Page 63 of Georgia: Britain's Story: Part 1
“Of course.” He grabs my hand as I stand up to head for the stairs, “Britain?”
“Yeah?”
“I love you.” He says it so softly, sincerely, I can’t help but smile.
“I love you, too.” But he doesn’t smile back after I say it. He gives me a worried look and that feeling, that pit at the bottom of my stomach, grows. I’m too exhausted to work through anything more today.
Tomorrow. I’ll deal with this tomorrow.
TWENTY-THREE
Liam
I fill up my glass with more than a few inches of bourbon, sinking into my desk chair while Britain sleeps upstairs. I still can’t believe the best moment of my entire life was followed by this shit day, and it’s all my fault. By the time I got to work this morning, Niko and Max were in my office, waiting. They weren’t as pissed as Matt, but they let their displeasure be known.
“Brother, you fucked up,” Niko croons out.
“I know, I know. I don’t know how to make it right with him, though.”
“I think it’s a little past making it right,” Max says. Aside from Matt, Max is the next closest thing I have to a brother, then Niko. Silas was always a bit too young to run in our circle, and never wanted anything to do with his father’s business, so I only see him at holidays. The Scala family has been such a big part of my life, and aside from Sandy they’re the only family I’ve ever known. And now there’s a good chance they’ll all write me off because of what I did to Matt. The irony is, their mom is the one who started all this.
“What do you want me to do about it, huh? I told him. Yeah, I probably should’ve done it sooner, but I can’t change what’s already happened.”
“You could end it with Britain,” Niko suggests, like this is some casual fling, not the love of my fucking life.
“I can’t do that.”
“Why not? Isn’t that what you made Matt do all those years ago?” Max asks.
“This isn’t an eye for an eye, okay? Matt’s like a brother to me, but Britain’s my entire fucking life. No one could make me walk away from her. If Matt felt this way for her back then, he would’ve never let her go, but he did. You can’t stake a claim on a person for 15 plus years whenyoubreak up with them.”
“Hmm, that’s a valid point,” Niko says to Max.
Max just ignores him, turning to me. “You remember two Christmases ago, when Silas brought home that stupid Karaoke machine and Matt got so sloshed I had to drive him home and put him to bed? I’ll never forget it. It was the one and only time he ever opened up to me about her. He told me she’s the reason he hasn’t built anything on his lot. He said he’s been waiting for her. That he’s been tracking her and her life for years, just waiting for another opportunity. It’s why he’s stayed single all these years. He never wanted to chance being involved with someone if she were to ever come back or get divorced. It wasn’t just some bullshit hookup for him either.” Fuck.
“He never told me. He never talked about her after those first couple of years. I thought he’d moved past it.”
“Did you? If you thought he’d moved past it, why didn’t you tell him sooner then?” Max is grilling me, and he’s right. Somehow I knew Matt wasn’t over it. He never moved on, never went on more than two dates with anyone, ever. Damnit. Just like I gave up having a life and my own family for work, Matt did, too. Shit.
“Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t tell him because I didn’t want to take that chance that he still wanted her. There wouldn't have been much competition between me or him. He would’ve won, and that’s why I didn’t tell him.”
“Ahh, come on, man,” Niko says, “don’t get so down on yourself. You’re still in your early 60’s, you’ve got another good decade left in you.” Fucker.
“I’m not even 50 yet, Niko. Fuck off.”
“Is she worth it?” Max asks me.
“Worth what?” Doesn’t matter though, the answer is yes.
“Losing your family over.” Even though I thought he’d say that, it does make me pause.
“I don’t want it to be that way. I don’t want it to be her or you guys, but if you’re going to make me choose, I’m going to choose her. She’s fucking worth it.”
“I won’t make you choose, man, but I’m not going to make it easy for you either.” Niko gives me a wink before exiting my office.
“Max?” I ask. He’s just standing there, arms crossed over his chest.
“Yeah, just thinking. Matt’s my brother, my best friend aside from you. I don’t know if I can get over how you fucked him like that. I gotta think about it.”
