Martha Kennerson - Always My Baby

“Have you figured out how we can prove that?” he snapped back.

“Not yet,” Brice said, crossing his arms.

“Then what the hell are you doing in here?” he asked. “Get back to work.”

Brice got up, walked to the door and closed it. He turned and faced his brother. “What the hell is wrong with you, and who do you think you’re talking to?”

Alexander stood and came from around his desk to stand toe-to-toe with Brice. “I’m talking to you...little brother.” His voice had a sharp edge to it.

“I’m not too little to kick your butt,” Brice said with a raised chin.

The two men stood staring each other down for several seconds. Alexander pushed out a breath and dropped his shoulders. He ran his right hand through his hair. “Sorry, man.” Alexander returned to his desk and sat down.

“What’s going on with you? This can’t just be about the EPA coming after us.” Brice took a seat in a chair across from his brother’s desk.

Alexander gave his head a slow shake. “No. It has nothing to do with the EPA.”

“Then what? Talk to me before you lose it in front of someone you shouldn’t, like our mother.”

Alexander met his brother’s gaze. “I slept with China on Friday night and she’s acting like it didn’t happen. Like it meant nothing and nothing has changed. She says she doesn’t want it to ruin our friendship.”

“Wait, you slept with China...China Edwards, your best friend?” Brice asked, scratching the side of his head.

“Yes! How many Chinas do you know, man?” Alexander questioned, looking at his brother like he’d never seen him before.

“Okay, just confirming what I heard was correct. Wow, you finally hit that.”

Alexander’s lips drew back in a snarl and he rose so fast he sent his chair flying backward. “Don’t you dare talk about her like that,” he said through gritted teeth, pointing his right index finger at his brother.

Brice held up both hands in surrender. “Chill, man, damn. I was just trying to see how real this was.”

Alexander took a deep breath and released it slowly. He picked up his chair and sat back down. “Sorry.”

“You have got to pull it together.”

“Yeah I do. It’s just...” Alexander turned and stared out the window.

“It’s just sleeping with China has you all messed up. You didn’t realize how deep your feelings went and now she is acting as if it didn’t even matter...that you don’t matter.”

Alexander turned to face his brother. “Damn, man, you sound like you were there.”

Brice dropped his head for several moments before he lifted it to meet his brother’s inquisitive gaze. “I have been there. Hell, I’m still there...remember.”

“Sorry, man. I keep forgetting.” Alexander could see the pain in his brother’s eyes.

“Wish I could. Enough about my failed marriage and pending divorce, that’s another story. The question is, what do you want? No disrespect, A, but China’s not really your type.”

Alexander’s brows knitted together. “What do you mean?”

“Her beauty isn’t in question, and when it comes to business, she’s you but in a nicer suit. Now, while your women are notably striking and smart, they’re also temporary. We all know China’s looking for more. She doesn’t want to be another conquest.”

“But she’s not.”

“How does she know that? Remember who we’re talking about. China knows you—hell, she knows all of us as well as we know each other,” Brice reminded his brother, shaking his head; China was family to them all.

Alexander nodded. “True. So what do I do?”

“What do you want...really?”

“I don’t know yet. I guess I wanted a chance to figure that out,” Alexander admitted.

“Well, she’s told you what she wants.” Brice shrugged. “Give it to her.”

“What?” Alexander frowned.

“Keep being her best friend—”

“But—”

“Let me finish.” Brice sat forward in his chair. “What’s the best part of your relationship?”

Several big and small moments he’d spent with China flashed through his mind and he couldn’t help but smile. Alexander sighed. “She gets me. We just have fun together.”

“Then keep doing that. Show her that the sex hasn’t changed anything,” he offered.

“But it has.”

Brice nodded. “And it has for her, too. Just make it easy for her to admit it to herself.”

“What if that doesn’t work?” Alexander’s heart started racing, and his hands fisted on the desk.

“You’ll still have your friend. More importantly, you have got to keep that possessive behavior thing you got going on right now under control.”

“You’re right. Thanks, man.”

“Anytime.” Brice walked to the door. “Besides, I wasn’t looking forward to explaining to our mother why I had to beat you down in your own office.”

Alexander reared back in his chair, clapped his hands and laughed. “Now you got jokes.”

After his brother left, Alexander turned in his chair and stared at the photo of himself and China. “This isn’t over...far from it.” Alexander’s cell phone rang and he viewed the screen, thinking it had to be China finally calling him back, only to be disappointed. He sent the caller to voice mail. The beautiful face that appeared on his phone was an unwanted interruption.

He stood and headed for the door.

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