The Better Brother

I stayed on my feet for a few minutes, just in case they came back. When I was sure they were gone, I exhaled sharply and fell back in my chair.

I knew I had what they needed and that the deal would benefit both of us greatly. I just hoped that Jonathan would be as on board as his father was. I needed to make sure this all went off without a hitch.

“Marcy?” I called, not bothering to use the intercom. My secretary immediately appeared at my open office door.

“Yes, Mr. Smart?” she asked.

“I need you to get those contracts over to the Harringtons today,” I said. “Ideally, I’d like the papers to beat them back to the office.”

“I’ll fax them immediately,” Marcy said with a nod.

“Thank you.”

She hurried out of the office and, within seconds, I heard the familiar buzz of the fax machine. I smiled. This was a good thing. Working with the Harringtons would bring in more money and more customers. I turned to face my computer and, when my phone rang an hour later, I was grateful for the interruption.

“Hey, Josh,” I said, pressing my phone to my ear.

“Hey, brother,” Josh said. “Listen, I had a break, and I wanted to check in about this week.”

I frowned. “This week?”

“I can’t get together this weekend,” Josh said. “I have that medical conference in Houston, remember?”

“Oh, right.”

Josh and I always tried to see each other once a week. With our schedules, it wasn’t always possible, but we made an effort. After my meeting with the Harringtons, I wasn’t thinking about anything else, least of all grabbing a beer with my brother.

“I can do Thursday night,” Josh said. “Does that work for you?”

I paused for a few seconds. Thursday night was open for me, but I didn’t know if it would stay that way. With this new deal underway, I knew there was a chance I’d be stuck at the office for days. Maybe even weeks.

“I’ll have to get back to you,” I said. “I just got started on this new deal, and I’m not sure how busy things will be.”

“That’s fine,” Josh said. “Just let me know tomorrow, okay?”

“Will do,” I said. “So, how are things going? You heard from that ex of yours lately?”

“No,” Josh said. “We haven’t spoken in a month.”

“Really?” I asked.

“I told you we broke up,” Josh said impatiently. “Or were you too distracted by that blonde to pay attention?”

I laughed. “Well, she was pretty distracting.”

“Are you ever going to grow up?” Josh asked.

I bit my tongue. It was ironic that, after dumping his girlfriend because he didn’t have time for a relationship, he was lecturing me about maturity.

“I know you broke up with her,” I said. “I just thought you might have been in touch. Closure and all that shit.”

“I got my closure,” Josh said. His tone was nonchalant, and it grated on me.

“And her?” I asked.

“She’ll get over it,” Josh said. “If she hasn’t already.”

“I’m sure,” I said. “She’s not missing much.”