Page 77 of Ruck Me Harder

And I’d never want to hold my brother back. Any of my siblings. I want us all to climb the highest mountains and crush our goals.

“Sometimes people move away, they have new priorities in their lives,” I tell my brother. “It doesn’t mean they stop loving you. It just means their priorities have shifted.”

He grunts, like he doesn’t quite believe me. “I guess.”

“You will always be twins. You’ll always be brothers. Nothing will take that away.”

Chuck shakes his head. “Logically, I know that, but…”

“But it still hurts to realize he’s not your number one phone call,” I finish.

“Yeah. It’s silly. We’ve been living in different cities since we went off to college. And it’s not like we were attached at the hip during breaks.” My brother sighs. “I miss the stupid butthead.”

I roll my eyes. “Have you told him?”

He stares at me. “What?”

“Have you picked up the phone and called him? Or texted? Hey, my girlfriend and I just broke up and I’m deep in my feels, can you please be there for me?”

He blinks a few times. “No?” His voice goes up an octave. “Why would I do that?”

It’s my turn to shake my head. “You’re kind of dumb sometimes, Chucky. He has no idea you’re feeling like this. You have to tell him. Open and honest communication is the bedrock of all relationships.”

He makes a face. “Ew, gross. You know I’m allergic to feelings.”

“Charles Lawrence Gallagher, you are not allergic to feelings,” I snap. “Trust me. Six weeks ago, the thought of talking shit out would make me break out in hives. You’re nowhere near as bad as I was. Call your brother and tell him you fucking miss him.”

“How’d you get through it?” Chuck asks. “How’d you stop with the hives?”

The thought of Tony makes me smile, and he nods knowingly.

“Ah. The sex?”

Balling up a napkin, I toss it at him. “No, you goofball. He loves me. He wants me to succeed. And I love him back. I support him like he’s supporting me.”

“So when do I get to meet him?”

I check my watch, even though I already know. “His flight lands in a few hours. He’ll be at the game tonight.”

“Great,” Chuck says with a toothy grin. “I can’t wait to meet the guy who made my grumpy sister turn into a love-sick fool.”

thirty-two

. . .

Tony

There’s a naked Vivienne in my bed.

Dropping my bag on the floor, I make my way over to the sleeping beauty. I kiss her forehead and she stirs.

“Hey,” she says sleepily, her eyes fluttering open and then falling shut again. She reaches clumsily for me, her arms grasping at nothing. “I was waiting for you.”

“I missed you.” I kiss her softly. “You nap. I’ll be here when you wake up.”

“I’m awake,” she says, but her eyes don’t open.

Chuckling under my breath, I pull the covers up around her and make my way into the en-suite. A quick shower later, I’ve gotten all the plane germs off me, and I crawl naked into the bed beside her. She immediately rolls over and snuggles into me.