My Boyfriends Brother

Chapter 2 Sierra’s Surprise

When we pulled into the parking lot of Michaels apartments the rain had died down to a sprinkle. He helped me out of the car and led me to his place all the while looking back to make sure I was still there. 

“I’m not planning on running you know,” I said calmly. 

“I know. I just... well I’m just making sure you’re keeping up,” he lied. He looked back at me again and noticed my right eyebrow raised. “Okay fine, I’m making sure you’re not trying to run back to the rocks.” 

“Please, if I were going to go back there I’d take your keys and drive,” I mused. He rolled his eyes and turned back forward. We got to his door and he opened it, letting me walk in first. His apartment was normally much tidier but it’s current condition lacked any form of order. Cups were left unattended on every flat surface. As well as plates and silverware. 

“Ummm sorry for the mess, I uh—haven’t had a chance to clean up,” he apologized. 

“It’s fine Mike, I understand. You should see our place we—I haven’t been...” I trailed off. Why was it so hard to have a regular conversation without Mathew coming up?! At that moment I started crying. Michael pulled me into his arms and comforted me. 

“Shhh, it’s okay Sierra. It’s okay. I know.” I took some comfort in his words and his embrace. He was a little taller than Mathew was but just as muscular. I could feel the tension from his muscles as he held me tight. He smelled so good too, like sandalwood. My sobs softened and I began to try and pull myself together. I looked up and Michaels face was looking down at me, inches away from mine. His eyes were blue and they looked deeper than they had before. Then again, I was never truly paying much attention to the color of Michaels eyes. They were so beautiful though I felt myself getting lost in them. Then Michael cleared his throat and looked away towards the kitchen. “Are—uh are you hungry? Thirsty at all?” 

I took a step back and responded, “well I haven’t really eaten much today... well actually I can’t remember eating at all today.” 

“I can make you something!” He said as he rushed over to the fridge in the kitchen. He opened it and peered in, examining it. “s**t, I don’t really have anything I could use to cook.” 

“That’s okay. We can order something?” I offered. I pulled out my phone and opened up my Postmates app. “There’s Mexican, Chinese... or um pizza?” 

He closed the fridge and started to walk back towards me. “Chinese sounds good. I could go for some sesame chicken.” 

“Um yeah, me too. That sounds good.” I ordered us some food and we sat down on the sofa in his little living room. His place was small but he always claimed it was enough for him, that he doesn’t need much to be happy. Michael was 26 and lived like he was someone a decade older. He never really had girlfriends though. Mathew used to tease him and joked that he’d be married and with a family before his older brother got a girlfriend. I never understood why Michael didn’t ever have a girlfriend. He was actually pretty attractive. Some may even say he’s hot. His hair was always tasseled making his style that like Superman’s but his hair was a light shade of brown. The color of dried bark from a tree. He always stayed clean shaven so his prominent jawline was forever on display. He really was gorgeous. So why didn’t he ever have a girl? 

“Lost in your own thoughts again, huh?” Michael said, interrupting my thoughts and making me realize I’d been staring at him this whole time. 

I could feel my face get hot and said, “Uh, yeah. You know, it seems to be happening a lot lately.” 

“I know what you mean. This week has been pretty rough and I haven’t been able to stop thinking. I close my eyes and all I see is Mathews pale face on that metal table at the morgue.” His face became sullen and he looked down. I knew exactly what he meant. Except I hadn’t seen Mathew yet. I couldn’t bring myself to go in and look. Afraid that it would tarnish the images of him I still had in my memory. From the sounds of it, it seems it has done just that for Michael. 

“I’m really sorry Mike. I really am. I know how broken up I feel. I can’t imagine how you must feel losing your brother. Mathew...” I choked up trying to say his name but continued, “Mathew was the best guy I’ve ever known. I know he idolized you. You were his favorite person. Well besides me.” I managed to let out a chuckle. 

Michael looked up at me and surprisingly asked, “will you ever be able to get over him?” I was shocked by his question and he seemed to sense that and said, “I didn’t mean...I didn’t... I don’t mean like get over him like you would a break up, I mean like, will you ever let anyone else in like you did with him?” 

I was puzzled by his question but responded anyway, “I think someday but for now I’m not going to think about it. I don’t want to think about anyone else taking Mathews place in my heart.” 

His demeanor changed and he sat up straighter as he had spoke, “I see. Well let’s talk about something else. We’re both trying to not think about...him. So let’s talk about something else. When is the food getting here?”

I laughed, checked my phone and said, “shouldn’t be much longer, looks like they’re about 15 minutes away.” 

“Thank god, I am starving.”