“Bullshit. You came here to talk to me aboutLiz.”
“No. I came here to talk about that moment when your shitty prep school friends became more important to you thanme.”
“Are you kidding me? You’re a grown fucking man and this is what you drove two hours to talk to me about? I was sick of you, okay? Is that what you want to hear? I made friends that weren’t you, Si. I made friends who knew how to talk to girls. I made friends who didn’t have to check in with me every five seconds just to see how they werefeeling. I made friends who knew nothing about you and weren’t asking me questions about why we were so different. For the first time, I was just Scott. I wasn’t Scott and Silas. I wasn’t the McInroy boys or the McInroy twins. I was just myself. I was sick of being your other fucking half. And I’m sorry if that makes me a dick, but I don’t miss that about us atall.”
Sometimes you know the truth of a thing, deep inside. You just hope that you could be wrong. You hope that if you can find it somewhere in your heart to at least try to forgive someone, that they are capable of dredging up even the tiniest bit of humanity. Sometimes you’re wrong. I feel my palms itching, my fist starting to clench. I have to go. I have to get out of here. Without a word, I head for the door. I fucked up cominghere.
“Silas, wait. Wait!” I stop with my hand on the door handle. I don’t turn around. “I didn’t meanthat.”
“Yes, you did,” I say over my shoulder. I turn back around. “You definitely meant it. I had a feeling that you hated me, but it’s nice to hear you say it out loud. Clears a lot of thingsup.”
He sighs and throws up his hands. This is why I can’t stand talking to Scott. He says or does something shitty and if you do anything that isn’t kissing his ass and calling it Christmas, you’re overreacting. I can’t change that. I can’t change him. I can protect myself from him and I can look out for people I careabout.
“I don’t hate you! Ijust—”
“Hated having me for a brother. Well you don’t have to worry anymore. Now that I really know where we stand, you’ll never have to worry about me again. And since you mentioned it, stay away from Liz,” Isay.
His head jerks back. He looks at me for a second before he lets out that annoying ass, condescending laugh that already got him punched once today. “You can’t tell me to stay away from her. Have you met Liz? She’s gonna see whoever the fuck shewants.”
“Yeah, well, you don’t deserve to be anywhere nearher.”
“Yeah, ’cause I’m such a shitty friend toher.”
“’Cause you lied to her! Fuck. Your intentions, Scott. You can’t lie to people and act like you’re doing them afavor.”
He stares at me for a moment and I know I should leave then. Whatever comes out of his mouth next is going to make me want to throw him right through his fancy penthouse windows. “She dumped you, didn’t she? Holy shit. That’s why you came all the way down here. She dumped you and you know she knows how I feel about her and you’re afraid I’m going to make my move. I haven’t seen you in years, but getting your heart ripped out would make you jump behind the wheel. Sucks, don’t it,buddy?”
I shake my head, knowing I shouldn’t go low. This is Scott, though, and clearly low is the only thing heunderstands.
“I stepped back and yes, she let me. Does it suck? Fuck yes it does, but I trust Liz to make the best decisions for herself. I know how she feels about you, bro. She doesn’t fucking like you. Not that way. And after you kicked my fucking dog, I’d be surprised if she ever wants to talk to you again. I came down here because you’re still my brother, you piece of shit. I thought if we could just sit down and talk—” I stop myself. I’m talking to a sociopath. Nothing I’m saying is sinking in. “I’m gonnago.”
“She slapped me in thecar.”
“Shewhat?”
“I told her she was easy for sleeping with you and she slapped me. Caught me right here.” He points right to the spot where I punchedhim.
“Does insulting women actually work foryou?”
“Sometimes. You’d besurprised.”
“She’s too good for you is all I’m saying, and as you know she’s going through a lot right now. So do her a favor and leave heralone.”
“All I’ve been doing for her is favors. How about you let me handle my relationship with myfriend?”
“You don’t know what friendship is, Scott. Have you checked on her today? I bet you just stood there and acted like you didn’t even know her when they booted her out of theoffice.”
“I wasn’t there,” hesays.
“You mean at theoffice?”
“Yeah at the office. I decided it was best to skip showing up with her and a massive black eye. There were no friendship favors I could do to stop her from getting fired. She dug her own grave there. Yeah, Dorrit really fucked with her, but sending that email was just stupid.” It clicks then. Scott doesn’t know about the sex tape. He doesn’t know just how set Dorrit is on ruining her. He doesn’t understand how much she’shurting.
There’s more I want to say. There’s so much more on my mind. It won’t matter though. I’d have to play Scott’s game and by Scott’s rules, and Scott’s rules involve me changing who I am and saying and doing things I know I would never do. I’ve been pissed at him for so long, but that doesn’t change the fact that he’s my brother and I still love him. It doesn’t change the fact that I’m donepretending.
“Whatever.” I walk over to his front door and pull it open. “I mean it. Stay away from her. And stay away from metoo.”
He calls after me again as I pulled the door shut behind me, but I mean it this time. I’mdone.