Page 5 of The Bad Brother
Cade isn’t really my cousin. What he is, is a little bit more complicated but I’m in no mood to split hairs.
Making my way across the crowded room, I mount the trio of steps that raise the space that houses the pool tables over the rest of the bar. Stopping a few feet from the tables, I lean against the railing, hands dug casually in my pockets while I wait for one of them to notice me.
It doesn’t take long.
Straightening from his shot, Creeker #1 sees me first. As soon as he does, his mouth stretches into a fake grin. “I know you,” he says like he had no idea that this is my bar. “You’re Jensen?—”
“Barrett.” I finish for him, cutting him off before he can say the last name I ditched a long time ago.
“Right.” That fake grin widens. “You’re Ethan’s brother, aren’t you?”
When he says my little brother’s name, I feel the back of my neck tighten. “That’s what my birth certificate says.” Irecognize them both. They’re friends of Ethan’s. They played varsity tennis in high school together. Smelling a set up, I pull my hands out of my pockets.
I might’ve hesitated to make an example out of Billy the drunk dumbass but these two—I’m just waiting for a reason.
Creeker #2 laughs like I made a joke. “What are you doing here?” he asks while he stoops to make a bank shot.
The second he calls it, I know it’s a miss. The angle is off. Mapping the correct angle in my head, I watch the spot where the ball is going to hit the bumper, at least three inches from the pocket he called. Rearing back with his cue, Creeker #2 takes his shot. The ball hits the bumper, exactly where I knew it would.
Straightening from his stoop, Creeker #2’s face flushes with embarrassment. Ignoring his sloppy shot, he leans against his pool stick while his partner lines up the next shot he's going to miss.
“Shouldn’t you be at the club with the rest of your family, celebrating your brother’s engagement?” He says it like I knew about it. Like I was invited. Like my family wants me there. “There’s a huge party—everyone’s there.” He smirks at me. “Well… everyone important anyway.”
They’re not your family.
Tank was your family.
River and Austin are your family. Sera and Cade.
The people who’ve stuck by you.
The only family you have and the only family who matters.
I’m sure my brother sent these two dipshits into my bar just to rub in the fact there is, yet again, another family milestone being met without me. I refuse to give them, ormy little brother, the satisfaction of knowing how much their exclusion still hurts, even after all these years.
Shaking my head on a perplexed laugh, I give them a shrug. “Why the fuck would I waste a Friday night in some stuffy country club, drinking watered down booze and eating fancy food that tastes like cardboard?” Before either of them can think of something to say, I push myself away from the railing and advance on the both of them. “Besides…” Reaching out, I take Creeker #2’s pool cue. “Who needs some boring ass party when I’ve got you fellas to keep me company?” Walking away, I take the stick with me while I circle around the table. “Whaddya say we play a few games and catch up?”
They stare at each other for a few seconds before they look at me. “You want to shoot pool?” Creeker #1 asks. “With us?”
“Sure.” I give him a grin while I chalk my stolen cue. “Any friend of Ethan’s is a friend of mine.” Setting the chalk on the side of the table, I pull the triangle from its hook on the wall and hold it out, changing my mind completely.
I don’t just want them embarrassed.
I want them bankrupt.
“How ‘bout we make it interesting?” When Creeker #2 takes the rack, I give him a smile, “How does five hundred a game sound?”
TWENTY MINUTES LATER, MY BROTHER’Shenchmen slink out of my bar with their tails tucked and their walletsempty. “Tell Ethan I said congrats on his engagement,” I call after their retreating backs. Creeker #1 flips me the bird before hurrying out the door.
Fuck my brother.
Fuck my parents.
And fuck everyone in that stupid country club and everyone who crosses the river for cheap drinks and a chance to slum it, while we’re at it.
Even though I promised Cade I’d only be gone half an hour, I weave my way through the dense crowd toward the front entrance. When he sees me coming, Austin sits up a little taller on his stool. “Everything okay, boss?”
“Yup.” I don’t look at him when I say it. Just push my way through the door and step into the parking lot. It’s still packed. It’s just before ten o’clock—the bar is at capacity and the mob inside has barely hit their stride. I’ll count myself lucky if the place is still standing in the morning.
