Grayson gives me that boyish smirk of his. “Well, I’ll admit I asked you to go to lunch because I figured you might still be pissed about Sanders from last night and I had an ulterior motive but it sounds like there’s a lot more going on than I reckoned.”
I rub my eyes, pulling the menu closer and wishing I’d kept my mouth closed. “Yeah, there's always a lot going on. He’s a gnat by comparison.” I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. I’ll handle things. Don’t worry about it. Sorry to bitch. What’s your ulterior motive?”
Grayson’s fingers appear over the top of my menu, tugging it away from my face and forcing me to meet the same blue eyes we share with our mother. “Theo, you always get the same thing here. You can talk to me anytime and you never have to apologize for doing so. I do worry though. You’re too much like Dad trying to handle everything on your own when it comes to work. Look where that got him.”
“I’m not like him. I’ve never forgotten my son’s birthday for starters.”
“No, but you could be more like him than you wish if you’re not careful. You’ve always been the most dutiful son.”
“Is that a flaw?”
“No but it can become one.”
“Look, you’re my kid brother so I’m not sure what you’re-”
“And I’m not a child anymore. I can’t help you with Quinn or Ryder. I mean, I could take the kid fishing and talk to him if you like but I think I could be more helpful to you at the office.”
“What do you mean?”
“The board’s voting on Monday but it should be a lock now after last night. You’re going to be our CEO and you’ll be great at it but… I’m in your corner, Theo. Always. We made a good team last night, too.”
“I know that.”
“And, I want to be more involved at Wolfe Media.”
“You’ve expressed that more than once the past few months and done well with everything Dad’s asked of you. I’m happy to-”
“But he’s only given me so much to do. I’m not just some skirt-chasing, beer-guzzling frat bro with a trust fund who wouldn’t know serious business from a hole in the ground if it bit him in the ass.”
“You’ve bungled that metaphor and who the fuck said that? I’ve never once thought of you like-”
“Let me be your right-hand man, Theo. Give me more responsibility to shoulder. Give me a chance to show you and the board what I’m capable of.”
“I know you’re capable. The board will, too. I’d be proud as hell to have you by my side. It’s what I’m planning anyway. But where’s all this coming from, Gray?”
He shakes his head. “Nowhere.” I’m thinking it came from somewhere. “I want to help, be part of things more. That’s all.”
I reach across the table and place my hand on his shoulder. “Okay. You will be,” I promise him.
For whatever reason he needs this, I need him, too. My father ran the company for so long on his own and what did it get him? A distant relationship with his sons for much of their youth, a separation from his wife and a heart attack that nearly took him out on the verge of retirement.
I don’t want that to be me. I’ve got too many good things in my life.
∞∞∞
I’m not sure what happened this afternoon on the way home from school but, when I walk into the house just past six, everything seems normal again. Quinn and the kids are talking about the solar system and hanging up homemade models over her bed.
“Look what we made, Dad!” Ryder calls over his shoulder happily as he’s handing another bit of poster tape to Quinn.
“Very cool.”
“Grandma came to have lunch with us at school today! She let us talk to Granddad over the phone,” Jill exclaims.
“That’s wonderful, baby.”
Interesting timing. Mom didn’t text or mention it to me but I’m glad she got to see the kids. She’s been missing them with Dad in the hospital. And, I know they’ve been worried about Dad so it’s sweet they got to speak to him.
“Those look really good,” I say, pointing to the little planets and the enormous, fiery star at the center.