One More Time

“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.”

“Fuck off.”

I laughed, and we finished up the conversation. Josh wasn’t the kind to joke around or appreciate being teased, but I didn’t care. It was fun to screw with him, especially since we missed out on twenty-eight years of each other’s lives.

“Call me about Thursday,” Josh said as we said goodbye.

“Will do.”

I hung up and tossed my cell onto my desk. I groaned and pushed my chair away from my desk. The call from Josh was just the distraction I needed but, now, I had to get back to work, and I wasn’t sure I wanted to.