“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.
“Marcy?” I asked as I stepped out of my office. Marcy was sitting behind her desk, typing away on her keyboard.
“Yes?” she asked, turning to face me.
“Anything from the Harringtons?” I asked.
“They received the contract,” she said with a shrug. “Or, at least, someone in their office did.”