72. "he's back"

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Grayson Reid Jansen

    "—Say cheese!" Holland flashed her Galaxy's camera at me.

"You know I don't 'say cheese', and you got flash on during the day?" I laughed at her poor technology knowledge.

She stuck her tongue out at me childishly and looked over the photo.

"Post it or I will," she claimed,"it's a good picture; not like those thirst traps you post. Like, do I really have to see those on my timeline?"

"They're not for you, sis, have you thought about that?" I sassed back, stealing some of her Lay's chips.

Holland mocked me before saying,"I think it'll help you get a girl-"

I breathed in and clapped my hands together. "It's cute you're trying to play matchmaker, but I'm not interested in dating right now if you haven't noticed."

"Cry me a river," she jeered, locking her phone.

I bounced Ellie on my leg, making her laugh and drool until Holland took her back to feed her.

"You gotta do that here?" I asked, my face curled in disgust. No one wants to see their sister's tits, no matter how natural breast feeding was.

"Is it against the law, I don't see any signs?" Smart ass.

"I'm going inside," I snickered, scooting off of the porch bench to her house.

"Yo, Gray, can you bring back some aluminum foil?" Mark shouted as I pulled the sliding glass door open. He and dad were on the grill and bonding over a few Natty's (Natural Light beers).

I just nodded in response to his question and ducked slightly to enter their house, going straight to the kitchen from the foyer.


As soon as I turned the corner, I saw Colson in the refrigerator.

"Yo," I got his attention,"the foil, pass it."

He did as I asked since it right next to the fridge, but didn't say anything.

"Thanks," I spat dryly and rotated on my heels to walk out.

Before I could get too far, Colson called me back over.

"I'm sorry, bro," he started to apologize.

"Did dad or Holland put you up to this?"

"Well, Holland didn't want to worry dad but she told Mark and he gave me this whole 'be grateful to have siblings because some people don't ' speech."

"Ah," I nodded,"continue."

"I shouldn't have acted like that when all you tried to do is help me-"

"No. It's not even about me. I can deal with you throwing a little temper tantrum at me, but you know better for talking to that girl like that."

"I know, I don't know what I was thinking. I guess, I look up to you so much. When I heard you talking to girls like that and saw how they still flocked to you, I thought it was cool. You don't get it, I hear stories about you all the time, it's hard being your little brother - they expect me to be just like you."

"First of all," I sighed and sat him down at the island,"whoever's telling you to follow someone else is obviously dumb. And, what do I always tell you?"

He didn't open his mouth so I repeated myself,"What do I always tell you? Don't I say don't be like me, be better?"

"Yeah," he mumbled. I put my hand on the back of his neck but didn't squeeze.

"You need to text that girl and apologize -- and mean it. I don't ever wanna hear about you treating another girl like that again, do you understand?"

"Yes," he murmured.

I stood, pushing down on his shoulders. "Good. If mom was here, she'd drive you to that girl's house and make you apologize in front of the girl's parents. Then, she'd beat you. With a shoe."

Colson looked shook at what I said and I laughed. Mom never laid a finger on them, only me - the problem child.

"We good?" he asked.

"Yeah, but you owe me stair runs tomorrow."

Colson whined like a little girl. "Gray, no, I hate stair runs and you said to take it easy tomorrow!"

"I changed my mind," I decided as I headed out of the kitchen,"and stop crying before I beat you with my shoe."

"Oh, and Gray," Colson called out my name, stopping me from walking.

"Yeah?" I shouted back.

"I didn't mean what I said about Brea. She was the best girl you've ever brought around and I hope you two get back together; Holland does, too, she told me."

"What else have you and Holland talked about, huh?"

"Just that these last few months you've been a great brother and uncle. For a while there it felt like you were just my coach, like you were more worried about everything else and not what really mattered. I thought I lost you for good. Glad to have you back," he said and gave me a quick hug.

I looked down at him, smiling, but kind of confused at his sudden affection.

"Don't tell anyone I just did that or I'll quit the team," Colson told me with a straight face, leaving me to laugh as he turned to go upstairs on the game until the food was ready.


The smile never left my face as I took Mark the foil and rejoined Holland on the deck.

"You look awfully happy," Holland observed, looking me up and down as she burped baby Michelle.

"I am," I said back,"but I won't be for long if they don't hurry up with those burgers!"

Mark and dad heard me and waved me off, cackling amongst themselves.

Having spent enough time with Holland who was busy putting Ellie to sleep, I made my way over to the grill.

"What happened to your plans for the day?" Asked my father, waving his beer can.

"Yeah," Mark chimed in,"I thought you had somewhere to be."

They were talking about Chandler's wedding dinner, I still didn't know why I was invited but it was nice that he included me. Out of respect for Brea, though, I declined the offer.

"Eh. I rather be here."

"I dunno, you think he can hang, Mr.J?"

"Hmm," my dad pretended to ponder the question,"last time I checked, he was too good for us."

"Nah, he was 'busy' remember?" Mark made his father-in-law laugh.

I rolled my eyes as they brought up the near past, referring to how distant I was while I was going through relationship drama. Even when I was around, I wasn't present.

"Yeah, yeah. Shut up and give me a beer," I snatched a can anyway.

"Uh-oh, he's back," Mark whooped, flipping a burger before chugging beer. I cracked mine open and drank some, too.

While Mark and I engaged in small talk, I noticed the subtle proud look on my father's face. We didn't say anything but he knew I acknowledged it and that was enough.

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