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“Mother fucker!” I yelled, swinging back.
He grabbed my wrist, knowing my moves, learning from past scuffles we’d had over the years. Another punch caught me on the side of my head.
As I leaned down, he jumped on my back, grabbing me in a chokehold. I couldn’t swing him off. I was turning wildly, trying to shake him off like a rabid monkey. I shifted my weight back, making us fall to the ground. He lost his grip and we were wresting in the dirt. Scrapping, swinging, tearing, punching blindly.
I heard faint yelling. The screams and shouts were muted in my ringing ears.
“Stop it! Stop it! Get off him!” A pair of hands pulled at me, ripping me off Matthew. “Hey! Break it up! Michael, what the fuck?”
Matthew and I finally stopped and just sat there on the ground, covered in dust, huffing, trying to catch our breath.
“What the hell is going on?” Siena asked in a tone I had never heard from her before. A demanding tone that oozed authority.
I looked up. She stood, hands on her hips, face red, chest heaving from pulling at me with all her might.
“I asked you,what the hell is going on? Answer me.” She looked between the two of us, her face solemn, her words direct and tolerating no nonsense. This new side added to her already spectacular magnificence.
“Nothing,” I said, my words trite and immature. It was like being scolded by our mother.
“Doesn’t look like nothing.” She held my eyes, not backing down. “Why are you beating up a complete stranger?”
“A stranger?” I grunted, my thumb jutted out, pointing at Matthew. “This douchebag? He’s not a stranger. Although, he’d have been better off if he were.” I sniggered, looking at my brother, who was dabbing at his puffy lip.
“And he wasn’t beating me up,” Matthew said, an arrogant smile in place. “I was beating him up.”
She rolled her eyes and huffed. “Jesus.”
I grunted, “He’s my brother.”
“Brother? I thought your brother lived in Florida.”
“He does. Fucker’s here now, though. Matthew, Siena. Siena, Matthew.” I swiped at my mouth, wiped the dirt away, and spat.
“Asshole,” he grumbled, then cleared his throat and smiled. “Nice to meet you, Siena.” He brushed his hand off, stuck it out. She leaned down and shook it tentatively.
“I was coming to see if you wanted to go for a run”—she looked back and forth between us—“but I can see you’re busy.”
“Matthew was just leaving,” I said, shooting him a death stare.
He didn’t back down. “I just got here.Andwe have things we need to discuss.”
“Uh, not now. It’s not a good time. I already have plans. See?” I jerked my thumb at Siena.
Her hands fluttered, dismissing me. “We can reschedule. What were you guys fighting about anyway?”
“I’m out here to check on—”
“Nothing,” I cut Matthew off. “It’s family shit. Nothing that concerns you.”
“I see.” A combination of hurt and irritation flashed in her eyes as she nodded. “Well, I’ll just—”
Shit. “I didn’t mean—”
“No, no. I understand.” The flick of her hand stopped me. “No need for me to get in the middle offamily shit.” She shot me a look that made my balls shrivel up into my groin. Then she plastered on a smile. The one I knew all too well. The smile that could freeze water. “Nice meeting you, Matthew,” she said, not even bothering to look at me.
I knew I should chase after her. Apologize. Explain. But I also knew her well enough by now to know that she wouldn’t be easy to talk to right this minute. I’d give her some time to cool off. Then I’d grovel. “Jesus. Fuck, man. Perfect fucking timing,” I sneered at Matthew, standing up.
He shook his head and laughed. “Who was that?” he said, jutting out his hand so I could help him to his feet. I pulled harder than I needed, but I was proving my point.
