“Guess I’m still on the bottom.”
“No visit, no points. So, how’s the trip with Rob? Prime-time action?”
“Rob did okay. I got the bitch from hell. I’d have to have a grudge against my dick to even think about it.”
Tony laughed under his breath. “I’m proud of you, little brother. Passing up on easy sex? A sure sign of maturity.”
“Fuck you,” Matt said, but laughed. “Anyway, they left last night for parts unknown. Rob too.”
“So, you heading back?”
That had been the plan this morning. Before he’d spent two hours with Abby. He shook his head and tried not to grin like a fool, but there was something about her that made him smile.
“Matt?”
“Huh?”
“I asked are you coming home?”
“No.” Because the last two hours had been the best he’d had all week. All year. “I think I’ll just hang out.”
“You may be completely off the board since Mom found out you went to the beach instead of letting her feed you.” There was a long pause. “She’s worried about you, you know.”
Matt rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the guilt settling there. “She worries about everyone.”
“It’s more than just your job.”
He heard a sigh on the other end and cringed at what was coming next.
“I’ve tried not to ask, but…something’s obviously going on with you, man. We thought you were done, your time was up. You make good money with the houses. I thought you were happy.”
Matt had no idea what to say. He did like flipping houses and he had made a lot of money. Then Teddy had died and everything changed.
He hadn’t told his parents what or why, hadn’t even told Tony, the one person he used to share everything with.
“I’ve seen your truck a couple of times.”
Damn. So, his brother knew he’d been in town and hadn’t bothered to call or come by.
“I didn’t tell anyone,” Tony said. “Not even Beth.”
Beth considered him the little brother she’d never had. She’d be hurt, and the kids would wonder why their favorite uncle chose to ignore them. “To be honest, I haven’t been the best company lately.” Not even for himself.
“I know you lost a friend. I know it’s rough.”
The silence hung between them like the sheet they’d used to divide their room as boys. “Hey,” Matt finally said, remembering the reason for his call. “Did I miss a birthday?”
“Not yet. Anthony’s is next Tuesday. He’ll be seven.”
“That’s good.” Some of his tension eased. He hadn’t forgotten his godson’s birthday.
“Yep. Oh shit. I’m getting the signal. Time’s up.”
“Good luck.” Matt clicked off his phone, grabbed a drink, and walked through the open sliding glass door. Baby number four. His brother was one lucky bastard. But Tony had known what and who he wanted since he was fourteen years old. He wanted to fly planes and he wanted Beth. He’d gotten both.
Matt remembered watching Beth and Tony dance at Elizabeth’s wedding four years ago. At the time, he’d been a SEAL for eight years. Coming home was like transporting between two worlds, and he had a foot in both.
He was part of a great family—the best—but as he’d watched them all pair up, he’d had the feeling he didn’t belong to anyone. Thirty years old, a dance floor lined with beautiful, willing women, and not one he’d been interested in. His dad always told him he’d find the right one when the time was right. It had hit him that night. As long as he was a SEAL, the time would never be right.
Days later, at the outdoor firing range, the scene at the wedding had still niggled at him. Matt adjusted himself on the bench rest, MK11 steady in his hands. “You ever think about doing something different?”
Teddy refilled the ammo clip of his own weapon. “I thought this was different.”
“I mean with your life,” Matt said, lining up his target, his rifle a natural extension of his arm.
“Look around.” Teddy raised his hand to the open, sunny range, the men sitting in groups, checking weapons and talking women. He grinned. “This is our life, dude. Best damn one there is.”
Matt smiled. It was pretty sweet, and they’d worked damn hard to get here, but unlike his friend, who’d come from nothing and no one, Matt knew there was more.
T laughed. “What are you gonna do? Hang up your rifle for a hammer?”
The guys stood off to the side either cheering or taunting, depending on which way they’d bet. With his eye to the scope, Matt sighted the target eight hundred yards out. He took a breath, blew it out, and pulled the trigger.