There was a scream in the background. “Where are you? Sounds like you’re in a casino.”
“The Chuck E. Cheese casino from hell. These kids are ruthless. It’s like they think these coins are real gold.”
“Sounds dangerous.”
“It is. Crazy little fuckers.”
Matt laughed. “Beth was smart enough not to go, huh?”
“Of course. She’s looking at vaginas.”
“Fun.” He smiled to himself, rummaging for more food. “How’s my favorite doctor?”
“She’s good.” Tony hesitated. “Now that she’s stopped throwing up.”
“Why was she throwing…” Matt’s hand stilled on a cabinet. He’d heard the smile in his brother’s voice. “No way.”
“Way. Number four will be here sometime next May.”
Matt ignored the squeeze in his chest. “Damn. You’re like the master of procreation.”
“Yep, and continue to be Mom’s favorite.”
“Only you would have a baby to go to the top of the leader board. You think this puts you past Elizabeth?” His five brothers and one sister had kept a point system as kids, tracking who was Mom’s favorite.
“I know it does, even with the extra point Lizzy gets for being the only girl. Grandchild trumps all.”
“How’s Stephen?”
Tony paused before answering. “You know. Stephen is Stephen.”
Yeah. He knew. Stephen may have been the golden-boy real estate investing genius, but he was going through his own hell. And there was nothing any of them could do.
“And J.T.?” His youngest brother was nineteen and not the easiest person to get along with. Or so he’d heard, since Matt wasn’t around much.
“Jake’s just a hair above you, little brother. Prickly as hell. Acts like he’s premenstrual.”
“Guess I’m still on the bottom.”
“No visit, no points. So, how’s the trip with Rob? Prime-time action?”
“Rob did okay. I got the bitch from hell. I’d have to have a grudge against my dick to even think about it.”
Tony laughed under his breath. “I’m proud of you, little brother. Passing up on easy sex? A sure sign of maturity.”
“Fuck you,” Matt said, but laughed. “Anyway, they left last night for parts unknown. Rob too.”
“So, you heading back?”
That had been the plan this morning. Before he’d spent two hours with Abby. He shook his head and tried not to grin like a fool, but there was something about her that made him smile.
“Matt?”
“Huh?”
“I asked are you coming home?”
“No.” Because the last two hours had been the best he’d had all week. All year. “I think I’ll just hang out.”
“You may be completely off the board since Mom found out you went to the beach instead of letting her feed you.” There was a long pause. “She’s worried about you, you know.”
Matt rubbed the back of his neck, trying to ease the guilt settling there. “She worries about everyone.”
“It’s more than just your job.”
He heard a sigh on the other end and cringed at what was coming next.
“I’ve tried not to ask, but…something’s obviously going on with you, man. We thought you were done, your time was up. You make good money with the houses. I thought you were happy.”
Matt had no idea what to say. He did like flipping houses and he had made a lot of money. Then Teddy had died and everything changed.
He hadn’t told his parents what or why, hadn’t even told Tony, the one person he used to share everything with.
“I’ve seen your truck a couple of times.”
Damn. So, his brother knew he’d been in town and hadn’t bothered to call or come by.
“I didn’t tell anyone,” Tony said. “Not even Beth.”
Beth considered him the little brother she’d never had. She’d be hurt, and the kids would wonder why their favorite uncle chose to ignore them. “To be honest, I haven’t been the best company lately.” Not even for himself.
“I know you lost a friend. I know it’s rough.”
The silence hung between them like the sheet they’d used to divide their room as boys. “Hey,” Matt finally said, remembering the reason for his call. “Did I miss a birthday?”
“Not yet. Anthony’s is next Tuesday. He’ll be seven.”
“That’s good.” Some of his tension eased. He hadn’t forgotten his godson’s birthday.
“Yep. Oh shit. I’m getting the signal. Time’s up.”
“Good luck.” Matt clicked off his phone, grabbed a drink, and walked through the open sliding glass door. Baby number four. His brother was one lucky bastard. But Tony had known what and who he wanted since he was fourteen years old. He wanted to fly planes and he wanted Beth. He’d gotten both.
Matt remembered watching Beth and Tony dance at Elizabeth’s wedding four years ago. At the time, he’d been a SEAL for eight years. Coming home was like transporting between two worlds, and he had a foot in both.
He was part of a great family—the best—but as he’d watched them all pair up, he’d had the feeling he didn’t belong to anyone. Thirty years old, a dance floor lined with beautiful, willing women, and not one he’d been interested in. His dad always told him he’d find the right one when the time was right. It had hit him that night. As long as he was a SEAL, the time would never be right.