“The prodigal brother returns!”

It was the standard greeting from his brother as they met one another before boarding the helicopter back to the oil rig. Chance sometimes wondered if it was because Chip suspected one day Chance might not show up for the trip back. Chance sometimes wondered the same thing about his brother.

Neither of them would have chosen this career if given the chance. However, over the past year Chip had adjusted to life working on the rig a lot better than Chance had. But then Chip was an easy adapter to almost anything. He matched Chance as far as looks went, Chip’s being perhaps a bit more boyish than Chance’s, which had a more rugged appeal. Chip’s personality made everyone like him almost instantly so he had plenty of friends on the rig.

Chance had always been the more introverted one between the two of them, very much preferring his own company. He had made a deliberate point to not get too close to anyone out here, usually reading alone in his bunk. He had about one more year here and then he was gone. No sense in actually getting to like it here or making friends that he’d soon have nothing in common with.

“Chip,” he replied, letting his younger brother pull him in for a fist grab and firm pat on the back. Chip was still his brother after all, and Chance had forgiven him his trespasses a long time ago.

“So what wild and exciting adventures did you get up to during your time off?”

“I met someone.”

“Ooh,” Chip crooned. “Hopefully she had long hair, long legs, and a long throat.”

Chip was not nearly as good at reading people as Chance was, but even he could read Chance’s expression in response to that.

“Okay, okay, big brother found himself a nice little filly to bring home to Ma,” Chip said raising his hands apologetically and backing off with a laugh. “So tell me about her.”

“Smart. Gorgeous. Not much else to say,” for some reason Chance wanted to keep it as ambiguous as possible while talking about Juliet. He had thought for sure the invitation to her parents’ party would be revoked as soon as he finished telling her about his sordid past. It wasn’t over yet, but he’d know for sure in two weeks time once that brain of hers had a chance to work it over.

He didn’t even care that it complicated his life more than he would have preferred. If there was anyone who was worth the complication, it was Juliet. Perhaps something in his life other than work and pay, pay and work was needed, if only to maintain his sanity. Already the future looked hopeful. In fact, it made Chance all the more determined to end this shit. Pay off the debt, get back into poker, and live happily ever after, preferably seeing where it went with Juliet by his side. Period.

“What’s she do?”

“College Professor,” Chance said, smiling.

“Well lah dee dah,” Chip said with a prissy wave of the hand. “Big brother’s stepping up in the world.” He gave Chance a sly look. “How much does she know about you?”

Chance gave him a direct look back. “Everything. Speaking of which, everything copacetic?”

Might as well cut to the chase.

Chip sighed and his cheerful vibe began to visibly fade. “We gonna do this every damn time?”

“Yes, every damn time,” he placed his hand firmly on Chip’s arm. “I need you to remember why we’re on this rig. We’re here to do one thing and one thing only and you know it. You also know why.”

“Maybe I should just spend the entire two weeks that I’m off in church on my knees askin’ God to absolve me of all my sins.”

“Just so long as you don’t give them money,” Chance said dryly.

“What does it matter? A little birdie told me Dmitri’s dead,” Chip said with a shit-eating grin on his face.

Chance gave Chip a sharp look. “Who told you that?”

“So you know already,” Chip confirmed, instead of answering the question.

“Yeah I know. I also know it doesn’t change a damn thing. You think Leo’s gonna go easier on us than Dmitri?”

Chip gave him a sullen look.

“Don’t give me that look. I’m just thinkin’ about Ma,” Chance said in a more relaxed tone. “You know what will happen if we don’t pay up. They’ll go after her, after they come for us.”

“Maybe now that Leo’s in charge it will change things,” he said a bit too ambiguously. “Maybe even get you off this rig earlier, since you seem to hate it here so much.”

Chip’s suggestion set off all the alarms in Chance’s head. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Nothing,” Chip said, just a little too quickly, then averted his eyes.

He grabbed Chip by the arm again. “I’m serious, Chip. I don’t care what the hell happened to Dmitri. You stay copacetic. No gambling. Not even a damn friendly wager over darts. Definitely no hustles.”

He watched his brother carefully, looking for any indication that Chip’s suggestion just now was anything more than idle talk. Chip’s poker face was good, but his tell was usually around the eyes: a slight gleam, or squint, darting too much, anything really.

Chip gave him a direct, hard stare, throwing his hand off his arm. “Stop tryin’ to read me.”

Chance let go. “There’s no room for error on this Chip. Whatever is going on with the Houston family, it’s got nothing to do with us outside of this money we owe. I for one would like to keep it that way. I suggest you do the same.”

“Yeah,” Chip said, then inhaled deeply, giving Chance a measured look, adding with a sarcastic tone, “It’s been great catching up with you big brother, as usual.”

Chance watched his brother walk off with a gait in his step that told him Chip was pissed off. The next two weeks would give him plenty of time to get it out of his system. Whatever dumb idea he had going on in his head would hopefully have faded away by the time they had their next two weeks off.

He felt bad about always having to greet him this way, but Chance knew from experience that if Chip didn’t expect this little interrogation each time he came back to the rig, and again as they left for their two weeks off, he’d do something stupid.

The last thing Chance needed in his life right now was more distractions.