The Sweetest Summer(141)
“Are you fucking kidding?” Clancy let go of Evie and stomped toward the fire. Nat and Ash stood up. “You meant it, you mean son of a bitch. You said Evie didn’t care about me and would never contact me, but when she did, you couldn’t stand that you were wrong and that I’d really found someone special. You had to squash my happiness like a bug.”
Frasier stood up, too. “Boys, this is enough.”
Evie put her hand on Clancy’s shoulder and felt him tremble as he answered his father. “I am not a boy, Da. And neither is Duncan. He needs to man up here.”
Duncan shook his head. “You don’t have any idea what it means to man up, dude.”
“That’s it.”
Clancy tore around the circle, slipping through Ash and Nat’s body blocks. Duncan was already barreling toward him, fists at his side. He used his chest to shove Clancy back into the center of the lawn.
Evie covered her eyes. She had no interest in watching this kind of primitive caveman display.
Suddenly, she heard all movement stop, and dared to look up. The two brothers were breathing hard, staring into each other’s eyes, arms stiff at their sides. It was a standoff. They did have some self-control, after all. Duncan took a step back. He held his arms wide, open palms facing Clancy. “Hit me.”
Clancy’s nostrils flared.
“You two will never grow up.” That was Rowan.
“Please don’t do this to each other.” That was Mona.
“They need to sort this out once and for all,” Frasier said. “Maybe it’s time Clancy beat the hell out of Duncan. It’s been a long time comin.’”
“Da’s right. Go ahead and hit me.” Duncan’s voice was strangely flat. “I fucked with your life and it wasn’t right.” His dark eyes flashed toward Mona. “Sorry about the language, Ma.”
“You’re right. That’s exactly what you did. You completely—” Clancy glanced at his mother, too. She was shaking her head and crying. Clancy returned his attention to Duncan. “That was not your decision to make, asshole. My feelings for Evie were none of your goddamn business. You changed the course of my life.”
Slowly, Duncan got right in front of Clancy. “So make me pay.”
Evie saw Clancy’s right arm twitch and she was about to jump on him when he relaxed. She went to his side again. Everyone closed the circle tighter.
Suddenly, Clancy smiled. “I don’t need to hit you. Do you know why?”
Duncan said nothing.
“Because it didn’t work, dude. Evie is here with me now. Your jealousy was no match for love. Being strong enough to love someone, strong enough to risk everything by loving someone—that is manning up, bro.”
“Yes! Yes!” Mona clapped her hands.
Frasier sighed. “Baby Jesus on the B Train.”
“I’m sorry to have ruined the cookout, Ma.” Clancy turned to Evie. “We’d better go.”
“Wait.” Duncan came up to Evie and Clancy. “Look, I’m sorry for what I did. It was wrong. I will make it up to you both.”
Clancy stared at Duncan, his mouth pulled tight. Evie couldn’t tell if he was still angry, or just plain hurt. “Not necessary. Good night, everyone,” he said.
* * *
“I have nuthin’ more to say to you, Mr. Wahlberg. I told you on the phone yesterday that you shouldn’t waste your time comin’ up here. Good-bye, now.”