Page 17 of You Make Me Feel
“The more you react negatively to it, the more convinced I am,” Romy says. “It’s hitting a nerve.”
“I didn’t kill anybody,” Asher points out.
“But you did kill the part of your soul that you needed to,” Romy tells him. “The part that kept pushing your wife away.”
Asher blinks. For a second there’s silence, like everybody’s taking this in.
“Fuck,” Asher finally mutters. “Iamhim.”
Romy gives a satisfied nod on the screen. I look around, trying to see if anybody else is finding this funny. But they’re all completely absorbed, leaning forward like Romy is the font of all knowledge.
Hudson lifts his beer. “Welcome to self-awareness, bro. It only took gothic murder and a creepy housekeeper to get you there.”
“Remind me why I come here again?” Asher mutters.
“Because we get free therapy under the guise of literature,” Parker tells him.
“And our wives think we’re just drinking beer,” West adds.
Romy laughs. “And because you all keep showing up means it’s working.” She looks at Hudson. “After last time, how did things go?”
I tip my head to the side. This is fascinating. My rich,over-controlling brothers are actually paying attention to a twenty-something influencer like she’s the goddess of all things emotional.
Hudson lets out a breath. “I talked to Skyler. Told her how much I appreciate her.”
“And did you find out her love language?” Romy asks.
Does she mean sex? I grimace, because nobody wants to hear about their brother’s love life.
“She’s doing the test tomorrow. I already did mine.”
“And what was it?” Romy asks him.
“Acts of service,” he says.
“That tracks.” Asher shrugs. “You always like to make sure everybody’s happy. Even if it drives us up the damn wall.”
I can’t help it. I let out a laugh. This is really happening. It’s not some kind of ruse. My brothers are actually talking about their feelings in a group setting.
“Do you have something to add, Zach?” Romy asks, sounding every inch of a school teacher.
“Uh, no.” I shake my head quickly. I’m not sure I’ve been this scared since sixth grade.
“Good. Because we’ll get to you next time.”
The guys all laugh. I don’t like this at all. It’s funny when it’s my brothers, not so much when it’s me.
“Whatever,” I say, shrugging. “I’m not afraid of my feelings.”
Hudson snorts. “Everyone in this family hates feelings.”
“Not me,” Parker says. “I overshare.”
“True,” Asher replies. “And we’ve all suffered because of it.”
Romy grins. “Then it’s settled. Zach gets the next book.” She lets out a slow breath. “I think we’ll doJane Eyrefor you. Same time next month.”
I shrug. Never read it. Probably won’t for this either. But all of the men around me – men I’ve grown up with, men who are stoic and strong – look like Romy’s just announced the second coming.
