A Birthday Gift
Chapter 3: Brothers
I do not own G.I. Joe. I own nothing but my imagination.
A big THANKS! To Little Lady Hawk for her help!
Sean slid into a wooden bench at Riley's and leaned against the green leather padding. "What's so important that it can't wait? I was having lunch with Ashlynn!"
Brian grinned, "More like you were having Ashlynn for lunch!"
Sean grinned back, "Take every opportunity you can. I think I learned that from you, bro."
Frank broke in, "Enough. I don't care what you and Ashlynn do just do it on your own time. And for goodness sake make sure dad doesn't find out about the extent of your relationship! That just wouldn't go over well."
"Says you. I don't know why anyone would care. We are engaged." Sean said in a huff.
Frank glared at his youngest brother, "You're only engaged when you actually ask a woman to marry you and slip a ring on her finger. You done that yet?"
Sean put his hands up in surrender, "Hey, no need to get testy. It's coming. I'm just waiting until the time's right."
Frank shook his head, "Yeah, whatever. I didn't call you down here to ream you out about your love life. It's Shauna's love life we need to discuss."
"Since when does baby sister have a love life?" Brian asked.
Frank ran his hands over his face, "Since she dragged some army guy home with her yesterday."
"Huh?" Sean shook his head.
"This the guy you mentioned on the phone?" Brian asked.
"Yeah."
Sean shook his head and held up his hands to call time, "Wow, guys, Shauna's love life is something I'm definitely not discussing on an empty stomach. Let's order, then we'll dive into this new and fascinating subject."
"Fine." Frank signaled the waitress.
The waitress smiled engagingly at the brothers as she sauntered up and said, "Well, if it isn't the three O'Hara boys. Would you be plotting something, now?"
Sean smiled back, "Shannon O'Reily, you're looking as gorgeous as ever."
She leaned over and put her elbows on the table, bringing her eye level with Sean, "Ashlynn Campbell was in here the other night. I didn't notice a ring on her finger. Does that mean you're still available?"
"Yeah, Sean, does that mean you're available?" Brian snickered until Frank slapped him upside the head.
Frank scowled at Shannon, "No, He's not."
Shannon stood up and scowled back at Frank with mutual dislike, "Well, now, that wouldn't be for you to say, would it?" She smiled enticingly at Sean, "You know where to find me if you're interested in a real woman."
Frank leaned forward, with his hands on the table, "A burger and a pint each will do, Shannon."
Shannon left in a huff and Sean turned his attention back to Frank
"You didn't have to be rude. She was only trying to be friendly."
"Sean, if she'd been any friendlier, she'd have been sitting in your lap! I'd like to see you explain that to Ashlynn. I'm serious Sean, you need to put a ring on Ashlynn's finger before she comes to her senses and leaves you!"
Brian interrupted before his brothers could get into a fight, "All right, you two, we didn't come here to discuss Sean's love life, as dramatic as it may be. We'll have to save that for another day. Let's eat and then we can talk about what we came here to discuss."
Shannon returned to the table with burgers and beer and turned to stalk back to the bar without a word although she did look over her shoulder and wink at Sean. The brothers turned their attention to food and general topics until their meals were finished.
Brian shoved his empty plate towards the middle of the table and leaned back against the booth, "All right, Frank, what's the deal with Shauna and this guy?"
Frank took a sip of his beer and then answered, "I went over to Dad's this morning to check for storm damage. There was none. I found Shauna with some guy in the backyard."
Sean cut in, "Define 'found'. I seriously doubt Shauna was getting it on with some guy while dad could have been looking out the kitchen window."
Frank leaned across the table and slapped Sean upside the head, "Of course not you moron. Shauna wouldn't do something stupid like that."
"Then what was she doing, Frank?" Brian asked
"They were playing catch."
Sean burst out laughing, "You got that this guy is Shauna's future husband from the two of them playing catch? Come on, Frank, get real!"
Brain spoke up, "I'm sure there was more to it than that. Wasn't there?"
"No, there wasn't." Frank shook his head looking worried. "I jumped the guy, wanted to know why he was there, why she had gone out in the storm last night to get him…"
"Whew…" Brian let out a low whistle; "Shauna drove out in the storm last night to get this guy? Isn't she still afraid of storms?"
Sean replied, "No. She doesn't like them but she's not afraid of them like she used to be. I think I'm starting to get why you called this meeting. He obviously is important to her."
Frank continued, "She claimed he was a friend. I cornered him at the airport about their 'friendship' but Shauna had the plane ready so he just said he'd see me in a couple of weeks."
"He's coming back?" Brian asked.
Frank nodded, "Yeah, and you'll never believe this. Dad's the one who asked him to come back."
There was stunned silence at the table for a moment, before Brian asked, "Dad invited the guy to come for another visit?"
Frank nodded again, "Yeah. They're calling each other by their first names, 'Conrad' and 'Patrick'. I'm telling you, if you'd been there you'd have freaked. Dad cooked him breakfast, sausage, eggs, toast, the whole nine yards. He's dropped the uptight manners he usually has and is practically treating this Conrad like a son already. And he just met the guy less than 24 hours ago!"
"How does Shauna feel about the guy?" Sean asked.
Frank grimaced, "Totally protective. She wouldn't let me say one thing, not one blasted thing about him!"
Sean shook his head, "So she's into him, he's into her, and dad's cheering them on. So what? If the guy's okay then what's the problem?"
Frank and Brian looked at him like he had two heads, "The problem is that some guy is sniffing around Shauna!"
Sean stood up, "I think you guys need a priority check. She is an adult. But on the other hand, if everyone is worried about Shauna's relationship problems then nobody will rag me about mine. See ya later. Thanks for lunch!"
