Free Just Surrender... by Kathleen O'Reilly

He didn’t have a lot of flaws. He worked very hard not to have flaws, and people needed to appreciate that. Especially his brother.
    “You’re as sensitive as a brick. You don’t get women. They need…delicate handling.”
    Tyler was an expert at delicate handling. “I know that. This isn’t my fault. She cheated.”
    “Because you drove her into another man’s arms,” responded his brother, making Tyler the responsible party.
    “Go to hell.”
    “Listen, it’s either that or your bedside manner isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. So which is it, bro? Unsatisfactory sex or you’re a brick?”
    Tyler considered his choices. “I don’t think I’m that bad,” he finally replied, although now he was wondering if maybe his brother was on to something. Edie had said the same thing. Cynthia had broken up with him….
    Damn.
    “You’re emotionally stunted. It’s all Frank’s fault. We both are. I’m just better with the ladies.”
    Tyler could be better the ladies if he truly applied himself. He had heroic qualities. More heroic qualities than Austen. All he needed to do was apply himself, and maybe with some guidance… Slowly, Tyler smiled. Guidance from Edie. She had offered—yes, it was all garbage, and she knew he knew it was garbage, but the offer was still on the table. Guidance and sex. Edie loved to help people, loved to impart her wisdom to whomever would listen, and to be fair, she did seem to know her way around the male-female dynamic.
    It was a win-win. He’d get practical relationship advice, and cock-busting sex, as well. And Edie would get the reinforcement that she needed.
    “Don’t kid yourself, Austen. I’m fine with the ladies.”
    “Good, because you’re in New York City. Alone. Single. You should live it up. Be free and unattached. I know. I’ll fly up.”
    “No.”
    Brotherhood only went so far. Austen loved fun. Tyler loved work. Austen loved wild, impetuous, meaningless sex, and Tyler would go to the grave before his brother discovered that Tyler had discovered that Tyler did, too. Good God, if Austen guessed, then he would want to carouse together like some low-budget buddy flick. Tyler shuddered at the thought.
    “Think about it. Your birthday is in a couple of weeks. We could celebrate in the city. Two brothers, small-town cowboys making their way in the urban jungle. Lost and alone.”
    “We’re not cowboys,” Tyler corrected, knowing that correcting his brother was a mistake, however, such permanently conditioned behaviors were impossible to stop.
    “But do the women of New York know we’re not cowboys? I think not.” Nonsensical statements such as that were the primary reason that Tyler needed to stop correcting his brother.
    “Stay home,” Tyler pleaded.
    “Ha-ha. Don’t want the competition, do you? Think that all the women will ignore you if I’m in the room sucking up all the sexual oxygen?”
    “Screw you, Austen.”
    “Now that’s the brother I know and love.”
    Tyler noticed the time and realized he’d only had two hours’ sleep. He blinked rapidly a few times and decided that he’d carried family obligation far enough. “Why are you calling?”
    “To annoy you.”
    “No. There’s some other purpose because it’s seven a.m. in Texas, and you’re never up before nine.”
    “Can’t I just call and shoot the shit with my big bro?”
    “No, that would imply sensitivity and thoughtfulness on your part.”
    “That’s it. Now I’m definitely flying up there, Ty.”
    “Why are you calling?”
    “No reason.”
    “Seriously?”
    “Seriously,” Austen insisted. “There is no reason.”
    “Seriously?” Tyler asked, not believing it for a second.
    “Seriously, seriously. No reason.”
    At last Tyler knew. Lack of sleep, jet lag and wild, meaningless, really great sex had dulled his normally razor-sharp mind. “She called?”
    “She called,” Austen admitted, sounding only a little deflated, and thankfully, he didn’t question why