Page 67 of Between Desire and Denial
But when we got there, nothing came out.
I stood there with Dimitri, staring at my brother, whose eyes looked much more lucid than the last time I’d seen him. But everything else was still so different. He used to be so much bigger, was still taller as he stood there, but the muscles he’d had before were gone as he dribbled a basketball in front of us. “Guess the rumors Dad told me are true.” He looked us up and down, disgust in his eyes. “You moved back here for him.”
I folded my arms across my chest and nodded. “I moved back to be closer to home and youandto be with him. Yes.”
“Dad’s not happy about it. Can’t stand that you’re basically working with the enemy.” His choice in words held so many meanings—Enemy of Paradise Grove, of our family, of the Diamond Syndicate or something deeper than that? I wanted to ask but couldn’t with Dimitri there. Knox just shook his head at me like I should know better. Turning his attention to Dimitri, he asked, “You enjoying the ripple effect you’re having around here?”
“Just trying to make Paradise a little better,” Dimitri responded. He wouldn’t be deterred so easily. “You play ball?”
My brother nodded before he threw the ball harder than needed right at Dimitri’s chest. Instead of getting furious like I instantly did, Dimitri chuckled and grabbed the ball fluidly. He dribbled once, twice, three times, then executed a flawless jump shot.
Although I was impressed, my brother rolled his eyes like a snobby teenager and walked over to grab the ball as it bounced away. He dribbled and jumped in the way Dimitri had to make a shot from the exact same distance. As he retrieved the ball, he asked, “So, you plan on sticking around once your investments are settled, Mr. Hardy? Or this all for show?”
“Probably depends on your sister.” Dimitri shrugged, and I glanced at him in question. He had a serious look in his eyes as his gaze bounced between us. “It started out as a show.”
“Dimitri!” I gasped his name, not sure what he was doing.
“We’re honest with family, Honeybee. I’m being honest with your brother. He needs to understand, I was originally here for an investment but now I’m only here for you.” He said it so genuinely, tears sprang to my eyes immediately. His focus now was on Knox though. “She only wanted to be here because of you. So if she stays after we figure it all out, I’ll stay. If she doesn’t, I’m willing to go where she wants.”
“So, this between you is real now?” Knox asked me instead of Dimitri.
“Real for me,” Dimitri answered. “Can I talk to you inside? Invite us in for a water?” he asked my brother.
Knox’s gaze flicked to mine. “Georgette isn’t home. Hasn’t been here for a few days.” I wasn’t sure if he was giving me a heads-up or trying to coax me into agreeing to come inside.
I chewed on my cheek before I said, “I’d love some water, Knox.”
So we followed my little brother inside, and my whole body broke out in a sweat from the anxiety that rolled around in my blood. How could I know where Knox’s head was at, what he’d done the last few days, how he’d felt?
We hadn’t spoken since last week when he’d explicitly told me to stop calling and texting. He’d done it at our father’s request, I was sure… but still.
And I hadn’t really talked with Dimitri about it either. How could I explain the Knox situation to Dimitri, who knew nothing about any of it?
Knox sat at the island and waved me over to the sink. “Help yourself. Sure you still know your way around.”
I sighed and grabbed two glasses from the cupboard, one for me and one for Dimitri. I looked at Knox, really looked at him, to see if he was completely aware today before I asked, “Want water or—?”
“I can get my own water if I need it.”
“Okay. How’s it going, Knox?” I tried again. “You seem better since the last time I saw you—"
“You don’t need to act like you give a shit if I feel better or not,” he grumbled, his tone laced with venom.
“Careful.” Dimitri’s voice was low.
“Careful?” My brother didn’t seem to weigh anything regarding Dimitri logically. He appeared aware and not as tiredas when I’d last seen him, but there was no way he thought he would be able to square up to Dimitri. “What the hell are you going to do about it?”
“Look, we don’t know each other real well, Knox, but I don’t let anyone talk to my girlfriend that way. Whether it’s a stranger, a friend, or a brother. Her father could look sideways at her, and I’m going to have something to say about it. You get me?”
“My sister can handle herself.”
“I never said she couldn’t. But she doesn’t have to when she’s with me.” Then, Dimitri rubbed his jaw. “I got sisters too. And quite frankly, she shouldn’t have to when she’s with you either. She’syourblood.You’resupposed to take care of her.”
My brother scoffed but his dark eyebrows dipped a bit, and I saw something like guilt flash across his face when he glanced at me. I was older, I was supposed to take care of him, and even though Knox sat back down and didn’t look like he wanted to argue it, I needed to say something. “Dimitri’s right. You’re my brother. We haven’t been acting much like siblings the past few years though. I should have come home more.”
I would be the bigger person. I wiggled the flower in my hair and tried to maintain eye contact with him. Admitting to the heartache I might have caused him by leaving him behind wasn’t easy, but I stood tall as I faced his response head-on.
His fists clenched and his frown deepened. Then he breathed out what looked like a load of tension and combed a hand through his short curly hair. “Dad and Georgette are a fucking lot, Olive Bee.” He said it so quietly, and his jaw flexed as he whispered my name like he needed me to understand, to connect to him again. “Dad and…” He hesitated like he wanted to say more as he looked at Dimitri. “This year has been a lot.”
