Page 8 of Flint
Tommy can not only handle himself, but he can also keep me safe too. He’s ex-military, built like a brick wall, and can throw fists with very little provocation. He also runs with the kind of men who don’t play around when it comes to their family’s safety. I’d rather not drag him into my mess, but if they followed me here, Tommy is the only real option I have. And he insisted upon me staying even when he knew I’d seen trouble. My brother doesn’t say things he doesn’t mean. So, I guess that I’m staying, at least for now.
By the time I’ve had a shower and made it downstairs, Tommy is leaning against the counter in jeans and an oil-stained t-shirt, scrolling through his phone. He looks up when I come into the room and gives me the kind of easy smile he’s known for.
“Good morning,” he says cheerfully. “The coffee’s fresh and I’ve got some breakfast waiting for you.”
“You’re a good egg. Why aren’t you married yet?”
Rolling his eyes, he says, “Don’t ask.” He watches me pour a cup and asks, “Did you sleep okay?”
“Like the dead,” I answer without thinking.
“I don’t like that phrase, especially in regard to my favorite sister.”
I give him a snort laugh, because I’ve missed his sense of humor. “I’m your only sister, so that’s not the big compliment you think it is.”
He sets his phone on the counter. “Are you hungry? I’ve got bacon, eggs, and toast.”
“Whatever’s ready,” I tell him with a careless shrug.
“You always say that, like food doesn’t even matter to you.”
“You got me all wrong, bro. I’m extremely partial to food I don’t have to cook.”
He’s all smiles as he pulls food out of the oven that he’s been keeping warm for me. “I remember that about you. The only thing I ever saw you make was cookies.”
I perk up. “Would you happen to have any cookies?”
“I’ll make you a deal. If you eat all your protein, I’ll bring you home a really special cookie this evening.”
I frown at him. “I’m not a kid anymore. You get that, right?”
He puts a plate down in front of me and deadpans back. “You’re not a kid, but you are obsessed with cookies.” Thumping his chest with one hand, he adds, “And there’s a new bakery that opened last month. They have the best fuckin’ cookies I’ve ever tasted.”
I grab the plate, take it over to the table, and dig in. Swirling my empty fork around in the air, I tell him, “I’m holding you to that deal, bro,” I pause then ask, “Are you sure you’re okay with me staying here?”
Something in my brother’s expression changes. He looks angry and his voice turns cold. “Why would I have a problem with you staying? We’re family.”
“I wasn’t sure you’d want your kid sister hanging around. Now you’re a biker and all that,” I say.
His arms come down from being folded across his chest and he sits down across from me. “You’re all I have. You know I’d do anything for you, right?”
I smile. “I know you would.” We’re silent for a bit. I guess both of our thoughts go back to our mom and how he raised me after she died. I glance around the farmhouse kitchen. It’s a nice place, a place I could imagine him raising a family in. He’d sent me photos when he first bought it. Back then it looked like it was barely holding together. “I like the house, you did it up nicely.”
He smiles at me. “I wanted to do something with my inheritance. Like how you used your money wisely on college, instead of running off to Vegas to blow it all on hookers and blow.”
I burst out laughing without meaning to. Truth be told, I’ve really missed my brother. “I’m really glad I decided to come and visit you.”
“I’m glad you did too.”
I glance down at his leather vest. “So, Flint talked you into joining his club after all.”
“No. You know no one on God’s green earth can lure me into doing something I don’t want to do. I went there to visit and decided the brothers there were my kind of people. I’ll probably be prospecting for a year or so. If I meet their expectations, they’ll vote me into the club.”
“Oh wow, this sounds like something that’s important to you.” I know my brother so well that I can tell by his serious attitude and carefully chosen words that it is.
“It is. Sometimes it’s nice to be part of something bigger than yourself. I learned that in the military.”
“In that case, I’m happy for you. I truly am, bro.”
