Rick froze, listening to his own heavy breathing as he stood with the phone to his ear.

“Rick? Hey man, you still there?”

“Shit.” Rick said in disbelief, rubbing his eyes with his free hand. “You’re getting married? Is this a joke?”

Brandon laughed again. “No bro, it’s not. I want you to come visit and meet Tara. Dude, she’s awesome. You’re gonna love her.”

Rick slowly lowered himself to his couch, in complete shock. The Brennan brothers were raised by a bitter, lonely, misogynistic man. Trained from an early age not to let women get their proverbial claws into them, because all they want is to take their heart… use it, and shred it to pieces.

“But… I don’t understand. You… you never even had a girlfriend?” Rick was flabbergasted. Yeah Brandon was the most sensitive of the three boys, but he still took their dad’s advice to heart, never getting close to anyone he dated.

Brandon made a dismissive noise over the phone. “All bullshit. I faked it around dad… and around you and Kyle. Sorry man, I didn’t know where you two stood. Didn’t want dad beating on me for being a sensitive pussy.” Brandon paused. Rick heard his brother sigh deeply. “I had a steady girlfriend all through college. I was very much in love with her.”

Rick’s eyes nearly bulged from his head. “What? And you never said anything to me?”

His brother huffed. “Like I said, dad, and Kyle… god Rick, I didn’t want to hear their bullshit. I don’t feel the same way dad does. Not all women are like mom.”

“I just can’t believe you never told me.” Rick was disappointed, both in his brother for not confiding in him, and himself for not being available for his brother to come to.

“Would you have listened? Honestly?”

Rick paused, thinking it over. “No. I wouldn’t. Until recently, that is.”

“Oh ho! Another Brennan gets bitten by the bug?” Brandon laughed.

“Funny. And yeah, I guess you could say I’ve been bitten by something, Bran.”

“Well little bro, tell me what’s up?”

Rick explained his situation with Quinn, leaving out the hired mercenary part. By the time he was done going through it, his head was pounding and he was even more confused.

“Well, the question is, do you love her?”

“Bran, I don’t know. Maybe. I think so. How would I even know?”

“What does it feel like if you imagine never seeing her again?”

His brother’s words pierced his heart like a dagger and his breath hitched. Brandon must have heard it, because he didn’t wait for Rick’s response.

“That’s you answer, Rick. Do what you have to do to be happy. Fuck dad and fuck Kyle. If they can’t be happy for me or for you, then you and I don’t need them in my life. Go get your girl. You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

“Yeah,” Rick rasped. He pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes.

“I’ll call you next week and we’ll figure out a time to meet up. Hang in there little bro.”

“Thanks Bran. And congratulations. I’m sure Tara is a great girl.”

“She is. Bye.”

“Bye.”