Page 37 of The Only Reason
“Maybe we will,” I joke.
Before I can say anything else though, I feel a familiar hand slap onto my shoulder. “Look, D, I might be drunk off my ass but I’m also still your brother.”
“And?” I stare him down.
“I’ve had too much alcohol and I’m just hearing about my wife and my sister and sex and shit and it’s just all too much.”
“Dude. You just had sex with her and you’re feeling awkward about me joking about it all?” I rolled my eyes at Austin, taking advantage of picking on him. “I mean, you do know I kiss, right? Like, with tongue and everything.”
“Come on, D, you know what I was talking about,” he slurs.
But I’m not ready to let him off so easy. “Don’t forget, it’s girls I kiss too. And I do so much more than that too.” For emphasis, I turn and grab Violet’s face and plant an over-the-top kiss on her lips for everyone to see.
Austin, not even bothering with a response, just rolls his eyes and makes his way over to get himself another beer as well.
“Dude, do you guys see that drummer’s tattoos?” Kate blurts, completely oblivious to the fact that I was just teasing her husband.
We all crane our necks, trying to see the impossible. “Which one?” I can see that the guy is damn near completely covered.
“The one on his shoulder!” Kate’s horrible attempt to explain just leaves us all laughing.
Kate doesn’t elaborate any further though, she just stares off at the band, more than likely looking at their tattoos. She is quiet so long that she damn near makes all of us jump when she sits straight up.
“Babe. Babe.” Kate is yelling over the loud music and practically beating Austin on his forearm.
“What?” he slurs, eyes completely glazed over as he nearly loses balance bringing his face close to Kate’s.
“Tattoo Shop!” she yells and now, we’re all staring at her.
“We already got tattoos.” Austin is so drunk that his voice is shifting octaves with nearly every word.
“No, not that! I mean a shop!”
“Yeah…”
“Like our own shop!” Kate is bouncing up and down. Austin almost misses what she said with his eyes glued to her chest.
“Here?” Austin asks, his eyes still on her boobs.
“Yes!”
“Okay.” Austin shrugs, like it isn’t a big deal.
But I knew it is. And so does he. That is one thing about Austin that I've always loved. Things others would make a fuss over, he just accepts. He doesn’t question. He just says yes. And he’d be right there, fully supportive the entire time.
The time I had to ask him to meet me in Amsterdam, just for one day, he came. It was a huge deal to me and he didn’t question me at all. Which made it all the easier since I still can’t explain just how fucked up everything got there.
And all the times he came to my rescue with anything related to our parents. So witnessing him be there for his new wife, just as supportive, put me over the moon. And I was already there dancing with Violet.
Who is now wrapping her arms around my waist from behind me and nuzzling her chin on my shoulder.
“What’cha thinking about?” Her voice is low, sultry, and only loud enough for me to hear.
“Now? You,” I blurt, not even trying to hide how cheesy that makes me sound.
“Oh really? What about me?” Violet’s voice is doing things to me. Just like everything else about her.
I remember back to the way she’d teased me just mere hours ago. “You know, how we never finished what you started earlier. And how I’m going to finish it.” I don’t elaborate though. It is my turn to tease her.