"I wasn't sure you'd come," Kevin said quietly. He sat at the corner table staring at the untouched plate in front of him. He'd gone back and forth about whether or not this was a good idea. To say their relationship was a complicated one would be an understatement. They were brothers but at one time they had also been best friends. At other times, they had been unable to stand in the same room together. It had taken years to get back even a touch of the trust they had, and if taking a chance like this was what it took to keep things from going off the rails again, he was willing.

Joey sat down. "I was surprised you wanted me to come." He hated this-feeling so awkward and stilted around his own brother. It seemed a lifetime ago when Kevin had been his closest friend, his confidante, his most dependable ally, but that was all different now.

"You want to order something?" Kevin stammered, attempting to postpone what would surely be an unpleasant conversation. "The kitchen's still open."

"No..I'm good. Kelly and I went..." He stopped letting the words fall away. Kelly. She was what had changed everything between them years ago and now, she was what could come between them again.

"You don't have to do that," Kevin said quietly. "You make her happy. I know that. I think maybe I've always known that."

Part of him wondered if this was punishment, some higher power's way of making him pay for betraying his brother the way he did. Kelly was Joey's girl. That was a given-the way it had always been-the way it was meant to be. He had stepped in and interfered and, in the process, he had given his heart to a woman whose own was already taken.

Had he known from the beginning? Maybe. Did he see it in her eyes when they said their vows? Was there even the slightest hesitation when she said I do? Those moments played over in his mind and the truth was he didn't know and he never would.

What he did know is that Kelly wasn't happy with him and she hadn't been for a very long time...if, in fact, she ever was.

"Kevin," Joey began, "I know you and I know this must be killing you, but I want you to know...Kelly and I...we weren't...we never..."

Kevin shook his head and raised his hand to stop him. "I know." He stared at his brother, at the pain in his face. He had everything he'd ever dreamed of and yet he couldn't truly be happy. He couldn't let himself. "Joe-you don't need to feel guilty about this. I'm the ass here. I'm the one who cheated you out of years. I saw what this was doing to both of you and I was just too damn selfish to admit it to myself."

"You love her. You still love her?" It was a question he already knew the answer to and, although the answer would normally make him uncomfortable-angry even, in this case he understand. It was easy to fall in love with Kelly. He certainly knew that. He also knew it was damn near impossible to get her out of your soul.

"Yeah. I do, but that's why I did this. I love her too much to watch what this does to her. She wouldn't leave. She's too afraid I'd go back to drinking. She feels responsible for me and she's willing to sacrifice her own heart to spare mine."

Kevin took a breath. "She's been noble long enough. It's my turn."

He reached into his jacket, pulling out the signed divorce papers. " Tell her I love her. Tell I love her enough to let her go."