“Whatever. Great practice, coach. I’ll have to work on that last variation.”
I give him a small salute as he scampers off to the showers.
Council of Bros
I need to talk. Is anyone avail?
It’s ten minutes of agony before my phone finally pings.
Council of Bros
Henry: I’m leaving the office now. What’s up?
Henry wouldn’t be my first choice. Hell, he’d be mylastchoice. But I’m desperate, and I’m not calling Mom again. I’ve had about all the tough love I can take. Not that I don’t deserve it…
“Hey,” I answer when he picks up. “I messed up bad, Hen.”
“Why, hello. Great to catch up with you, too, Damon. Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for asking. The wedding planning is a little overwhelming, but otherwise, good.”
I ignore his sarcasm and forge ahead.
“You know how I’m dating Kendra? We talked about it at the game before.”
“Yes, I remember,” he responds in a measured tone. “What about it?”
The gym doors close. Everyone else is gone for the day.
“Well, we’ve been dating for a few months. Off and on, I guess, though it’s beenfullyonfor about two months now.“ Is that all? It feels like more.
“Are we coming to the point soon?” Henry asks, his patience dwindling.
“Sorry,” I reply. This is exactly why I didn’t want to talk to Henry. He’s got no patience for anyone but Camila.
“I may have—“ I hesitate. Geez, this makes me look like an asshole, but I need his help. “I may have accused Kendra of lying about wanting to be with me, even though she apparently told off her ex on TV that same day.” My mind is still reeling.
“Then she said we should take time apart. I don’t want time apart. I want her.”
Henry—Sub-Zero, cold, grumpy Henry—breaks out laughing. Not a little laugh either, but a deep belly laugh that raises my hackles immediately.
“OK. I’ll just let you go then,” I say, barely containingmy anger.
“Wait! My bad, Damon.” He’s still chuckling, and I’m finding it hard to believe he’s sorry. “I honestly didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just funny because I came to Kendra for advice about Camila, and now my own brother is coming tomefor advice abouther.”
“You talked to Kendra about your personal life? About Camila?” I can’t believe my rule-following big brother would ever break decorum that way.
“Mm hm,” he confirms. “Camila and I had just broken up, and I was a mess. I would’ve probably taken advice from a CVS cashier if I thought it’d help. I was desperate.”
“So what did she say?” I ask eagerly.
“She said that Camila needed something big and heartfelt to understand how much I loved her and how sorry I was. Something to show her that our relationship was worth the risk.”
I’m silent, mulling this over.
“What was your big move?” I press. I hate that I’m taking relationship advice from Henry of all people. It’s giving me déjà vu from the sex talk we had with Dad.
“First, I showed up at her place to apologize. She was in the middle of studying for the bar, so I didn’t push for anything then. But once she was done with the exam, I picked her up, took her to my house, fed her, and gave her a heartfelt apology…all night long.”
I assume if I were there, he’d be waggling his eyebrows suggestively, and I can’t help but chuckle. That? That new playful side of him? That’s all Camila.
