Page 33 of For One Night

The ocean is roaring tonight, the skies are darker than normal, and with the lighting in the distance, I can tell this is going to get ugly. I swirl the liquid around my glass, downing it before it can spill.

“I thought I’d find you out here.” I glance over to see my brother, Lachlan, walk across the deck.

I drop my head, my chest tightening, not ready for this discussion. “Hey, come on in.”

“Funny, I don’t think you mean that.” He laughs, making me chuckle.

“I mean it. I’m not sure why you’d want to be here, but I’m okay with it.”

He leans against the railing. “That was one helluva a show today.”

“Yeah, sorry about that.” I scratch my beard, still not wanting to face him.

“I’d ask you why, but I’m not positive I want to hear your reasoning.” I cut my eyes at him, and he’s looking straight ahead. “What I do want to know is are you in love with her?”

My head whips around. “No! I mean, is Maisyn amazing? Yes. Would I sleep with her? Fuck yes. But no, I’m not in love with her, although I can see why you are.”

His entire body relaxes. “Man, I thought I was going to have to kick your ass.”

“Well, you could still try.”

He faces me, staring until I look at him. “Why? Of all the things, why her? I understand why you’d do it for the company, but why her?”

“I don’t know. It was stupid. The whole thing was insanely ignorant of me.”

He runs his hand through his hair. “Is it about college? Or high school? Because if it is, I want to clear the air. I did not come on to or attempt to have sex with Robin. I was so damn drunk, no way I could’ve gotten it up.”

“You still can’t, asshole.” I snicker.

He jabs my arm. “Fuck you.”

“I don’t think you can.” We both laugh. “I know, she was a nightmare.”

He nods. “I think the hardest thing we’ve faced has been having money and women.”

“How in the hell did you ever find one who didn’t care if you were broke or not?”

“Hell, do you think I found Maisyn?” He takes a deep breath. “She was sent to me. I never could’ve found a woman like her on my own.”

“You love her. I get it.”

“I told everyone I would never fall in love. Geez, did her and those girls bust my ass.” His face lights up with a smile.

I hit his hand. “I never slept with Mairi, she was your girlfriend.”

“I had no idea you liked her!” He gapes at me. “I guess we really are the worst twins.”

“It was high school, I should’ve said something when I first saw you talking to her. I suppose I was hoping it was about me.” I pick at the wood on the decking.

“Had you told me, it would’ve been about you. High school is hard enough but being twins and having money, made it miserable.” He waves it off. “We’re both better without her anyway.”

“So, Mairi and Robin were both all about the money?”

“Oh, yeah.” His head bounces. “About the business…Morgan?”

I run my hand over my forehead. “Stupidity. My stomach turned with every word Morgan spewed about you and the company, but I swear, the more he talked, I couldn’t help to think maybe you did deserve a good dose of life.”

“Don’t you think I get that every day?” His brows knit.