Love Type Thing I1I Damn Sisters

"I'm so done with this romance shit." I grumbled, my head rested firmly in one of my hands.

"What now?" Brandon asked, stacking playing cards.

I silently pointed over to Jess. He twirled the girl's hair around his fingers, smiling and nodding along. He probably had no fucking clue what she was talking about. "It's overrated. What'd I expect anyway? When, in my life, has a relationship ever worked out for me?" Brandon opened his mouth. "The answer is never." I laughed. "Like I'd actually let you answer that question."

"We've only got one more day of driving. I can't believe you're going to meet my parents." He squealed. If he wasn't sitting, he'd probably've done a little jig.

"Oh Brandon, I love you." I chuckled.

He looked around shiftily. "Shhshh. Don't let the wife hear." He narrowed his eyes at me. "Hey wait..when's your birthday?"

"Why? No. No! Brandon you are not. Aw hell no!" I pouted. "You know what, I'm not telling you."

He shrugged. "Fine, I'll just get it from Sara."

"Hey hey! No using spouses as leverage! That is so unfair, Brandon." I argued, climbing over to him.

He opened an arm for me to huddle under. "You know, sometimes you really act your age."

I shrugged. "What can I say? I'm only seventeen. I'm still a child."

"How're things with Bam?"

I looked up at him, furrowing my brow. "What's that mean?"

"Oh come on, you two are so cute together. You fight and bicker, but it's so obvious you want each other." He answered, snickering.

"Hey, I do not want him, thank you. He's attractive, I'll admit that. But then, so is Jess." I burrowed into him deeper. "Damnit, why do they have to be from the same gene pool?"

"Do you know how Sara and I met?" He asked, beginning to stroke my bangs back off my forehead gently, his fingers barely tracing my skin. "She was with this guy, Travis. Anyway, they were at one of those nice high-end parties. She looked so beautiful in that silky red dress, her hair in curls-"

"Where were you?"

He smiled. "I was transferring ownership of a few hard to come by alcoholic beverages. She asked what I was doing. I told her to stick her big nose out of it. Then she called me a bum and turned her nose up at me. Well, as luck would have it, we had a strange knack for running into each other everywhere and anywhere. I hated her bigotry and uppity attitude. She couldn't stand my drug use. But eventually, Meg, I grew to love those things I hated about her at first. I couldn't get enough of her. Then to my surprise she asked me to go for dinner one day. I remember having to ask her to repeat it more than twice, I just couldn't believe it. Right when I thought it was all too good to be true, she pointed out a Bridal magazine in a grocery store." He tightened his grip on me, holding me securely. "I just don't get it, Meagan. I don't deserve her, she's so much better than anything I've ever had. She's so far out of my league, but for some reason she's still here."

"Sara's in love with you. I've seen how she looks at you. She's only ever looked at my dad that way. She couldn't be happier with you. I'm proud of the two of you." I choked, forcing the tears back down.

He looked my square in the eye. "For the record, I wanted you at the wedding." He hummed softly, kissing my forehead and rocking me as I cried. "This holiday's our honeymoon."

"I'm really happy I met you, Brandon." I mumbled into his side, closing my eyes tight.

"You're nothing like your sister." He laughed, rubbing my shoulder. "But you're everything I hoped you'd be. You've become like a little sister to me, Meggo."

I snickered. "My big brother Brandon. Has a nice little ring to it."

"I'm so proud of you, Meagan." He whispered, pulling me closer. "You've been so brave through everything on your own. You've got me now. You've got your big brother, and he'll take good care of you. I'll always be there to protect you from now on. You'll never have to be alone again." I felt a wet warmth on my cheek. I blinked and realized it wasn't mine. I looked up at my brother to see him crying. I hugged him tighter, and let him cry. "You're such a sweet girl, Meg."