ERIC

“Text her again,” my brother tells me from across the patio table in his enormous backyard. Kaya is sitting on Ethan’s knees, grinning up at her father. I can’t believe he’s a dad. It doesn’t escape my notice how happy he is, either.

“Three unanswered texts is probably the limit for one day,” I mutter while patting medicated numbing lotion onto my hand. The football did it no favors, but that’s not my complaint today. “My teammates won’t stop blowing up my phone for skipping out on them last night.”

“Every time it beeps you think it’s Wren.”

Sighing, “Yeah,” I lock eyes with Ethan. “We were in her bed for two days, and there was only one reason I wanted to get up and play in that game.”

“You wanted to impress her.”

Sucking patience through my teeth I stand up and drag my left hand through my hair, staring at the waning sun. “I can’t hide out here all day.”

“But you don’t want to go to an empty apartment now.”

“Wasn’t empty before, and I’ve been living alone for years.”

Ethan gives me a knowing smirk, not mocking me, just feeling my pain. “That’s forever changed. Once you know what it feels like to be with a woman you can’t get enough of, life isn’t the same anymore. Even if it doesn’t work out with Wren, you’ll search for that feeling. But it might never come again.”

I flick an irritated look his way, “You’re a big help.”

“Am I wrong?” Chuckling he adds, “I’m never wrong so why am I askin’?”

That gets a smile out of me, but not a big one. “She’s probably just sick.”

“I’m sure that’s what’s going on.”

“But too ill to text? How long does it take?” I lock eyes with my brother but he’s got no comfort to give. We don’t bullshit each other when it comes to the real stuff. Razzing, pranks, mockery and mimicry, sure…but that’s all in fun. We love each other and we both like the truth too much. It’s where control is. If you know what’s going on you can do something about it.

“I’m going to call her. Fuck texting.”

“There ya go!” He gives his pinky to Kaya to hold while she makes cute noises. Looking up, Ethan waits with me and frowns when I’m sent to voicemail. As my shoulders slump he says, “Try again, Eric.”

“You sure?”

“Yeah!”

A sharp inhale and a thumb jab later and the phone is ringing again. “Hello?” comes her voice, quiet and hesitant.

“Wren? Hey!” Ethan and I share a look, and I calm my voice down so I don’t seem so damn excited, even needy. “Sorry I hung up on your voicemail, I was worried about you.”

“Thank you for the care package.”

Smiling with relief I walk away for privacy, lowering my voice. “You got that? Good, I wasn’t sure if you’d go out. Didn’t want the squirrels getting it. Or the lizards.”

There’s no sign of laughter as she whispers, “I ran out of coffee so…”

“Oh, so I saved you a trip.”

“You did.”

“You feeling better or worse?”

“Eric…”

“Yeah?”

“I don’t want you calling me anymore.”

My heart stops and I freeze on the grass, whispering and covering the phone with my hand. “Hey Wren if I came on a little strong I just—”

“—I know why, okay? So just stop. Please leave me alone. Oh God,” she whispers, “I have to throw up now. Goodbye Eric.”

The phone goes dead. My blood is thudding in my ears. Ethan walks up to me, hugging his daughter as she pulls at his hair. “What just happened? You look white as a ghost. Is she in the hospital? Let’s go! My car is faster than yours—I’ll drive.”

Staring into nothingness I barely hear him. “She broke up with me.”

Ethan moves to catch my gaze, bending to ask, “What? Are you kidding me?”

In a daze my head shakes slowly from side to side. “She said she doesn’t want me to call her anymore.” Eyes flicking to his I groan, “What am I gonna do?”

He exhales, blinking heavily, stunned. “You’re gonna have to let her go.”

Clutching my chest I give a single nod and walk into the mansion, gather my keys and head for the door. Ethan appears and calls after me, “You okay to drive?”

“No.”

“Stay here until you calm down.”

“No.”

“ERIC, STOP!”

I spin around and see him without Kaya. In the background she’s in her electric swing. Quick strides bring him over to wrestle my keys out of my hand.

“Stop it, Ethan!”

“Let them go!”

“I have to get out of here.”

“You’re staying until you calm down.”

“Give me my fuckin’ keys!”

I feel the fist before I see it coming. Reeling back I grab my jaw and glare at him. He holds the jingling keys to my freedom up, eyebrows high, and sprints for the backyard. I take off after him, but since he surprised me he got the head start he needed. As I explode out the backdoor I see him standing there with a smug challenge in his eyes, palms out, fingers spread and empty.

“Where’d you hide ’em?!”

He smirks, “Oh no, what happened?”