Bad Seed

“Not so much,” I said with a dark chuckle. “Not even remotely a coincidence actually.”

Andrea frowned. “What do you mean?”

“Michael is Joshua’s brother,” I said. “The very same brother I spent months trying to find two years ago. The very same brother that Joshua never wanted me to meet.”

“You’re kidding.” Andrea stared at me blankly. “This is a joke.”

“I wish,” I said. “It feels like the universe is playing an elaborate prank on me or something.”

“You’re serious?” Andrea asked. “You’re not screwing with me right now?”

“I’m serious.” I stared at her to let her know this wasn’t a game. “Michael and Joshua are brothers.”

“Holy shit.” Andrea shook her head and took a long swig of her wine. When she swallowed, she looked at me with narrowed eyes. She still didn’t want to believe me.

“It’s crazy,” I said. “I know.”

“It’s more than crazy,” Andrea said. “It’s like Shakespearean or something.”

“That’s a little dramatic,” I said, though Andrea wasn’t wrong. I’d been thinking the same thing since I first saw Joshua sitting in the restaurant.

“This is dramatic!” Andrea said. “I can’t believe it.”

“That’s how I felt,” I said. “My head has been spinning since last night. I can barely think straight.”

“Have you talked to Michael?” Andrea asked. “I mean, did he know who you were? Did he know you and Joshua had a history?”

I shook my head. “He says he had no idea,” I said.

“And you believe him?” Andrea asked.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I shrugged. “I didn’t know who he was. We never met. There’s no way he could have known who I was.”

“Unless…” Andrea said slowly.

“What?” I pressed. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing,” Andrea said. She shook her head hard. “I’m just being paranoid.”

“No,” I said. “What is it?”

“Unless this is some sick game,” Andrea said. “Some weird thing he and Joshua cooked up together.”

I was shaking my head before Andrea even finished talking. I’d only known Michael for a short time, but I couldn’t imagine him being so deceitful. What we had was real. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind.

“Michael isn’t that kind of man,” I said firmly. “I know you don’t know him, but I do.”

“And you trust him?” Andrea asked.

“Completely.”

“Then, that’s good enough for me.” Andrea smiled.

I smiled back gratefully and sank farther into the couch cushions. There was still so much I wanted to tell Andrea. Everything about Michael’s company party, everything about the almost-dinner with Joshua, everything. But my head was too busy spinning itself in circles for me to formulate coherent thoughts.

A distraction came seconds later, shaking me back to reality and pulling me out of my head. My phone vibrated on my desk. I frowned and moved over to grab it. Andrea watched my face closely as I opened the unread text message and felt my heart drop into my stomach.

It was Joshua again. He’d texted me the night before to ask why I was with Michael. He even went so far as to insult his own brother, but this? This was something different entirely.