My Brother’s Best Friend

Clyve Clifford Linton

SKIP

MY BRAIN completely shut down the moment I received a call from Dad.

This wasn’t happening all at once-my problem with Arella, my broken friendship with Brett, and my brother in the hospital bed.

Dad didn’t give many details about the accident, but he would never rush me to take the early flight to London if Clyve wasn’t in a critical condition. I knew Dad when it came to my brother-his favorite son.

The cool air of London seeped through my skin as I stepped outside the airport. I shivered at the thought of my brother. My dad’s driver, Aldrich drove us immediately to the hospital.

“Relax, Skipper. Your brother will be fine.” Mum gripped my arm as soon as the receptionist told us my brother’s room. She insisted on coming with me, and I knew how she felt about being back in London, and a chance of seeing my father again. She and Clyve met in Paris whenever they missed each other, or they spent some quality time together in Ireland where my father bought a house from a famous singer.

We didn’t have family traditions since my family fell apart. I barely remembered opening a gift in front of my family during holidays and even on my birthdays, but it was not a big deal to me, and I was a grown-up man to be upset with that kind of thing.

“I was wondering why didn’t you ask them what’s my brother’s condition, Mum. Is there something you’re not telling about Clyve?” A quiver in my stomach worsened. I was thinking of the worse scenario throughout the flight.

Clyve had been in hell since my parents’ divorce. He took it seriously until he turned sideways. I was a terrible brother to him. When I was supposed to be his backbone, I wasn’t even there for him. Thankfully, he did the therapy seriously and finished college. I had no idea he’d been in deep trouble until I get back home. Then he got a job on the local news channel. He was seeing someone and seemed happy when I came back to New York.

“You’re scowling about the issue you left behind, Skipper.” She ignored my question and went inside the lift.

“I’m scowling because I’m worried about my brother, and you seem relaxed.” Arguing with my mother was nonsense because she knew me too well. And she was right.

“You don’t scowl when you’re worried, you frowned and drum, honey.”

“Well, you missed a few details in my apartment,” I groaned.

“I intentionally didn’t purchase a drum set. You should start talking when you have a problem.”

“I couldn’t just spill my guts on you, Mum. The last time I opened up to you was seven years ago. I was still a lad, and now I can’t talk to Brett because he and his sister are my problems.” I heaved a sigh. There you go again. It just bloody hurts.

Her eyes begged me to listen to her, but I lost control of my pent-up emotions. Her ex-husband just appeared in her apartment and bullied her. her brother just found out that we’d been hiding something from him years ago, and Brett felt betrayed, and then another bomb just blew off on my face. I was supposed to be a father. I was supposed to have a six years old kid.

But that didn’t happen. What a sick joke!

Would she or he ever accept that I was never in the picture from birth?

Is my baby really gone?

“My boys are always had a hard time opening up to their mother when the fact is the mother knows best.”Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

I snorted, “Okay. What do you think I was doing yesterday, Mum? Not opening up out on you?”

“That’s what I’m talking about. It wasn’t so hard, was it, honey?”

“What’s this has to do with Clyve?” I stopped in front of my brother’s room.

“Family always understand each other, Skipper. Brett will understand his sister. He loves your Reigh so much that’s why he tends to be overprotective of her. He considers you as his family-”

“Not anymore.” My face fell. It was harder than I thought to lose a best friend. And losing her was the hardest.

“You don’t know that. He will understand. If we go back to States, you have to talk to Brett and apologize, and let your Reigh explain.”

“Why do you keep saying your Reigh? Is this some kind of a title? Like your majesty, your highness?”

“Stop being sarcastic, Skipper!” She was amused while my guilt was sucking up my remaining senses.

“We’re over, Mum.” I looked away and took a deep breath.

“Are you sure about that? The last time I heard-” Mum suddenly stopped.

“What?”

“Let’s meet your brother, shall we? I missed my CC,” Mum sang.

“Tell me again why I’m not allowed to call him that?” I chuckled. Mum being with us lightened up my mood for a while. That was why I loved her so bloody much.

I pushed the door opened. My brother was lying on the bed, looking up at the ceiling with his brows furrowed. He seemed to be in deep thoughts.

“Clyve!” If I didn’t call him, he wouldn’t have been aware someone already came inside his room.

He was startled, then his eyes widened when he saw us on his door. “Skip, brotha!”

“You happen to have an only handsome brother. So, that’s definitely me. Hiya? What happened? You worried us.” I hugged him.

He groaned in pain, and I could feel him grimacing, but I missed my little brother. He had bruises all over his face. A cut on his left eyebrow. He had a busted right eye and looked like he had a broken nose. He didn’t get into a car accident because his knuckles were damn busted.

“I know, I know.” He looked down. Guilt flashed all over his face. Clyve was a younger version of me. Only his eyes were the same shade of blue, and his hair was lighter than mine. I was two inches taller than him, but he was lean and a Vegan for life.

Mom sat beside him and wrapped her arms around Clyve, kissing the side of his head. “What happened, CC?”

“Dad didn’t tell you the details, did he?” He smiled at Mum, then looked at me.

“No,” I answered shortly since I wasn’t in the right mind when Dad called.

“My girlfriend cheated on me with her gym trainer.” He looked away, then raked his fingers through his hair.

I looked away when his chin trembled. My knuckles cracked when I realized why Clyve had done that. “I think we have something in common, brother.”

Mum shushed him when he cried. I was afraid he was going to the road where he left behind. I couldn’t let that happen. Not when he was on my watch.

“What do you mean?” he asked in a shaky voice, wiping his tears. My brother had a soft heart and a crybaby. He cried to get what he wanted when we were just kids.

I ignored his question, instead, I asked, “And you went to that bollocks and beat him to a pulp?”

He shrugged. “I could have knocked him down if his cavalry didn’t come to rescue him.”

“I’ve no doubt about kicking someone’s arse. You’ve been running since you sobered up.”

“Tell me what happened?” he pried.

“What I mean is we’re both single now.”

“There is something in those scary eyes, Skipper.”

I rolled my eyes.

“I’ve read a lot of books regarding behavior. So I know when you’re lying.”

I huffed. “So, are you psycho-analyzing me now, Clifford M Scott?”

“No. I want to get out of here, Mum. Can you ask the doctor if I’m good to go?” Clyve hurriedly took off the probe and cuff attached to him.

“Are you sure you’re okay? You looked beaten up, Clyve,” I countered.

“I’m better now you both are here. They just let me stay for observation since I was unconscious when I was brought here. Mum can check me up, right Mum?”

“Of course, CC. Are you sure you’re okay?” Mum smiled sweetly, then observed him for long seconds.

“Yes, Mum.”

“Well then, since your pupils are not dilated. Let me talk to the doctor to arrange your discharge summary.”

When mum left, I stepped closer to Clyve. “What really happened, Clyve Clifford?”

“I told you she cheated on me. I saw her being cozy-”

“Stop lying for bloody sake! You know I hate people who lie on my face.” I raised my voice and watched him furtively.

“Is that what happened in New York?”

“Don’t ask me back when I’m asking you! For once, can you be a little more serious when I am talking to you!”

“Fine. I got sacked from my job, and it narked me off. So, I got into a ramble in the pub.”

“How the hell could they fire you? I know you’re good at your job. So, how did it happened?” I sighed, feeling guilty for yelling at him. I sat down on his bed and stared at him intently.

“I broke up with my ex. That was true because she was sleeping with someone. Her co-producer to be exact. That’s true as well. Then one of my co-workers invited me for a drink. He got pissed, then blurted out something. So, you know what happened next.”

“What the fuck? You fraternized your co-worker?” My voice echoed in the entire room, and someone could probably hear outside the room.

He hummed, “Kind of. Since she works longer than me in the production, my boss took her side. She didn’t want to go further than that night and called it a mistake that’s what American says pissed me off. So, when the boss called me to his office and asked if it was true, I admitted. I wasn’t aware she was sleeping with him as well. I was being played out.” He let out a sigh. “I know, I cocked up.”

“I’m truly sorry, but couldn’t you keep your willy in your pants, brother. You bonked your co-worker, really?” Shit! Better than your best friend’s sister, arsehole! I knew exactly how he felt. I saw myself when I looked right into his eyes. We both felt betrayed.

I shook off the thought of Arella. I was here for my brother, and he needed me as much as I wanted to think of her. “So, what is your plan now you don’t have a job?”

“Can I come to New York with you and Mum? if that’s okay with you.”

“Are you sure? What would Dad say about it?” A smile slowly built on my lips.

“Look, brother. I won’t stay at your flat. I can afford to buy or rent one, and I will look for a job as soon as I settled in. I’ll behave, I promise.”

My brow arched in amusement. “You can behave in New York? Are you sure about that? If you can’t do that with your co-worker, what made you think you can in the city never sleeps?”

“Come on, brother.” He punched my arm, then flinched, but I didn’t buy whatever he had up his sleeves.

“I have tickets-”

My eyes widened. Blimey! “No bloody way!”