He grumbles. “It’s times like these I wish I had a different profession.”
Opening my food, I take a bite and chew before saying. “You’re a good lawyer. I don’t know what else you could be. Nothing else would suit you.”
“If the boys could behave, that would make my life easier. I spend half my time doing freebies for those two idiots.”
I chuckle. “They are definitely the rebels of the family.”
Romeo and Lorenzo are twins and are always up to no good. Between my parents and Mat, they are lucky they haven’t ended up in jail or court. Sometimes I envy their carefree attitude. Like the time with Gracie at the bar, when I was just doing something for once without thinking about work or anyone else. I lived in the moment, and it felt good, freeing. The lightness was a world away from the heaviness I carry from my day-to-day life here with work and Aria.
I don’t regret or dislike where I am in life. I guess it would be nice to have a bit of balance. Have a little bit of spark rather than having the same routine every day.
“Rebels or idiots,” he grumbles.
“Both, but they’re family.”
He nods and sits down opposite me, leaning back as I bite more of my sandwich.
“Did you want a drink? I forgot to ask.” Taking a sip from his glass, he raises it in my direction.
I shake my head as I chew, swallowing before I answer. “No thanks, my day has been bad, but I don’t think that will help.”
I get up and grab water, drinking some of it and returning to my seat.
“What happened today?” Mat asks, watching me curiously over his glass.
I lower the bottle and scrub my face with my hands, contemplating how far into it I should get with Mat. But he is the only brother I can get real advice from; the other two lunatics are playboys, hence the paternity issue. I think for a minute…
Fuck it.
“So it started at Christmas—”
“Christmas?” he interrupts.
“Shh. Let me speak, Mat.”
“Sorry, go on.”
I lean back in my chair and look at him. “Last Christmas, I was finishing up a job in Chicago, and I had a delayed flight. I popped into a bar that’s not far from the job while waiting for the next flight. And then my flight was canceled, and I ended up hooking up with this hot bartender I’ve had a bit of a crush on.”
At that exact moment, Mat sprays me with his drink.
I stand, cursing, “Fuck, Mat,” dusting the residue off my shirt and jacket.
He lowers the glass down onto my desk. “I’m sorry, but you just saidyouhooked up with someone.”
I clench my teeth together. Why is he making a big deal of this? So what if it’s the first one in a while? “So?”
“You don’t say those things. You’re the sensible brother. Listen, this isn’t bad. I’m happy for you. I’m just shocked.”
“Can I finish my story?” I ask, annoyed.
“Go for it.”
I sit back down. “So anyway, I stayed with her for the night and the next day I left her my digits and address. And a month later, she sent me a text. We’ve been texting back and forth since.”
He’s nodding, but not saying a word, which I’m grateful for.
“She must have got a traineeship with one of my competitors. She hasn’t texted me this week, and she avoided me during and after the meeting. She practically took off. I’m so confused.”