Integrity, above all else

We had had Chinese for dinner. Abby had ordered it in. And even though we had takeout, we still ate on real plates and at the table. Not that I minded. Usually when Robyn and I ordered food in, we ate out of the containers in the living room. When Megan and I ordered in, which was rare, we ate at the table like this. When we were finished eating, Robyn and Abby left us to go do the dishes. I said it was fine, that we could all help, but Abby insisted. I was sure she was wanting to make friends with Robyn, and she couldn't do that too easily with her boyfriend and his brother around. I picked up my beer and looked over at my brother. I knew what was coming, so I got it right out and told him, "Say it, Jackson. I know you want to. Just say what you wanna say."

I looked over at my brother, taking a deep breath. This was his life, but I didn't know how he could be doing this to Megan. She was the best thing that ever happened to him, and here he was diddling around with her sister. "Really? You really want me to?" Shaking my head, I leaned closer to my brother. "This is all bullshit, just lemme say that!" I inhaled deeply. "You and Megan have something that I thought I wanted for myself, something I thought I wanted for Abby and me, but not now. Not now that I've seen that you're really just like you used to be! You're a lot like Dante still. I looked up to you, Wesley, but I don't anymore. Not now that I know you're nothing but a two-timing dick."

I hadn't expected him to say that, not exactly. I was sure he'd have something to say about me not being faithful to Megan, and he did, I just didn't expect him to be so upset about it. I guess he was right. I gave him someone to look up to, and now I had taken that away from him. I wasn't the good older brother he thought I was. "I'm in love with her, Jackson. I'm in love with Robyn. I have been since Meg brought her and Bianca in to live with us. I'm not just fucking her. We're in love, Jackson."

"Oh," I said, sitting back and nodding my head. "You're in love with her. That makes it all better!" Shaking my head, I looked at him dead on. "And what about Megan? Hmmm? What about your wife? What about the woman you swore to love, honor, and protect her from the time you were married until death should you part? What about that woman, huh? What about Megan?"

I leaned forward this time, holding up my hand. "Please, Jackson, keep your voice down. Robyn is already upset enough tonight as it is. Can you please just keep you voice down?"

"Keep my voice down? Megan is you wife, for God's sake! Megan is your wife and you're fucking her sister?" I couldn't believe what he was telling me. "I thought you loved Megan? I thought you two were the perfect married couple. Now you're telling me that's been a lie? And from when? From the moment you married Megan? You married her under false pretenses? I can't believe all the emphasis you put on a happy marriage, wanting the same for Dante and me, but you're nothing but a goddamned hypocrite!"

I sighed heavily. He was right. I preached about Megan and me being happy and wanting the same for my brothers, and for Jack, but I couldn't do the same thing for myself. "I do love Megan. I'm not going to lie and say I don't. But what Robyn and I have is different. If you can't understand, Jackson, I'm sorry. But I'm in love with Robyn, and that's never going to change."

"I can't believe you, Wes. I always looked up to you, but," I shook my head, standing up, "not anymore." I pushed my chair in, inhaling deeply. "I'm gonna go get a breath of fresh air."

An with that, he left me sitting in the dining area alone. I wasn't going to go in and interrupt the girls' bonding time. I hadn't called Megan yet, so I thought I'd give her a call and let her know I was staying up here for the night.