Brother's Keeper✔️

38. Boy Genius Woes

Brian POV

The first day he was back home for break he got the dreaded news.

"I've been accepted to Illinois State and my parents agreed to let me start next semester!"

His face went stone. Of course, he knew she could get accepted, but he thought her parents would say no. They kept a tight reign on her, so sending her off to college by herself never crossed his mind. What changed to make them agree to it now? She was already in her sophomore year, transferring in the middle of the year was just wrong.

The first thing he did when he made it back to St. Louis was stop and go see J'Nae first, and this was what she told him.

"You sure you want to do that? You are doing so well at Maryville and it's close to home and-"

"Relax, I'll be fine." They were sitting in the living room just hanging out, her parents were not home.  "Ms. Jossie said plenty transfer in and out mid-year. She also found scholarship money for me and a single room in a residence hall. Eeek! I'm so happy!"

She grabbed him in a hug and he should be happy more, but he stood there. Sure, he had stopped sleeping around with all the girls, but it was a known fact he got around on campus. There was no way he could shield J'Nae from all the gossip. Maybe the girls wouldn't talk, the guys wouldn't hint.

Who was he kidding? He was in trouble.

"I'm so excited I don't think I will be able to think straight for the next couple of weeks There is so much I need to do. Figure out what I am bringing, and how I am going to decorate my room. Make my schedule of classes. I want to join some clubs, what do you think I should join? Oh and I already know Daysha, she seems cool."

At least he knew she was the one girl that would not run her mouth. Still was not ideal that his girlfriend and the girl he had done all the things with would hang out. That was a no.

"J'Nae, you should just start next year, so you will have more time to prepare and not rush." And Daysha and some of the girls he kicked it with would be gone, or maybe they would forget, be over him and not try and blow up his world.

"No! I have always wanted to go away for school but my parents were against it because they thought I was too young and immature. I'm not! They see that I am responsible and make good decisions. Plus, I think it's because they know I have you and they trust you, is why they are allowing me to go. Aren't you happy we can see each other every day?"

She gave him another hug and he softly rubbed her hair. "Yeah baby, yeah, that's the best part."

He was doomed! What if temptation struck him again to sleep around? Girls always pulled up on him, offering to do some things. It was just too hard to say no.

But no, as his frat said, if he cared about one, that's all he needed.

He was going to have to speak to his bruhs about being a one girl man.

Instead of calling up any of his frat brothers, he decided to call his new homeboy Patrick and hang out with him. They met up at the Galleria because they both had shopping to do. His family weren't big gift givers, one gift and done. Luckily both his parents liked to outdo each other with him and his brother and that one item was always something big.

He first explained the situation to Patrick over the phone before they met up. Then they started at the food court eating Raising Cane's before they went to any store. The Galleria was packed, and Christmas was still two weeks away.

"Why are you mad your girl will be up at school with you, bro? That's a good thing, you talk about her all the time."

"I know, I love her man, but...I have not been the most faithful boyfriend if you know what I mean."

"I thought you said you were done."

"I am. And I don't want her to ever know."

"Maybe you should just be honest with her."

Was he smoking something? No way in hell would he ever do that. He almost lost her over getting head from one chick. Imagine if she knew about all the things he had been doing in the last two and a half years? It would be over.

"Patrick, you my dude, but da fuck are you thinking? You almost lost your girl and your kid over a girl giving you a blow job. I've done way more than that shit. I told J'Nae I wasn't doing shit but that one time she caught me."

"Brian, for you to be a smart nerd dude, you're real dumb."

"Listen-"

"No for real, we cool and all, but how are you giving out advice to others when you don't live by it? I owe you for me not jumping off a ledge bro, but seriously, get it together."

Patrick grabbed his trash and went to dump it and walked off from him. He knew he was wrong and the worse scum around. Part of him couldn't help it. He went off to college and the number of girls that were all over him was insane. Sure in high school he had a couple of side girls, but never what he experienced at ISU. The girls didn't know he was a super nerd, they just saw a handsome face.

J'Nae didn't deserve this. She deserved someone better than him but he was not ready to give her up.

He caught up with Patrick.

"Yo man, sorry I snapped. I'm just in a fucked up mood right now."

"Whatever. You're going to keep doing Brian because you can. See, I don't even think you're done with all that. Once was enough for me. But you...I think you need it to stroke your ego."

"Huh? What do you mean?"

"You told me about your parent's situation., Your father being a womanizer. How you didn't get many girls' attention until J'Nae came along. Soon as another girl gives you some attention you run with it. Bro, you don't need other guys to validate you. You have a girl that loves you and should give you everything you want."

"But we're not having sex."

"You want to have sex with her?"

He thought hard about that. Yes. But he also wanted to wait and do things right until they were married. Could he abstain until then?

"I need to think this through," he said. "Everything. Even about telling her...which means I may lose her."

"Well, that's a start."

"I don't know Patrick, give me some time. Maybe having J'Nae at school with me will be a good thing. At least seeing her every day I don't have time for anyone else."

He stopped in front of Bath and Body Works store.

"Let me hit this up, J'Nae likes all this smell good shit."

He bought all the lotions sprays and soaps he thought she would like. That was not all he would buy her for Christmas, but it was a start.

"What are you going to get Anika?"

Patrick grinned at him. "Come on, I'll show you."

He followed Patrick through the mall until they stopped at a jewelry store. Oh, brother was going all in.

A/N: Why do I love this bromance between Brian and Patrick so much? Brian needed someone like Patrick to get him straight. Let's hope it takes.

Do you think Brian should tell J'Nae all he has done? Honestly? I'm basing this on a real guy I knew in high school and college. No, she never transferred in, he actually transferred back to St. Louis to be with her. I do not know if he told her about his happenings in college. I do know they are happily married with kids now, twenty plus years)

My guess? He did not tell...but she had to know. She was okay with that and married him anyway.