Page 125 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

“Phew. That’s good. I can still get some stuff done.” As he holds up the wall with his shoulder, I keep typing and ask, “Is there something I can help you with?”

“How are you, brother?”

My gaze shifts past the monitor. “It’s been two hours since I saw you. You already miss me?”

Chuckling, he replies, “I miss partying with you when we had fewer cares. I miss hitting the waves at sunrise and then grabbing breakfast tacos from a food truck while trying to hustle to get to school on time.” I sit back and listen because I miss those times too. “But I’ve been thinking about what Mom said earlier, about taking you out.”

“You don’t have to worry about me, little brother. I’m good . . . I’m fine.”

“Yeah,” he says with little faith in my words. “I can tell.”

My brother is one of my best friends, always has my back, and can read me like a damn book. But the thing is, Iamfine. Iamgood. The way he’s staring at me like I grew a third eye in my forehead has me questioning my sanity, though. “What?”

“You’re too uptight.”

“I have good reason to be.” I drag the keyboard closer and return to my work.

He makes himself at home on the other side of the desk, sitting there without a care in the whole fucking world. “You always have been, but if it’s possible, you seem tenser than usual. What gives? Work? The move? Let’s grab a drink and talk about it.”

“Like you said, it’s only seven thirty.”

Nudging the desk with his knee, he says, “I didn’t say only. Come on, Andrew. It’s Friday night, and no one’s left in the office but you.”

“You’re here.”

“I’m here because I need to suck up to my boss.”

“Ha!”

I’m given another shrug, and then he chuckles. “Only between these walls.” He stands again, and as he walks to the door, he says, “Come on. I’m meeting Jackson, and I can introduce you to The Watering Hole.”

“Natalie’s brother, Jackson?”

“Jackson St. James, himself. Did you know he’s brought on four new clients this month, and not one of them is investing under a mil?”

I’m thinking he’s not going to let me get out of this despite leaning back like I’m not budging from this chair. “I did know, but what about Natalie?”

“She has her own company.”

“No.” I toss a pen across the office at him. “I mean, she’s not expecting you home?”

He flicks the light off again. “Why do you think I’m still here?”

I shake my head as the puzzle becomes clear. “Because besides Mom trying to marry me off, your wife is now sending you on the same mission? What is it with women not appreciating a single man? Maybe I’m fine being on my own. Not that anyone would know that since they don’t ask.”

“Actually, Natalie called it a sympathy offer since all you do is work.Tomato.Tomahto, though.Am I right?Wrap up, and I’ll meet you at the elevators in five.”

“What if I don’t?—”

The door closes before I have a chance to set a different proposal on the table—like me working another two or three hours and then going home. Ignoring him, I start analyzing the numbers on the screen again. I’m determined to figure out where the discrepancy is in this report.

But a beer, a bar, and blowing off steam do sound tempting. I won’t give him the glory, but Nick’s probably right. Ishouldget out. I’ve been following the same routine since I arrived in this city.

Seattle kept me too busy to enjoy the fact that I was actually in Seattle. Am I going to repeat that mistake in New York? I might as well make the most of it since I won’t be here forever.

Scanning the page on the screen, I realize there’s nothing I’m working on that can’t be handled over the weekend. I always work then anyway. I close it down and grab my jacket.

Nick’s waiting at the elevators when I arrive. I hadn’t noticed earlier, but my brother’s looking sharp. “Nice suit,” I say.

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