have. I would think you’d be a little bit happy, you know, that your sister is with your friend and not some random tool from her freshman chemistry class?”
Jack’s laugh was ugly. It made Brandis flinch. “You,” he pointed a long, tanned finger at Brandis’ chest, “are a man whore. I do not think it’s great that you love Maureen. Not at all. Because…. Well, shit, man, I’ve seen you do three girls in a night. Jesus. What do you think my sister is?” He seemed nervous at that moment, as if all his excuses would fall as flat as that one.
“Your sister is a smart, beautiful, incredible woman, Gordon. Pure and simple. But she is an adult. The fact she’s gotten this far, looking that good, with her virginity intact is amazing in and of itself; not that her virginity is any basis for this conversation.”
“You brought it up.” Jack grumbled around his beer bottle.
“Yeah, I know. I don’t know why, but I did. But understand this.” Brandis stood, put his bottle on the railing and leaned back, staring his friend right in the eyes. “We have been together most of this summer. Just having a good time getting to know each other, going to movies, concerts, walks, coffee. Did you know that?”
Jack shook his head.
“Your need to protect her is admirable, my friend, but she is growing up. You have to let her because if you don’t she will hate you.” He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Jack shrugged him away. “Fine. Date her. But, after you pull your magic, deflower her, and leave town to fly planes or whatever the fuck it is, I’ll still be here, dealing with her and for that I will never forgive you. Are we clear?” Jack stood so fast his chair tipped over. He slammed his beer, threw the empty into the yard and clattered down the steps.
Brandis watched as he screeched out into the street in his truck . That went well . He slammed his own beer and sank into the porch couch, glaring at the traffic and wondering once more if he had indeed made a huge mistake.
Chapter Six
“What?” Mo cradled the phone receiver between her shoulder and cheek, trying to get her makeup on and hair done before Brandis picked her up. They were going somewhere “special” he claimed, but it was a “surprise.” She was on fire already, eager and nervous both, ready for him and his surprise.
“I said if you go out with him tonight, do not come crying to me when he leaves. For the official record I do not approve.” Jack was yelling at her over the noise of a construction site. “I am dead serious here, Mo. You do not need to be dating that guy much less considering….”
“Hold on, Jack,” She put her mascara down and held onto the phone, her heart pounding with dismay. “I hate to break this to you, but I’m eighteen years old. You were at the birthday party if I’m not mistaken. I can do whatever I want.”
“Sure. Yeah. You are legally able to do whatever and with whomever. I’m just telling you right now; Brandis is not the guy you want.”
She gulped, tried not to let his words bother her too much. She’d spent a lot of years looking up to him, letting him advise and protect her. It was hard to hear harsh words about the man she knew she loved coming from his lips. “Jack, I’m….”
“I know, I know. You love him. Whatever. Just…please Mo, baby sister, be careful. I mean the guy is a player. He happens to have you in his crosshairs this summer, but understand that’s all it is. A challenge. You cave to him you’re just one more notch on his bedpost, got me?”
“Um,” she broke out in a cold sweat. She closed her eyes, pictured Brandis’ dark eyes, his strong arms. “That’s not the most supportive thing you’ve ever said to me. For the official record, big brother.”
“I’m looking out for you Maureen, goddamn it. Brandis is….”
“Brandis is my boyfriend, Jack. Deal with it.”
“You do know he’s leaving for Colorado, right?”
“Of course I do. We
Jack’s laugh was ugly. It made Brandis flinch. “You,” he pointed a long, tanned finger at Brandis’ chest, “are a man whore. I do not think it’s great that you love Maureen. Not at all. Because…. Well, shit, man, I’ve seen you do three girls in a night. Jesus. What do you think my sister is?” He seemed nervous at that moment, as if all his excuses would fall as flat as that one.
“Your sister is a smart, beautiful, incredible woman, Gordon. Pure and simple. But she is an adult. The fact she’s gotten this far, looking that good, with her virginity intact is amazing in and of itself; not that her virginity is any basis for this conversation.”
“You brought it up.” Jack grumbled around his beer bottle.
“Yeah, I know. I don’t know why, but I did. But understand this.” Brandis stood, put his bottle on the railing and leaned back, staring his friend right in the eyes. “We have been together most of this summer. Just having a good time getting to know each other, going to movies, concerts, walks, coffee. Did you know that?”
Jack shook his head.
“Your need to protect her is admirable, my friend, but she is growing up. You have to let her because if you don’t she will hate you.” He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder.
Jack shrugged him away. “Fine. Date her. But, after you pull your magic, deflower her, and leave town to fly planes or whatever the fuck it is, I’ll still be here, dealing with her and for that I will never forgive you. Are we clear?” Jack stood so fast his chair tipped over. He slammed his beer, threw the empty into the yard and clattered down the steps.
Brandis watched as he screeched out into the street in his truck . That went well . He slammed his own beer and sank into the porch couch, glaring at the traffic and wondering once more if he had indeed made a huge mistake.
Chapter Six
“What?” Mo cradled the phone receiver between her shoulder and cheek, trying to get her makeup on and hair done before Brandis picked her up. They were going somewhere “special” he claimed, but it was a “surprise.” She was on fire already, eager and nervous both, ready for him and his surprise.
“I said if you go out with him tonight, do not come crying to me when he leaves. For the official record I do not approve.” Jack was yelling at her over the noise of a construction site. “I am dead serious here, Mo. You do not need to be dating that guy much less considering….”
“Hold on, Jack,” She put her mascara down and held onto the phone, her heart pounding with dismay. “I hate to break this to you, but I’m eighteen years old. You were at the birthday party if I’m not mistaken. I can do whatever I want.”
“Sure. Yeah. You are legally able to do whatever and with whomever. I’m just telling you right now; Brandis is not the guy you want.”
She gulped, tried not to let his words bother her too much. She’d spent a lot of years looking up to him, letting him advise and protect her. It was hard to hear harsh words about the man she knew she loved coming from his lips. “Jack, I’m….”
“I know, I know. You love him. Whatever. Just…please Mo, baby sister, be careful. I mean the guy is a player. He happens to have you in his crosshairs this summer, but understand that’s all it is. A challenge. You cave to him you’re just one more notch on his bedpost, got me?”
“Um,” she broke out in a cold sweat. She closed her eyes, pictured Brandis’ dark eyes, his strong arms. “That’s not the most supportive thing you’ve ever said to me. For the official record, big brother.”
“I’m looking out for you Maureen, goddamn it. Brandis is….”
“Brandis is my boyfriend, Jack. Deal with it.”
“You do know he’s leaving for Colorado, right?”
“Of course I do. We
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