Page 2 of Because of Liam

“Corpsman,” Liam corrects Logan.

For the first time Liam’s murderous eyes leave my face and lock on his brother’s. I can tell by the scowl in his expression that Liam hates being referred to as his baby brother. He looks back at me then as if taking me in for the first time. His gray eyes look me up and down, taking in the knee-high black boots, black leggings, and loose gray cardigan I’m wearing. His eyes drop to the purple scarf around my neck before meeting my own. His eyes are darker now. The storm still brewing. They soften for a fraction of a second and then harden again.

“What the fuck is wrong with you?”

It’s not a question but an accusation. My dislike for him grows.

“Easy there, brother. No harm, no foul. Looks like you needed cooling off, anyway.” Logan deflects attention to himself again.

Liam levels his gaze on me one last time and without saying a word stalks off.

“Where are you going?” Logan calls after him.

Liam keeps walking as he answers his brother, anger in his voice. “To shower. I smell like a fucking fruity girly cocktail.”

I turn to Logan and say loud enough for Liam to hear me. “Your brother is an asshole!”

Liam’s step falters, but he doesn’t turn and keeps walking. My eyes track him up the driveway and onto the veranda that takes up the entire front of the blue colonial style house until he disappears behind the closed door. My eyes linger until I can feel Logan studying me with a curious expression on his face.

“I didn’t even know you had a brother. Where did he come from?”

Logan scratches his head and presses his lips. He takes a deep breath and exhales. “Afghanistan.”

I look at the house and back at Logan. “Afghanistan?”

“Yeah, he showed up late last night.”

“Then, is he on a break between tours?”

“I think this is it for him.”

Curiosity puts words in my mouth and I can’t help asking questions. “How long did he serve?”

“He’s been gone over five years.”

I notice the odd tone to Logan’s voice and the choice of words. “Gone” as opposed to served.

“Five years? Your brother doesn’t look old enough to have served that long.”

“He enlisted at eighteen, on the last day of high school and his birthday.”

“Wow, on his birthday?”

“Yeah, we were all surprised.”

“We?”

“Our family. My parents and I. Liam never talked about enlisting. He was all set to go to pre-med, or at least that was his plan then. I was away in college and didn’t find out until he had already enlisted.”

I don’t know what to say to that. There’s more to the story, I can tell, and I also know whatever it is, Logan won’t be shedding any light on it today.

I turn toward the house again where Liam is.

Showering.

Naked.

I can remember all too well what his body looks like and my imagination fills the gaps for the parts I didn’t see. I blame the lemonade for my stray thoughts. The ever-present voice in my head says, Yeah, blame the lemonade all you want. You know you’re glad he’s not Logan.

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