Something to Prove

Chapter 1-2

Colin O’Leary bounded down the back steps that led from his apartment to the bar. As he moved through the bar flipping on lights and prepping for the lunch crowd, he whistled a tune. As much as he enjoyed the crowds and the noise of the lively bar, this was his favorite part of the day. This was his time to be Colin O’Leary, bar owner. It didn’t matter that the bar wasn’t really his. Morning prep allowed him the time to pretend it was, that his father had left the bar to him. As if he hadn’t screwed up everything.

Then the back door swung open and his bubble burst. He could tell by the sound of Ryan’s steps that his brother was in a bad mood. Again.

“What’s up?” Colin asked as he took chairs down and reset them where they belonged at each table.

“Don’t ask. Did you get the inventory done?”

“Just about. I—”

Ryan spun from where he was making coffee. “What do you mean, just about? I told you I needed to get orders in today.”

Colin let out a heavy breath. “As I tried to say, I got most of it done, but then we got slammed last night. By the time we got the crowd down to a manageable size, I was tired and didn’t want to miscount.”

Ryan shook his head. “Sorry I jumped on you. Things are a little crazy.”

“Everything okay with Quinn? Any more problems?”

“Nothing more than usual. She’s ready to pop and won’t take it easy. You’d think that after spending most of the winter in bed, she’d know better. At this point, she just wants to have the baby. It doesn’t help that Indy went into labor early. Indy’s due date was a couple of weeks after Quinn’s, so now she’s really impatient.”

Colin continued to work his way around the room. “Send her over to the house. Mom’s so excited about the baby, she’ll do nothing but fuss over her.”

Ryan smiled. “I already tried. Quinn wouldn’t fall for it.”

“You look like s**t. Aren’t you sleeping?”

“Not much.”

“Then take off. I can handle this.”

Ryan raised a single eyebrow and Colin’s shoulders tensed. After all these months, hadn’t he proven enough yet? “It’s inventory, not rocket science.”

“How many times have you ordered?”

He shrugged. “Mary walked me through it while you were out of town. The distributors’ numbers are in the Rolodex.”

Ryan scrubbed a hand over his head. “No, I should check the numbers. I want to make sure we don’t over-order.”

Colin slammed a chair down harder than he’d intended. “When are you going to stop treating me like a fuckup? I’ve been here for a year, every day, doing exactly what you’ve asked. When are you going to stop punishing me for leaving?”

Ryan crossed his arms and stared at his feet. “You’re right.”

Silence.

At first Colin thought he’d imagined it. “What was that?”

A tired grin crossed Ryan’s face. “You heard me. I said you’re right. Something had to give. I thought I could keep doing it all with both bars even after getting married and having a baby.”

“I told you I’m not going anywhere. You can depend on me. Let me take on more. Between Quinn and the baby and running Twilight, your hands are full. I’ll ask if I have questions about anything before I make a move.”

Ryan still didn’t look sold on the idea.

“I’m ready for this.”

“Fine.” The acquiescence came quietly, but Ryan followed with a finger pointed at him. “But if you f**k up this time, Mom won’t be able to save your ass.”

“Like I’m afraid of you?” Maybe Ryan had forgotten who was the older brother.

As if he’d read Colin’s mind, Ryan continued, “We’re adults now, age is meaningless, except for the fact that your body has already taken an extra year of beating that mine hasn’t, so I’m faster and stronger.”

“Only in your dreams.”

Ryan left on that note, and Colin felt the most at ease with his position in the family since his return. When their father died, Colin had taken off for three years. Everyone thought he’d done it out of anger because Dad gave O’Leary’s to Ryan. He let them believe it because the truth was so much worse.

Now he finally had the chance to redeem himself. He no longer had to be the irresponsible, lazy O’Leary. He could finally become the man his father had expected him to be.