Page 93 of My Brother's Best Men
“You’re leaving us,” he says, his voice dark and angry.
It reminds me of Keaton, when we’d argue, and instinctively I react to his tone, feeling the need to defend myself.
“I’m not, I’m just?—”
“Hey, everything okay in here?” Elijah comes to the door, standing there in his boxers, looking worried.
“No,” Benny says, his voice venomous. “Sophie is leaving us.”
“What?” Elijah asks as Matthew comes up beside him dressed in his briefs.
“Who’s leaving what now?” Matthew asks, and their gazes fixate on me.
“Go ahead, Soph. Tell them about your great job traveling the fucking globe. About how you just decided to up and fucking leave.”
“Benny—”
“Is that true?” Matthew asks. “You got a job traveling?’
Elijah furrows his eyebrows. “I thought you had a job.”
“I did, but Keaton?—”
“So this is about Keaton?” Benny bites out.
“No, it’s about me!” I argue. “This has nothing to do with Keaton, but—” I huff. “I applied for this job months ago. Keaton thought it was a great idea, and I wanted to separate myself from the company so people wouldn’t—” I shake my head. “And with our breakup, I’m pretty sure I’m fired now from H & H, since his dad owns the company, and this opportunity is too good to pass up. Raegan and Sam agree that it’s a great opportunity.”
“Oh, I see. It’s about you, but you told your brother and your sister-in-law and you didn’t think to bring it up to us, because what the fuck do we matter? Right?” Benny scoffs. “We’re just the assholes fucking you.”
“Benny!” Elijah jumps in. “That’s uncalled for.”
Matthew’s eyebrows furrow. “You’ll be home, though, sometimes, right?” he asks, and my heart breaks.
“Not in Cherrywood,” Benny says, brushing past me.
“Home is Seattle, Matty,” I say.
Matthew frowns, and the heartbreak in his gaze is evident. “Oh.”
“Matthew…”
“I…need some air,” he says. He walks away and I step toward him, but Elijah blocks me.
“Were you even going to tell us? Or were you going to go home and just never speak to us again?” Elijah says, his voice sad.
“It’s not like that!” I say as tears come to my eyes.
“Then prove it,” Benny snaps as I hear the door shut behind Matthew.
“Benny…please, don’t do this,” I beg him. Because I know exactly what he’s going to say.
“Don’t take the job, Soph. Come home with us. With your family.”
“Do not ask me to choose between my career and you,” I say. “Don’t put me in that position.”
Benny growls. “If you really fucking loved us it wouldn’t even be an option!”
Elijah steps in, pushing him back. “Back off, Benny.”
