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Here we sit at this bar, next to Brody and his pregnant fiancée, Bria, and I literally feel like I’m going to puke. How am I supposed to drop the bomb that we are siblings? It’s clear his life is going great. He’s in the NHL now, and he has a baby on the way. And now, I’m about to stir all of that up. But maybe he wants to know. Maybe he would like to know that he has actual blood out there that isn’t his messed up, abusive father.
For the past twenty minutes, Hunter and Brody have been talking hockey while Bria and I have made small talk about everything—from her pregnancy to life as the significant other of a professional hockey player to my dancing career. But when Hunter gives me a side-eye, I know he’s wondering when I’m going to bring it up.
Patting Hunter’s shoulder, I give him a look, telling him I’m ready. I feel more nauseous, knowing I need to just get the words out. I’d ask him to walk outside, but the bar is completely dead. So, I feel like it’s a safe place to bring it up in here.
“So, look, man, as much as I wanted to see you to catch up and shoot the shit, I actually did this more because Sutton needs to talk to you.” Hunter puts his hand on my leg, letting me know he’s here. “She’s got some important shit to tell you. And she means a lot to me, so please just listen.”
Brody’s eyes move to mine, and he looks confused. “Yeah? What’s, uh…what’s up?” He laughs nervously. “Nobody is trying to sue me or some shit, right?”
I chew my lip nervously, my throat seeming to close up, not wanting to let the words out. Inhaling, I tilt my chin up and look right at him.
“No. No. Nothing like that.” I fumble, sounding like a moron. “I think…well, I think you’re my brother,” I say quickly. “We have the same mom and dad.” I cover my mouth after blurting out the information I confirmed earlier this week. “I’m sorry. I had no idea how to do this. In a card. Or in person. Or at your doorstep. Maybe an email.” I suck in a breath. “I’m blabbering. Fuck, I’m nervous.”
Because she is his comfort, his first instinct is to look at Bria, who looks just as shocked as he is but tries to remain calm—for support.
She takes his hand in hers and runs her hand through his hair. “It’s okay. Just…just listen to her, okay?”
Taking out the papers I printed off from the information Hunter had gotten, I slide them to him. “My mom—ourmom—was a prostitute when Sam, or Samuel Savage, the man who I thought was my biological father, met her. She was pregnant with me. And you…you were—”
“Back in South Carolina with my old man,” he mutters, staring at nothing.
“Yeah.” I nod somberly. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea you existed until recently.”
“Jesus,” he mutters, swallowing thickly as his eyes skim through the papers. “Fuck. This is…this is a lot.” He clears his throat, running his hand over his shaved head. “No…this is a fucking dumpster fire, started with dog shit. Wow. Wow…” His hand moves from his head to his chin. “Yep…wow.”
“Brody…just breathe,” Bria whispers. “It’s okay.”
Looking at her again, he shakes his head lightly before standing from his stool and walking outside.
“Just give him a minute,” Bria says softly, patting my hand. “His mother—well, your mother too—as you know, she left him as a toddler with that monster of a man. And I think…I think this is just a lot of information for him to process. I think, deep down, he sort of assumed she was dead. Or maybe hoped that she was. That she hadn’t stayed away from him his entire life for no good reason.”
Climbing from her own stool, she nods toward the door. “We will both be right back. I promise.” Before walking off, she puts her hand on my shoulder. “You did the right thing, coming to him.” Tears gather in her eyes, making it clear how much she loves this man who shares the same blood but is a stranger to me. “He’s never really had family. Well, besides me. I’m really happy for him, Sutton. I’m happy for you too.”
As she walks outside, I look at Hunter. “I hope I did the right thing,” I whisper. “What if I just ruined years and years of healing for him?”
Leaning forward, he cups my cheeks. “You didn’t, Sutton. And I can’t imagine how hard it was for you to come here tonight and tell him.” When he kisses my forehead, I wonder if he’ll ever kiss my lips again or if I’m being friend-zoned forever. “You are pretty incredible, Little Bird. I’m proud of you.”
“Thanks,” I utter. Looking at him, my eyes fill with an unfamiliar wetness. Emotions flood my body, but I’m not sure if it’s from my newly found brother or knowing that Hunter is by my side, carrying my ass through this. “Thank you. For making this happen. I think…I think it’ll be okay.”
“It might seem like a shitstorm now, but it’s going to be good.” He winks. “I promise.”
Hunter
Once Brody comes back, looking as pale as Casper the damn Ghost, he sits down and looks at Sutton.
“All right. So, I’m going to need you to go over that again because it sounded to me like you just said you’re my sister. And I guess I’ve kinda always just assumed I was the only offspring that came from my father’s fucked up nutsack.” He looks from Sutton to Bria and back to Sutton. “How sure are you?”
Sutton’s chest rises as she pulls in a breath. I see her hands shake the smallest bit, and she tucks her fingers into the palm of her hand.
“Obviously, we can do a DNA test to know for sure. But Hunter had someone look into my mother for me. This is what they found.” She glances at me. “And I know Hunter’s family enough to know that when it comes to who they hire, it’s nothing but the most reputable. So, yeah…I’m pretty damn sure that what he found is accurate.”
Brody rocks forward and back on his stool for a moment, processing it all before his eyes move to hers again. “And so…what do you plan on doing? I mean, are you going to call your mother out on it? Are you going to travel to South Carolina to meet our dad? Because I have to tell you…he’s not what you’ve probably painted in your head. He’s a bad,baddude. You might think you realize how ugly he really is, but trust me, I lived with him, alone, for eighteen years. It’s much worse.” He swallows. “So, whatever it is you plan on doing with this information, think it through. I’m warning you, Sutton, just be careful.”
She rakes her teeth over her bottom lip as she stares off into the distance. Finally, she looks at him again. “I don’t plan on meeting our dad—ever. I’ve heard the backstory on why you started One Wishto begin with. It’s obvious our father isn’t a good man, and meeting him isn’t what I want to do. And as far as our mother goes, she hasn’t spoken to me in months. I was cut off when I transferred to Brooks, so she was already on my shit list. But now? Well, now, she’s dead to me for leaving you the way she did. But I do need some sort of closure. I need to speak my mind and tell her how I feel and how vile of a human being I really think she is.” Her voice grows thicker, and I can tell she’s doing her best to push through. “I have no family anymore. None at all. But I’d like to have you as my family. And Bria and your unborn baby.” A tear rolls down her cheek. “I’d like to know you, Brody. I’d like to actually be your sister. And I’d love to have a brother. But I’m not naive enough to think it’s going to happen overnight. We’re strangers. But we don’t have to be forever.”
His eyes move from her to Bria’s, and I know he’s trying to keep his emotions in check. Brody O’Brien has never been a dude who likes to show when something affects him. Everything has always been masked with humor or violence.
But finally, he stands. “Well, fuck it. I mean, you’ve got the same fucked up blood running through your veins as me. Do we hug now? Or what the hell do we do? I’m new to this touchy-feely family shit.”
