Aaron lay on the couch, a cat sprawled across his stomach, effectively immobilizing him. He’d learned long ago that a cat’s chosen lap was a prison sentence, its release date entirely at the feline’s discretion. It was an unspoken rule of cat ownership.
He’d been lying there for ten minutes since waking from his nap, unable to move. Keeley, who had been cuddling him when he fell asleep, was nowhere to be seen. He called out to her, but received no answer; she was probably upstairs.
She returned wearing a swimsuit, a towel wrapped around her waist, and her hair in a high bun—clearly headed to the fitness center. “Oh, you’re awake. I’d ask if you’d like to join me, but Rosie obviously has you pinned.”
He sighed. “Yes, she does. If you’re still downstairs when she’s finished, I’d be happy to join you.”
As if understanding, the cat yawned, stretched, and jumped off, sauntering away. Sweet freedom!
Keeley laughed. “Hurry up! I won’t wait forever.”
Encouraged, Aaron went upstairs to change and grab a towel. They took the elevator to the fitness center and stowed their belongings in their locker. Keeley preferred water aerobics these days, while he swam laps.
Later, they relaxed together in the hot tub. Aaron chuckled as his wife sank into the water with a contented sigh. She’d always loved warmth.
She leaned her head against his arm, resting on the hot tub’s edge, her eyes closed, seemingly at peace. Suddenly, her eyes snapped open, and she sat up straight.
“Before I forget, Mandy asked me to go wedding dress shopping with her and her daughter a few Saturdays from now. She thinks you and Gray should go to lunch while we’re out and keep each other company.”
“Joy,” he said dryly.
He couldn’t fathom why this woman, whom Keeley had met only once, would make such a request. He’d never understand the female mind. Why did they need companions for clothes shopping? Keeley had chosen her wedding dress alone without issue.
She sighed. “I know, I’m a little wary myself. I don’t know anything about her except that she enjoys messing with people. At least you know how to handle Gray. Doesn’t that old saying go, ‘Better the devil you know than the devil you don’t’?”
Beyond the initial amusement over Gray and his fiancée’s prank, Keeley worried about Mandy Applegate’s potential for further mischief. She just hoped Mandy wouldn't try to goad Gray into revenge.
Aaron agreed. His first impression of Mandy was that she resembled Gray and would be trouble if provoked. Now they had two potential troublemakers to appease.
He tried to dismiss the issue, figuring he’d learn more about Gray’s fiancée over time. His half-brother wasn’t an idiot, even if desperate. This woman wouldn’t fool him… right?
Aaron and Gray met for sushi while the women went wedding dress shopping. Gray seemed unusually subdued, almost nervous. He rarely displayed such nervousness, always maintaining a suave, confident demeanor.
“What’s with you?” Aaron asked, deciding to address the elephant in the room before their meal was spoiled.
Gray sighed, his expression more serious than Aaron had ever seen. His voice, lower and rougher than usual, lacked its customary silky smoothness. Was this his real voice?
“I’m afraid I’ve shot myself in the foot. I got so used to pretending that I thought it was real. I’ve acted like an idiot in front of you, and it’s past time I rectified that. Is it too late to be sincere with you, Aaron?”
Aaron took a moment to process this unexpected confession from his usually smooth-talking half-brother. Gray’s sincerity was palpable, amplified by his unfamiliar, more natural voice—the one Violet had mentioned hearing when she’d encountered him and his fiancée.
This confirmed his suspicions that Gray’s previous behavior had been an act, orchestrated at Aaron’s expense. While this was annoying, it was secondary to Gray's apparent attempt at an apology. For what, exactly? Acting like the fakest person alive?
“I’m not sure I follow,” Aaron admitted. “What exactly are you trying to say?”
Gray looked down, shifting in his seat, his nervousness evident. Whatever he was about to say clearly mattered to him, making Aaron more inclined to listen seriously.
“I expected sincerity from you when I wasn’t being sincere with you. Since realizing you were working against our father, I’ve held no ill will toward you. I wanted to be friends, but went about it the wrong way. All my relationships were shallow back then…I didn’t know how to do anything else.
“I know you don’t particularly like me, and that’s fair considering our history. You’ve more than fulfilled your duty as my half-brother all these years, while I was in prison, and I’m grateful. But now that my priorities are straight…can we start over?
“Not as allies against a common enemy. Not as someone you tolerate out of guilt or obligation. I want to be your brother, for real. You don’t have to tell your sons who I am, but I want us to actually be friends. I don’t want to be Gray anymore. I want to be your brother, Michael.”
The revised text improves grammar, punctuation, and flow, making the story easier to read and understand. The excessive use of ellipses has been reduced, and the writing is more concise. The awkwardly placed website plug has been removed.