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“Oh, I’m sure, Tweetie.” His mom finished her breakfast, only leaving a couple of bites on her plate. She pushed the power button, and the familiar beep sounded on her scooter right before she backed it up from the table. She hit the new potted plant Sway had set at the end of the sofa, tipping it over. Dirt spilled onto the light beige carpet and two of the leaves broke off. His mom looked behind her then up at Sway and shrugged indifferently. Her grin infectious.
Sway shook his head. “I’m revoking your driver’s license.”
“I said it was a bad place to put that plant.” She laughed, her frail fingers pulling her robe tighter. “Tweets, I’m ready to get dressed now, buttercup. I say we get an early start before the weather cools this afternoon.”
While Tweetie went into his mom’s bedroom to get started, she rambled on about her grandkids. She held up a soft pink sweater and his mom gave a quick nod and a smile of approval, Tweetie never missing a beat. “I told them if they want some Jordans then they better call him in Chicago and beg him for some, because that’s the only way they’ll get’em.”
Sway walked out of the door, letting their usual conversation of the entitled Generation Z, and the grandparents who put up with them, fade into the background. He hefted his backpack higher onto his shoulder, glad he’d thought to put in an extra change of clothes.
Presumptuous of him, yeah. But did he want to stay in the big hunter’s arms all night… hell fucking yeah.
“Is there a reason my man is acting like someone just shot his dog?” Dana finally asked, setting the binoculars down. He’d been sitting in the car with Brian for the past hour while he followed up on a huge lead with their corporate jumper. “Duke let him go home after he picked up Rodney’s slippery ass and got him back into custody. I thought he’d be happy to have a half day to himself but when I spoke to him he was growling so hard I could barely understand him.”
Brian rubbed the scruff of his beard. It’d been a rough night. He hadn’t slept well at all—actually he hadn’t slept well in a few weeks—and then the fight with Ford was eating at his gut. He hated when they fought, it was rare, but it was also what brothers did sometimes. He knew they’d get past it and soon, but it hurt nonetheless that he was letting Ford down so hard. “He got mad at the gym.”
“He doing that thing again?”
Brian shook his head, looking at his hands and picking at one of the many gun callouses on his palm, before Dana continued.
“I know he’s bossy as fuck. But you know he loves you, dude. He’s noticed… well, we’ve noticed you’ve been looking a little rough lately, bro. Working long hours, not hanging out as much. Avoiding everyone’s questions.”
“I’m fine. Everyone goes through rough shit. It’s called life. Ford needs to accept I have to live my own. He has to accept I can’t talk! He won’t accept it and I’m getting fed up, Dana!”
“Whoa, whoa, Bri, slow down, you know I can’t keep up when you sign that fast. Say that again, but go slower.” Dana was watching Brian hand’s so carefully, as if he was about to perform the world’s greatest magic trick and if he blinked he’d miss it. He loved how much of an effort Dana made to communicate with him. He could’ve waved him off when he’d discovered Brian didn’t talk and not bothered like most people. But, Dana wasn’t most people. He was one of the most considerate men he’d ever met. There was nothing he wouldn’t do for anyone, especially a friend, and Brian wasn’t afraid to have Dana go to bat for him regarding Ford. The guy had ways to get his mule-headed brother to see reason… ways he didn’t want to think about too hard.
Brian breathed slowly before he brought his hands back up. “I’m wondering if we’ll ever be able to just be family again. Ford my brother. Not Ford my caretaker. Not Ford my voice cheerleader. Just be my damn brother, no matter what.” Brian was sure Dana didn’t catch every word, but he could see he’d put most of it together.
“I get it. Sway gets frustrated with me sometimes when I worry about him. But, that’s how we see little brothers, ya’ know. He’ll always be Squirt, I can give a rat’s ass about that bit of peach fuzz on his chin. I don’t see a thirty-five-year-old man. He’ll always be the boy that didn’t get any height on him until he was sixteen and I had to keep the other kids in the schoolyard off him.” Dana tapped Brian on his shoulder to make him look at him. “I don’t think he’s incapable of taking care of himself. Sway ain’t no weakling by no means. He was just… he’s… he’s my baby brother. I don’t care if we didn’t have the same parents. They’ve been my family forever. I swore to myself and Stanton to always protect Sway.”
