I've had several requests/prompts to extend this story so here's the first of three new chapters/requests. Enjoy!
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Erin could hear their boisterous conversation half way down the hall. She smiled to herself. When Will first rolled back into town last year Jay had seemed uneasy not knowing what his unpredictable playboy brother was up to. But Will had surprised Jay, deciding to stay, finding a job he was passionate about and dedicated to and settling back into Chicago life. This last while, since Mouse had rejoined the army and they'd both moved in with their girlfriends, the brothers had been hanging out as often as schedules permitted.
As Erin twisted the handle on the front door she was greeted by the smell of pizza and sound of hockey coming from the tv. Apparently it was Jay's turn to host game night. She didn't mind. Will was good company and the way he and Jay teased and laughed at each other always made for a fun evening. She loved seeing Jay smile. He didn't do it enough and was glad he had this chance to rebuild a relationship with his brother.
When they caught sight of Erin struggling down the hall with grocery bags they both jumped up to take them from her.
"Hey," they both greeted her, Jay leaning in for a hello kiss.
"You should have text, we would have met you down at the car," Jay offered.
"I was good," she smiled watching the boys unpack the bags. She shook her head wishing, not for the first time, she could have met the woman who raised these two charming, over confident ,considerate, stubborn as hell, goof balls.
"Pizza just got here a minute ago babe, go get some," Jay said passing her a beer as he put things away in the fridge.
Erin didn't need to be told twice. She took up residence in the middle of the couch and pulled out a slice of pizza. Within minutes the boys were back taking a seat on either side of her. Erin leaned into Jay's side and they all settled into eating and watching the game.
Jay waited until the period ended before springing the news on Erin.
"So," he began "Will's gonna crash here for a couple nights if you're cool with that?"
Erin's eyes went wide with surprise and curiosity, "Of course," she replied "but why, what happened? What did you do," she pinned Will with a look.
Nina was a sweet girl, Erin liked her. Although it took some time to get use to just how cheerful and energetic she always was, she enjoyed the few times they'd gone out on double dates. Jay had been shocked when Will announced he was moving in with Nina so quickly and had bet Erin a c-note they wouldn't last six months. Erin had no desire to loose the bet.
"I, ah, umm" Will stuttered. "Why do you think it's something I did?" Will whined.
Erin cocked her head to the side and gave him a pointed look.
"He kissed Nat," Jay ratted him out.
"What!" Erin gave Will a nasty look, letting him know he was in her bad books.
"And Nina walked in on it, at work, in the lounge," Jay continued to throw his brother under the bus.
"Will! You kissed her at work? What were you thinking?" Erin admonished.
"Gee thanks little brother, as if I didn't feel bad enough now I'm in shit with Erin," Will grumbled.
"WE," Jay over emphasized pointing between himself and Erin, "don't keep secrets. See Will, THAT'S how you make a relationship work," he teased his brother.
Erin smacked Jay's arm lightly, "don't rub it in Jay. I'm sure you're brother feels like the biggest ass in the world right now," Erin said, letting Will know he'd be in even more trouble if he wasn't feeling guilty as hell.
Will nodded but couldn't help but take his brother's bait. "No secrets huh?" He goaded.
"None," Jay said but his confidence wavered not knowing what Will was up to.
"So she knows about Susie Peters?" Will asked, a shit eating grin on his face.
"Will," Jay warned. "That's not what I meant and you know it!" Jay said sending death glares at his brother. Will just chuckled.
Erin knew there was a story coming and egged Will on to tell her more.
"Susie was the girl Jay was completely in love with in the third grade," Will began, ignoring the nasty looks Jay was giving him and enjoying the embarrassed pink traveling up Jay's neck. "She ignored Jay completely. Didn't even know he existed," Will continued, "So Jay decided he needed to do something big to get her attention."
"Will," Jay warned again, embarrassed. Erin looked over at the sheepish smile on Jay's face and the embarrassed flush of his skin. She smiled at how adorable he looked flustered by his brother's tale telling.
"So Jay made a banner," Will said, ignoring Jay's warning again. "Taped together all dads old newspapers and painted a big sign on them. Then he rigged up som string and decided to hand the thing between two trees on the school yard before everyone came to school one morning. He climbed up the one tree and got the first side up no problem," Will began laughing and had to pause to regain control before he could finish his story. "But he got stuck in the second tree. His belt buckle at the back hooked on a branch," Will laughed some more, "Oh Erin you would have killed yourself laughing if you were there! Hot shot here tried to get himself loose, took him half an hour."
"Would have only been a minute if your stupid ass would have climbed up and helped me," Jay complained.
"And missed the show! Hell no!" Will laughed at Jay.
"Did you get down?" Erin asked, half feeling sorry for little Jay, half laughing with Will.
"Oh he got down alright, but not until the yard was full of kids and with nothing but his Spider-Man undies on!" Will chuckled heartily at his memory.
"Pants split when I was trying to unhook myself, ripped clean off," Jay said sulkily.
"What happened with Susie?" Erin asked.
"Oh she noticed, the whole damn school did," Will chuckled. "Noticed as Jay ran all the way back home for new pants." Will couldn't stop laughing.
"Oh yeah smart ass, laugh all you want. Wait till I tell Erin about the time you performed at an Irish wedding decked out in a traditional kilt, at an outdoor service, in high winds," Jay teased, breaking out in laughter at the suddenly serious expression on Will's face.
"No!" Erin laughed. "Please tell me you had something on underneath," Erin gasped.
"Nope!" Jay replied, a shit eating grin on his face matching the one Will displayed minutes ago. "Will was sixteen and the bride's mother fainted. Probably from shock at how small.."
"It was freezing outside!" Will interrupted loudly, his cheeks flushed.
Erin roared with laughter along with Jay.
They continued on like this late into the night, telling embarrassing story after story about each other, Erin laughing so hard her sides hurt. She loved seeing them both so relaxed.
/
The next morning Will met Erin at the coffee machine, they exchanged quiet hellos, Will remembering Jay saying she was a bear in the mornings.
"Jay leave already?" Will asked pouring a coffee for himself.
"Yeah, got called in around four," Erin replied over the rim of her hot coffee.
"Oh damn! Im so glad he moved in with you," Will announced, pulling his head out of the fridge. "Real milk!" He exclaimed holding the carton up in victory.
Erin wrinkled her nose. "I hate that almond stuff."
"Right! It's gross," Will agreed.
They sipped their coffee in silence across the breakfast bar from each other for a few minutes before Will decided to risk a real conversation with her.
"Can I ask your opinion on something?" He hedged.
"Sure," Erin shrugged.
"I don't know what to do with this whole Nina, Nat thing," he admitted.
Erin snorted, "You know I'm not exactly an expert on matters of the heart right?"
Will nodded slowly not wanting to say the wrong thing. "You are a woman though, and Jay says you have amazing instincts and you know the story," he reasoned.
"I can't tell you what to do Will, but it's not fair to lead either of them on. Maybe figure out what you want and be honest about it with them," she offered.
Will nodded, it wasn't something he didn't already know but he appreciated she wasn't judging him for his actions.
"Just do me a favour," Erin asked.
"What's that?" He replied.
"Figure it out soon? This being all nice and having heart to hearts first thing in the morning isn't gonna fly with me for long," she said sarcastically, but the smile that accompanied it was soft and genuine.
Will chuckled, "Message heard ma'am."
"I need to head out, make sure you lock up," she said and squeezed his shoulder as she walked past him. "Try not to kiss anyone new today!" She teased over her shoulder.
Will shook his head laughing as he cleaned up the coffee mugs, the more time he spent around Erin the more he realized just how good a fit she was for his brother.
