“So I heard some whispers,” Pipes says as I shake my head.
“And you’re not gonna shut up until you beat me into submission, right?”
“Hey, what’s brotherly love without a little talk?”
“Your kind of ‘talking’ usually involves my love life, or lack thereof of.”
“Have you done anything about Nova yet?”
I sigh. “Like made the moves?”
“Like claimed her.”
I blink. “Wow, just come right out with it,” I say. “Don’t hold back.”
“Come on, I know you better than you think I do. You’re nuts about her, and she’s family, well, Dawson family. In a way, she’s already initiated.”
“Not gonna deny that, but we’re bein’ careful. We don’t wanna ruin what we have.”
“Which I get,” he says. “Because I almost ruined things with Casey when we slept together and she ran into some fuckin’ sweet butt comin’ out of my place.”
I’ve heard the story. Casey knocked on my brother’s door — he lives above the gun range where he works — and the sweet butt who had broken in a few minutes earlier answered in her underwear.
Pipes didn’t sleep with her, but he didn’t exactly have time to explain before Casey took off.
“Communication is key, brother.”
“I know that now,” he huffs. “My point is, Nova is good for you.”
I level him with a look. “How do you figure that? You barely know her.”
“She’s put up bein’ your friend for this long, that’s gotta be good.”
Wise ass. Though he does have a point.
“Hilarious. I’ll have you know she likes mea lot.” Well, she loves me and I love her, but I’m not gonna admit that out loud. And besides, Nova hasn’t okayed me telling people. Not until we broach the three stooges.
“Wait, did you already tap it?”
I feel him look at me and I roll my eyes. “Tap it? What are we, like teenagers?”
“You did, didn’t you?”
“Shut up.”
“Hey, I’m happy for you, I’ve seen you two moonin’ over one another for a while now.”
I shove him in the shoulder. “We haven’t been moonin’, who even says that?”
“No? Well, I’m your brother, I know you. I knew you liked her more than a friend for ages, so don’t play innocent.”
I clear my throat, shifting in my seat. “You know I’m not comfortable talkin’ about this kind of stuff.”
The silence stretches, then he chimes in, “Man, I’m only messing with you. I don’t want any actual details. Jesus. I just want you to be happy.”
Pipes has always idolized me, ever since we were little kids. When I disappeared, it broke his heart. I still hold a lot of guilt about that, even though I know it isn’t my fault. But I left him and my mom to fend for themselves, and that will always weigh heavily on me. I never meant to cause them pain and heartache.
“I appreciate that. I just don’t wanna fuck things up with her.”