Southern Charm

Chapter 19

TRACE

"What the hell? You were listening in on our conversation?!" I asked, sitting up in bed. Jessie put her hands on my chest to stop me from removing myself from the bed, which was probably a good thing. I wanted so badly to punch my brother right across the jaw. I get he wanted to see that I was okay, but the nerve of him or my mother not to tell anyone he was coming was a slap in the face. Meghan and I both should have been warned, considering his past.

"Look, I'm sorry. I came to talk to both of you and hoped Meghan would be here, too. I'm a changed man, I swear. I'm only asking for a conversation, and if you still don't want me here after that, I will go. You'll never have to hear from me again," Ryan said.

Jessie looked at me with that pleading look in her eyes. She wanted me to hear him out, which was the right thing; however, I didn't want to listen to my brother. I didn't want to disappoint Jessie, so I did the right thing.

"Fine. I'll hear you out. Meghan had just said she was on her way. We will wait for her," I said.

Ryan nodded and took a seat in the chair next to my bed. He didn't glance over at us or say anything. His vibe did seem a little different than before when he tried to knock the lights out of me.

Ryan and I had a huge argument four years ago, leading to a fight. At the time, I was dating Missy, one of my many girlfriends who happened to fall for my brother's not-so-southern charm. Ryan had gotten into bar fights the previous night, taking Missy. Missy got caught in the crossfire of his right punch and broke a facial bone. My head about exploded when I found out what Ryan had done. He never should've gotten involved in bar fights, even if it was a mistake hitting her. Ryan was supposed to be the one Meghan and I looked up to, but he never was.

"I'm here! Sorry, I was stopping by to grab a coffee, and I thought you both might like a muffin. Hospital food sucks," Meghan said, handing out the two muffins. "Sorry, Ryan, I didn't realize you'd be here, so I didn't get you one."

Ryan shrugged. "No big deal. I'm not hungry anyway."

Meghan sat on the couch, digging into her muffin and sipping her coffee. "So, what are you here for Ryan? Is it money?"

Ryan shook his head. "No, like I told Trace, I've changed. I swear I have. I haven't been in jail for two years, nor have I had a drop of alcohol. No fist fights or speeding tickets have been on my record, either. I can get my record pulled for you if that helps."

I shook my head. "That won't be necessary. That's good you've changed, but I can't know until you prove it to me, Ryan. Jessie and I are getting married, so we have no time for the nonsense you usually bring around."

"I know. I understand that. No one is after me here. I haven't been in trouble with the law. I wouldn't want to put you, Meghan, or your future bride in harm's way. Trust me. If something does happen, I'll handle it, I swear," Ryan said.

I nodded. "Okay. I can't trust you right now, though. Trust needs to be earned. I love you, Ryan, and I always have. You're my brother,  but things can't return to how they were before this started."

"I completely get that. I never expected them to go back to normal. I wanted to get to know my siblings the way I should have years ago, and I'd like to get to know Jessie too, if that's okay," Ryan said.

Jessie nodded, and although she was still lying beside me in the bed in my arms, she smiled at Ryan. "I'd love to get to know you. Maybe once Trace leaves the hospital, you, Meghan, and your parents can come over for dinner since everyone is still in town."

I still couldn't understand the idea of my brother being here, but it would have to sooner or later. I had a bad feeling about this, and when I did, usually something happened.