The Bad Boy Meets His Match

Shane

I knocked on my little sister’s door. Well, she isn’t so little now. She’s all grown up and married to her high-school boyfriend. Pity I can’t say the same for myself. No one knows my secret, only Courtney because she doesn’t give a shit because, surprisingly enough, our cousin is as gay as they come and is out of the closet. Unlike me, I only had one man who was in the closet. He was unsure of his sexuality, but I’m damn sure he is bi. But enough of my pathetic love life, I’ve finally come home for good. I can’t live a life full of lies anymore and the first step to recognition is leaving the navy and coming out to my parents and younger brother. So here I am knocking on my little sister’s door a month after she got hitched to Issac Walker. I always liked the kid. He always respected my sister. Even if he fucked up, he was always there for her. I’m glad they found each other again and got hitched. They have a little girl, and he has taken on two older boys from a previous relationship with no other than Ashton Barraman. Damn, I was glad I wasn’t here to see the shit hit the fan when he realized she had kids with him. That’s what you get for being a cheating asshole just like your brother. I guess it runs in the family. Well enough, if that bullshit the door opens to a smile so wide I wouldn’t miss it anywhere. “Courtney.”
“Shane, you made it,” she says, excitedly.
“I did. Are you going to let your older brother in or are we going to stand here all day?” I asked, grinning.
She smiles and pulls me into a hug. “It’s good to see you Shane.”
“You too, sis.”
She finally lets go and beckons me into her humble abode. “Sorry I couldn’t make the wedding.”
She waves me off. “I know you’re a busy man Shane, we understand. You’re here now and that’s all that counts. Come through and meet your nephews and niece.”
I nodded and smiled. “Lead the way.”
She smiles, and we head through to the lounge where two boys are fighting it out on the Playstation and the little girl is playing pretend with her dolls, all alone. Why aren’t they playing together?
“Who was at the door, Kitten?”
“Look who finally came to visit us?”
He looks up and smiles. “Well, if it isn’t the missing groomsman and brother.”
“Sorry about that.”
“No worries.” He smiled, walking over to me, pulling me into a bear hug. Damn, he’s grown strong over the years. He’s no longer the weak ass ten year old I met all those years ago, “Good to see you Shane.”
“You to Issac,” I said, tapping him on the back.
We move away. He looks at the three children and gives them a stern look. “Kane, Ryan, Arya say hi to your uncle Shane.”
“Sup.”
“Sup.”
The little girl with curls looks over and gives me the most stunning smile. “Are you mommy’s brother?”
“I am, princess.”
She smiles happily as her brothers mutter, “Oh god, please don’t call her that.”
“Hi Shane. Want to play?”
“Sure, what are you playing, princess?”
She gave me a der look. “Princes’s and princess’s, I’m the princess, and you can be the prince.”
“Sure, princess, anything.”
Her smile grows wider and pats the empty space next to her. I strode over and sat beside her listening to her as she tried her hardest to explain to me what we were paying.
“She likes you.”
“Everyone likes me,” I laughed. The two boys rolled their eyes.
“Why aren’t your brothers playing with you?”
“They say they’re too old to play with me and what I play is lame.”
Oh.
“So Shane, how’s the navy treating you?”
“Good.”
“How long are you on leave for?”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about, Court.”
She looks at me. “Oh okay, this sounds bad.”
“It’s not bad, sis. I’ve just made some life-changing decisions of late. I decided I no longer wanted to be in the navy. I know I spoke to you briefly about it before you got hitched. The truth is, I haven’t been feeling it for a while. The guys are great and all, but I think it’s time to think about my future and, to be honest, the navy isn’t it anymore.”
“So you’re staying?”
“I am. I did my last tour. That’s why I was unable to come to the wedding. I tried to get leave, but it was impossible. I had to finish the tour before officially leaving.”
“Do Mom and Dad know you’re back?”
I shook my head. “No, not yet. You’re the first person I’ve told. I just want some time and peace before I tell them why.”
“I understand.”
I smiled. “Have you seen Tucker?”
She shakes her head. “Not since the shit that happened on my last tour no. He’s having treatment as far as I’m aware. His friends are helping him through it. I’ve spoken to him, but he isn’t in the right headspace right now to come home.”
I nod, I understand everything that Tucker is going through right now. PTSD isn’t an easy thing to come to terms with and get through. I’ve seen a lot of my fellow seals end their own lives because they can’t take it anymore.
“Come on. Uncle Shane, play. You can talk to mom later.”
I laughed, “Sure princess.”
She smiles widely, and we continue to play pretend with her dolls.

Lawrence


I came home from my business trip to find out my younger brother had been a dick yet again. Not only did I get a call from his so-called girlfriend who he has not one but two kids with, but I got her blubbering about how he had got up and left, telling her not to wait for him as he was going to get back the only girl that he had ever loved and we both knew exactly who that girl was. Courtney Mendez. She was a feisty firecracker with a set of the most powerful lungs that I had ever heard. But she had stolen the hearts of many Mouse for one. He was a damn fine tattoo artist and often shared his many tattoo sessions with the fiery Italian goddess. I have yet to see any of those designs in the flesh, but knowing Mouse, they were perfection as I’ve had many tattoos specially done by his hand, I won’t go to any other tattoo artist.
Then, after her, I had Ash blubbering on the phone about how he loved Courtney, but she didn’t love him, and she’d married Walker despite him confessing his undying love to her. I rolled my eyes and tried to zone out his bullshit out, literally until he said he had two boys with her. I had two more nephews that I didn’t know about. He said that Walker and Courtney told him he was never to see them ever and the prick just took it lying down. We’ll let me tell you something for nothing. I’m not taking it lying down. I found out exactly where Courtney lived and was heading there now to confront her and tell her that, no matter what she said, I wanted to be in my nephews’ lives even if my pussy brother wasn’t going to be.
I pulled my Harley up in front of the house, turning the engine off and getting off it. I headed over to the house only to notice a jeep outside. I shrugged it off and headed to the door and knocked loudly. The door creaked and opened to the beautiful girl. No one could ever forget Courtney Mendez now Walker. “Good afternoon sweetheart.” I grinned.
“Lawrence.”
I smiled widely. She flew at me, hugging me tightly. Wow, this wasn’t the reception I was expecting. I hugged her back.
“It’s good to see you again, Lawrence.”
“You too, Courtney.”
We broke away from the hug. “So why are you here, Lawrence? And don’t say you were just in the neighborhood, and you thought you’d pop by.”
“Nope, you know me better than that Courtney. Ash told me.”
“Oh.”
“He may be a pussy and not man enough to tell Walker he’ll see his kids no matter what, but I’m no pussy. I want to get to know my nephews.”
“And I won’t stop you, Lawrance, you’re not Ash. I respect you. Come in and meet your nephews, then we’ll talk okay.”
“Sounds like a plan to lead the way, sweetheart.”
She gestured for me to come in and I did. She closed the door behind me. “My brother is here, so I’ll introduce the both of you after the boys.”
“Sure.” I said, unaware that all would go to shit once I entered the lounge and saw him sitting there in all of his glory with a little girl curled up on his lap, sleeping.
“Kane, Ryan. This is Lawrence, your uncle.”
“Sup.”
“Sup bro.”
I looked at Courtney and she just shrugged. “Hey.”
“We’re all going to talk later, okay?”
“Is this about the dude who showed up at your wedding?”
I raised a brow and Courtney sighed. “Yes, Kane it is.”
He nodded. “Cool.”
How was it even cool? My brother is a fucking idiot and has now lost his chance to get involved in their lives. His loss, not mine. “Lawrence, I would like you to meet my much older brother Shane.”
“Hey.” He smiled. And fuck I was done for.
“Shane, this is Lawrence, Ashton’s older brother.”
He nodded and grinned. “Nice to meet you, Lawrence.”
“You too, Shane.”
Damn, why does this feel so awkward?”
“I’ll take Arya to bed and you two can get to know one another.”
Oh, we already know each other, I wanted to say, but I kept it to myself.
She smiles, taking the sleeping little girl off Shane and looking at him. “Now you behave.”
“I always behave.”
She grins. “Not always, just play fair Shane, okay.”
“Okay.”
“I’m warning you.”
“I’ll play fair, I promise.”
She smiles. “You do that, I’m taking Arya to bed, then we can all have a nice little chat.”
The two boys roll their eyes and Courtney sighs, heading upstairs. I go to talk to Shane, but I get interrupted by the youngest of the two boys. “Hey Shane, want to play now Arya has gone to bed?”
“Sure buddy. You’ll have to show me what to do. I’m a little rusty.”
He rolls his eyes. “Sure.”
He grins and pulls himself up off the sofa and heads over to where the boys are sitting and sits beside the younger boy.
“Hey dude, you can join us if you like.”
“You talking to me, dude?”
“Well der, there’s no other dude here, is there?”
“I guess there isn’t.”
“So are you ready to play two against two?”
“Sure.”
I walked over and sat by the older boy.
“Are you rusty as well, old man?” He grins.
“Hey, I’m not old and yeah. I’m a little rusty and haven’t played games since I was in high-school. But, with your expertise, I’m sure I’ll get the hang of it.”
He rolls his eyes but nods. I guess tonight isn’t going to be a bad night after all.

Six years later




Kane


I have never forgotten the truth that mom had told us six years ago to this very day. My mom and dad's wedding was a shit show. With that hypocrite turning up on their wedding day of all days. I knew Issac wasn’t my biological father, but he always acted as if he was one. I grew up wanting for nothing even when Ryan and Arya came along. Ryan always thought that Isaac was his father until that day, talk about a kick in the balls.


Mom had taken Arya to bed, she had fallen asleep on Shane and mom had made a quick exit when a large tattooed dude came in and mom introduced him as our uncle Lawrence. Ryan thought nothing of it; he assumed he was Issac’s older brother. How wrong he was. I already knew he was that nut job’s older brother, but I decided to give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, he came here to bond with us, so yeah, like whatever. I was ten, and we were going through some shit of our own. I just wanted answers and so did Ryan by the look on his face. He was confused about what was going on. All he knew was that it had something to do with that psychotic asshole who almost ruined my mom and Issac’s big day.


Issac strode into the lounge and gave an irritated look towards Lawrence. I guess he wasn’t this guy’s number one fan either. “Lawrence Barraman, what are you doing in my home? And more importantly, why are you on the PlayStation with my kids?”


He choked out a laugh. “Nice to see you haven’t changed one bit, Walker.”


I guess he and dad had issues as well.


“Why are you here?” Issac gritted out.
“I think you know why I’m here.”
“Where’s Courtney?”
“Upstairs, putting Arya to bed, she conked out.”


He smiled at Shane. “She said we all needed to talk.”
“We do, kids go to bed.”
“Mom wanted us all to wait for her.”


He nodded.
“What’s going on dad? I thought he was your brother?”


Lawrence coughed and chuckled. “Where is your brother Issac? Maybe we can catch up. We were friends.”
“I have no idea and if you want to talk to about that piece of… sh…”
“We agreed not to curse in front of the kids, Issac.”


I grinned as mom walked onto the lounge. She was always catching Issac cursing and hitting him around the back of the head. It was hilarious. He looked at mom and smiled sweetly. “No reason, kitten. Lawrence just wanted to know where Brandon was.”


She stiffened and made such a sour face with a death glare. I guess mom hated dad's brother. Like dad hated this dude and his brother.


“Well, I hope he rots in hell where he belongs.” She snaps.


Oh, shit mom really hates the dude.


“Why is Lawrence here, kitten? I thought we agreed no Barraman's could see the kids.”
She rolled her eyes with defiance. “Lawrence isn’t Ashton, Issac. If he was, he wouldn’t be here at all.”


He sighs.


“Let’s all sit down and talk about what happened at the wedding and why Lawrence is here, okay?”


“He’s the dude’s brother that almost ruined your wedding?”


Mom sighed. “Yes he is. Please sit down, this could take a while.”


And it did. I remembered the words that poured out of my mom's mouth about my biological father and what had happened between them for her to decide not to tell him about us. We both just sat there and listened. Taking it all in about what a loser or dad was. Ryan sat in silence, not moving. Mom told us how she had left the band to bring me up because she wanted me to have a normal life and make friends. When she returned to reconcile with our father, she caught him with another girl. That’s when she bumped into Issac. She later found out that she was pregnant with Ryan and Issac stepped up yet again and became the father ours wasn’t.


He sat more shocked than I was. I never knew about my father growing up, just that he wasn’t around. And now I knew why and Ryan now knew the guy he’d always called dad wasn't his dad.


“You’re not my dad?” He finally asked, still in shock, tears rimming his eyes.
Issac shook his head. Ryan shot up “I’m sorry…”


“I hate you!” He said, running out of the room.


“Well, that went well.”


Issac glared at Lawrence. “Could you have done any better?”


He stared at Isaac as though he was searching for an answer and came up with a good one.
“I thought so. Keep your mouth shut unless we want your opinion, Lawrence.”
“Please stop, all this is so messed up.”
“It’s his fault if anyone’s kitten, he came here knowing exactly what would happen.”
“I came here to get to know my nephews, ones I was never told about! I’m not my brother Issac. I want to get to know them and be part of their lives. You can bag me down all you like, but I’m going to get to know them with or without your permission.”
“Go up and see if your brother is okay. Kane, the adults need to talk.”


I sighed and nodded. I knew Issac meant business when he told me to go upstairs and make myself scarce. I kissed my mom on the cheek good night. I hugged Issac and crashed fists with Shane and then Lawrence. “My dad may not like you, but I think you’re a cool dude. For an old man.” I smirked and left the adults to their little chat which turned into shouting and screaming at each other, so a good night turned into the worst night ever. I held onto Ryan as he cried and Arya was the last to join us in Ryan’s room. They had woken her and she was crying. She came into Ryan’s room, so she didn’t have to be shouted at for being out of her room and downstairs while the adults were “talking”.


When I was eleven, I was diagnosed with bipolar and the doctor said it could’ve had something to do with finding out about me and Ryan’s biological father. But if I had, why didn’t Ryan he was perfectly fine? I was in a normal school until they couldn’t handle me or my behavior anymore, and I ended up at Ridgewood High for troubled kids. Ha! I wasn’t troubled, just misunderstood. I’ve been here since I turned twelve, and I’m sixteen now and in my last and final year at this hellhole. Even though my friends and I rule the school, we still hate it here. We’ll be glad to leave and go to college where we’ll be able to do anything we want and get away with it. There’ll be lots of girls there.


“Hey Kane, have you heard?” My closest and most trusted friend, Rooney says.
“Heard what?”
“We’re getting a new student today.”
“Really?” I grinned like a lunatic. The last time we had a new student was two years ago and the poor son of a bitch didn’t know what hit him when he came face to face with us.
“A girl.”


My grin widens. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Well, then, let the games begin.”