Ollie’s shoulders are stiff as he follows his brother out through the wide glass lobby doors of the theater. I stand there for a moment watching them. I should leave, but I’ve spent enough time around bad scenes to recognize when something might escalate. I step closer to the doors, just in case Sean tries to get into a physical fight. Not that it’s any of my business.
“No,” Ollie is saying. I can’t see them, but I realize they must be right outside because I can hear their whole conversation. “You know what, fuck you, Sean. I have every right to be angry and you’re going to have to deal with the consequence of your actions for once in your life!”
“She’s leaving me.”
There is silence, and I feel my own heartbeat pounding in my chest like a fist hitting a punching bag.
“She said she saw you the other day at some dance thing and realized she’s still in love with you,” Sean adds quietly.
Now it’s me who stands frozen, waiting to hear what Ollie says next.
“Jesus,” I hear Ollie mutter.
“What the hell did you say to my wife?” Sean demands. There it is. That’s why Sean is really here.
“Nothing. Barely a sentence.”
“Tell me the truth. What did you?—”
“I said I hadn’t forgiven her! That’s all. Because it’s true.”
“Well, she took that as a sign that you’re not over each other.” My cheeks blush red and hot. Is that what I’m here to listen to? Ollie getting back with Phoebe? The one thing that wasn’t even on my radar…
“That’s…no, Sean,” comes Ollie’s voice. “I’m not getting back together with Phoebe. You of all people should know that I would never do that.”
“It would be a nice revenge if you broke us up, though, right?”
“I don’t want to break you up. I just want to stay away from you until I’ve gotten past it.”
“Stay away from us? You only went after her in the first place to mess with me. Out of all the women in New York, you chose the one woman I had ever gotten serious about. You just dated her to prove you were the better man.”
“I was the better man.”
Sean laughs loudly. “Exactly. You used her against me. And now you’re doing it again. Just like Dad.”
“I haven’t tried to steal your goddamn wife. Which makes one of us!”
There is a scuffle and then Ollie backs into my field of vision, and I can guess that his brother has taken a swing at him and he’s trying to avoid the battle. I’m glad he’s not the type to launch into a fight, but I’m worried he won’t have a choice.
I finally step outside. “Ollie,” I say. “Are you okay?”
Ollie glances at me with worry in his eyes. He glances quickly between Sean and me.
“He’s fine, love,” Sean replies. “Go inside.”
Sean advances again.
“Stop! I was a bartender,” I say in my best no-bullshit voice, “and I will call the police on you if you start fighting, so you both better calm the hell down.”
“Oh, I like her,” Sean says.
At those words, something snaps inside Ollie like a broken string, and he rushes forward and punches his brother in the face.
“No! Don’t you dare!” I yell. I’m not even sure which of them I’m trying to stop.
Sean is grinning as Ollie breathes hard, and then they are grappling and shoving each other like teenage boys. Separating them seems impossible. “I’m calling the police!” I call.
“It’s okay,” Ollie says to me as he shoves Sean a few steps away and then staggers back, waving one hand vaguely without taking his eyes off his brother.
