The Better Brother

“Not too bad,” Julie said. “She’s been worse.”

“How so?” I asked.

“My mother has a very specific idea about the way I should live my life,” Julie said. “And if I don’t follow that idea to the letter, she just has to throw her two cents in.”

“I think that’s all moms.” I laughed. “You should have been there when I told my mom that I was going to open my company.”

“She didn’t like the idea?” Julie asked.

“God no,” I said, shaking my head. “She hated it. She was convinced I would fail and, being my mom, she didn’t want to see that happen.”

“I’m the miracle child,” Julie said. “My parents had my sister, then waited ten years before I came along. They thought they’d never have another child, so, when they did, they pushed all their hopes and dreams onto me. As the miracle child, I can’t screw up.”

“They worry about you more,” I said with a nod. “I get that.”

“You do?” Julie asked.

I nodded again. I understood more than she realized. We were almost to the diner and, as much as I didn’t want the conversation to end, I knew it had to. I pulled into the parking lot, and we made our way inside.

An older waitress seated us, and we ordered lunch, picking up a simpler conversation than before. We joked and flirted through lunch, Julie occasionally reaching across the table to take my hand. Every time we touched, I found it harder to focus.

By the time we were done eating, I was itching to get her alone. Julie’s eyes hadn’t left my face all through lunch. That same hungry look was staring back at me, making my stomach tighten and my palms sweat.

“Any plans for the rest of the day?” I asked as we climbed back into my car.

“Nope,” Julie said. “I’m all yours.”

I grinned and gunned the engine.

The tension between us mounted on the drive home, but I did my best to keep talking. The closer we got to Julie’s house, the harder it became. I just wanted to be alone with her, to have an excuse to kiss her perfect lips again.

“Should I take you home?” I asked, hoping she would invite me inside.

“Well,” Julie said. “You’ve seen my place. It’s only fair that I see yours.”

“You’re right,” I said. I grinned at her and turned left at the next stop sign. “We’re not far.”

Julie gazed out the window as I drove down the back roads. My house was right outside of Ennis on ten acres of open land. When I turned the final corner and the house came into view, Julie gasped loudly and leaned forward.

“Holy shit,” she said softly. “This is where you live?”

“This is home,” I said.

Julie’s eyes flew wide as we pulled into the driveway. I was so used to the grandeur of my mansion that I almost forgot how huge it was. Looking at it through Julie’s eyes, I realized she’d probably never seen a house this big before.

“It’s practically a castle,” she said.

I laughed. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

“I would,” she insisted. “I half expected to see a moat surrounding the place.”

“That gets added next year.” I winked.

Julie rolled her eyes, but when we got out of the car, she begged for a tour. I happily obliged. My desire from earlier was muted as I watched Julie react to my home. Her face lit up with excitement as I showed her each new room. Her favorite, by far, was the library.

“It’s beautiful,” she said. Her tone was hushed, almost reverent.

“I thought you’d like this,” I said.