Just then, Matt’s father came through the patio doors. He shook his son’s hand in greeting, which was odd I always felt, but then what did I know about family normality? David bent to kiss his wife on the cheek. I got a smile in greeting.
“We’re leaving in twenty minutes dear, it shouldn’t take long,” Mary Ellen nodded. “I’m going in to discuss the details with Jake, I think you should join us.” She nodded again and stood.
“Whilst I am in the house, perhaps you two could sort out your differences?” Mary Ellen suggested as she walked away. I flushed in embarrassment and Matt grumbled.
“Behave, both of you,” she chided over her shoulder.
“I can’t believe you told,” Matt started. I nodded, I couldn’t either to be honest but what was done, was done. If their parents could fix it, wouldn’t it be worth it? Ok, their parents were disappointed in them, but they could work that out, together. Without incurring any physical damage or criminal charges.
“I didn’t mean to. It just all came out, I couldn’t stop it,” I admitted as I looked out over the pool area, still not brave enough to meet his steady look.
“It’s my fault.” I jumped in surprise, Colton was behind Matt. I glanced at him quickly, but he wasn’t looking at me. He too was lost in thought as he sat down in the seat Mary Ellen had vacated, his gaze was trained on the tabletop. Matt reached out and clasped his shoulder, he gave him a swift smile in return. I itched to do the same really, but I didn’t think the gesture would be appreciated.
“How is it your fault Cole? We all agreed to fight. No one made us. Well apart from the dick Aaron works for,” Matt muttered. The door opened and Theo walked out. He slung his long legs over a chair as he sat on it backwards. He dipped his head to rest on his hands and closed his eyes.
“Man, my dad just tore me a new one,” he grumbled. The other two huffed in agreement.
“Yeah my mom in lecture mode is not to be encouraged, I’m gonna avoid that for as long as I can,” Matt said as he looked over his shoulder to ensure the coast was clear. Two nods of sympathetic agreement.
“My dad wasn’t a picnic either. I think I just screwed my chances of getting unsupervised in the business from about five years from now to fifteen,” Colton admitted. Theo and Matt grimaced in commiseration.
I sat quietly. I didn’t want to remind them of my presence in case they rememberedwhytheir parents had just lectured them. No sir. I was fine blending into the decking.
The door opened again as Connor slipped out the patio door. Four pairs of eyes studied him as he walked hesitantly across the decking.
“Hi. Um…” he looked absolutely terrible. “Would it be ok if I sit?” Connor asked. His eyes darted everywhere flicking back to his brother but never resting. He looked like a loud word would send him fleeing.
Three men assessed him and judged him by the looks of it. Again, that stab of sympathy threatened but I held it back.
Three looks were exchanged and then Matt kicked out a chair in invitation. “Why you asking? You’ve never asked before,” he grumbled.
I genuinely think Connor may have fainted with relief if that seat hadn’t been so close for him to sink into. He let out a huge breath and then his head was in hands.
“I’m so sorry, I’m so very sorry,” he took a deep breath and raised his head. He looked at the three of them individually, resting on his brother last. “I don’t know what I was thinking and for you to do that for me, I don’t deserve it. I will never deserve it. I’m so sorry,” his eyes filled, he ducked his head again to hide his tears.
I felt my inner ice thawing and had to remind myself to be stern. He didn’t deserve quick forgiveness just because he was teary eyed and remorseful. He needed to know he was a selfish prick.
The silence that followed was heavy. Colton sat like a statue just studying his brother’s bowed head. I couldn’t read his expression. Cold, detached Colton had come out to play. Matt watched Colton, as did Theo.
Colton moved his head slightly to the other two, again seeking their response. Two slight nods in his direction and he turned to me. He raised an eyebrow. He wasn’t mocking me, he was asking if I was ok with whatever he was about to do. The fact that he included me threw me. I had been pretty sure the days of Colton talking to me were over.
I nodded back as the others had done. I wasn’t as subtle about it as they had been. They had been all cool and minimalist. I was like a nodding dog in the back of a car.
Colton stood and reached down for his brother’s arm and lifted him from the chair. Connor’s eyes widened in alarm and I saw him tense expecting the worst. Instead Colton wrapped his arms round his brother and pulled him into a hug.
“You’re my brother.Ourbrother. We would do anything for you,” he muttered into his hair. Connor clung on like his life depended on it, I felt a lump form in the back of my throat and looked away. I didn’t want to intrude on the private moment. The ice melted, witnessing that one gesture and all I had left was a drippy puddle where ice used to be.
A chair scraping back brought my attention back to them. Matt had risen and hugged Connor too. It was brief but heartfelt, Theo did the same.
Matt sat back down. “You’ve been a fucking prick for too long. This is your wake-up call,” he wasn’t loud or aggressive and I think the conversational factual way he said it had more impact than it would have had he shouted it.
Connor slumped back down and nodded. “I know. I just dunno what I was thinking. I’ve thought about it a lot since it happened and honestly, it’s like seeing it as another person. It keeps me up at night just going through what led me there,” he admitted.
“What was it?” Colton asked. Connor shook his head.
“I don’t know, I don’t have that answer. I just felt all this anger but I don’t know what I’m angry at.” I saw Matt flick his eyes to Colton and I thought on what Mary Ellen had said in her conversation earlier.
“Well you need to figure it out,” Theo said, “It’s fucking exhausting and I don’t think I can go through this again.” He rubbed his jaw. “I’m too fucking pretty to be getting punched every weekend.”