When The Wrong One Loves You Right

Knave of Hearts

I was sipping a glass of red wine on the patio while Aaron carefully laid the well-seasoned steaks on the hot grill. They hit with a satisfying hiss and fragrant smoke billowed into the air.. 

"Why didn't you tell me Phillip Altman was going to be here this weekend?" I hissed.

Aaron grinned. "This was a great idea, sis," he said, leaning over to kiss my forehead. "It's been a while since I had filet. Thanks."

I stepped back. "Forget the steaks, Aaron! Why?"

Aaron looked startled. "Why not? He's my best friend and he decided to take a little break from running the New York store....oh! Wait a minute!" Aaron laughed. "I fucking forgot!"

I frowned suspiciously. "Forgot what?"

Aaron's lips twisted in an attempt to stifle his hilarity and he pointed his tongs at me. "That you've secretly had the hots for him since you were twelve."

Aaron's laugh turned into a roar of pain when I pinched a bit of his skin just beneath his short sleeve shirt and twisted hard. His amusement outweighed his pain, however as he hooted with laughter and rubbed the spot I'd just abused.

 "You listen to me, Aaron Greene. I do not, nor have I ever, had the hots for Phillip. I find him absolutely indecent and completely inappropriate."

Phillip and April, Aaron's new girlfriend, were sipping beers on the patio a few yards away, talking and laughing and throwing a ball for Aaron's bull mastiff, Gunner. April was stunning. Tall, athletic and blond she had mesmerized my brother for the better part of six months now. She met him through Phillip. She was a girls' softball coach and math teacher at the local middle school and had come into Altman's one day looking to purchase bats and other equipment for her girls. While Phillip tried simultaneously to take her order and flirt her up, my brother had walked in. The rest was history. April was so funny, sweet, and by far my favorite of Aaron's myriad of girlfriends and I really hoped she stuck. Right now Phillip was laughing at something she had just said and turning that Altman charm on full power

Aaron shook his head. "Mom sure likes him."

I took another sip of wine, set my glass down and crossed my arms angrily. "Mom always did think the sun shone out of Phillip Altman's ass. Ever since the Cape May incident." I glanced over at April and Phillip again. "Just look at him...he's making the moves on your girlfriend!"

Aaron guffawed loudly. "He is not making the moves on April! Jesus, Cameron." He glanced at me. "And for your information, Mom's loved Phillip since before the Cape May incident. That just cemented it!" he laughed.

"You're telling me." I watched Phillip throw the ball for Gunner yet again. "What a player he is!"

Aaron glanced at me and I thought I caught a look of reproach.

"What?" I demanded. "I'm not saying anything that isn't true. I mean, I know you and he are buddies, but even you have to admit..."

"God, you're so obtuse, Cameron!" Aaron exclaimed, turning his back on me and his attention to the steaks.

"Wait, you've lost me now, Aaron," I said coming to stand next to him. "How am I obtuse?"

Aaron closed the grill lid and glanced at me. I had always thought our brother got the looks in the family and looking at him now I could see I was right. I had to work so hard at it, but he, with his dark brown curls, shiny and rakish, was naturally charming. He'd also inherited our father's piercing blue eyes and those eyes were now looking at me as if he saw into my soul.