Page 20 of Her Irish Twins
I’ve never had to worry about Ben, just like he’s never had to worry about me. I mean, sure, yeah, the basic empathy for your own flesh and blood, and the brotherly love we share. I don’t mean that I don’t worry about him like I don’tcareabout him. I just mean I know Ben can handle himself—he can take care of his shit when the shit gets real, same as me.
And that’s how we’ve gone through life—we’ve never had to worry, or watch our footing hoping the other one can keep up. Or worrying that if we dodge, the danger will hit the other one, if that makes sense. But this?
Well, this is different. Charlotte makes it different.
Because for the first time in my life—inourlives, there’s something to care about that we actually have worry about. It’s not like she’s not strong, or wild, or capable of holding herself up during danger. But, it’s different. Ben and I have dealt with enough shit in life to harden us more than most people. The scars we carry are our armor, and as tough as Charlotte is, she doesn’t have that, and this world isn’t something she’s been bathed in.
She’s a tourist to the dark side here, and knowing that Ben and I are what stands between her and the carnage this world can bring down?
Well, yeah,that’swhat’s got me up. And I know it’s what’s got him up too.
“Fuck, man,” my brother whispers, so as to not wake Charlotte. “How did we….”
I smile. “How did we get her?”
“Yeah.”
“Fuck if I know,” I growl. “I’m not sure we’ve ever done anything to deserve her, that’s for sure.”
Ben’s silent a minute before he clears his throat.
“She’s the real deal, brother.”
“I know.”
“No, I mean—”
“Ben,I know,” I growl.
He takes another second in the darkness.
“You love her?”
I grind my jaw, brooding for one second, even though I already know the answer.
“You know you can stop pretending you’re ‘pondering it,’ arse,” he chuckles quietly. “Like you having to think about it instead of blurting it out right makes it sound less insane.”
I grin. “Fuck you too.”
“Hey, it’s the same here.”
“You love her?”
Ben doesn’t even pause.
“Fuck yes.”
I close my eyes, inhaling the scent of her, growling as I pull her tighter as she sleeps.
“So?”
“Of course, I do,” I growl. “The second I laid eyes on her.”
Ben sighs heavily. “Yeah, same. This could be a problem, you know?”
I shake my head. “It won’t be.”
“She’s new to all of this, man. This world, I mean.”