I hadn’t seen or talked to Ming again since that day in her office, when she’d agreed to go out with another guy right in front of me. It still didn’t sit well, and I wanted to do something about it. I just didn’t know what to do.
“Brandt just got here, you ladies about ready?” TJ called from the living room, where Cal had set up a large folding table for the game.
“Help me carry this stuff out?” Brendan asked, and I grabbed a couple dishes.
We were setting stuff out on Shelly’s buffet when Doobie came up and snagged a crab-filled deviled egg and popped it in his mouth.
“Wow, this is quite the spread for a poker game.”
“My brother’s an overachiever,” I replied, then grabbed one of the potato skins.
“Brady, it’s good to see you again.”
I turned to see Carson Brandt coming toward us. Tall with jet-black hair and blue eyes, Brandt was an entrepreneur. CEO of Brandt Industries, Carson had a myriad of businesses, one of the latest being the record label that had signed Whiskey Heat.
“Brandt,” I replied, holding out my hand to shake his offered one. “It’s been a while … This is my partner, Doobie.”
“Mr. Brandt,” Doobie said in greeting.
“Please, Doobie, call me Carson.”
Once everyone had said their hellos, we finally sat down to start the game. It was a great night full of shit-talking, beer drinking, and bullshitting. All too soon my six pack was gone, along with my money, and I was listening to Craig talk shit as he counted his winnings.
“That kid’s so fucking lucky,” I told Brock as I gave him a hug goodbye.
Brock chuckled as he looked at Craig, then he turned to me, his face serious.
“I’ve been wanting to talk to you about him.”
“Who, Craig?” I asked, my beer-addled brain trying to figure out why.
“Yeah, he’s been doing a great job and I’ve been thinking about offering him your old position.”
My heart clenched painfully. The hardest part of following my dream to become a cop had been telling Brock that I no longer wanted to help him run O’Malley Brothers. I’d felt like I was letting him down by not staying on at the business he’d built from the ground up, especially knowing that Brendan’s dreams led him somewhere else as well.
But, of course, Brock had never made me feel like my decision was a disappointment at all, instead giving me his total support.
Craig had worked with us a little after high school and during his breaks from college, and had come on full time once he and Gwen graduated and moved back home.
“He’s a great kid and good with the crew. I think it’s a good move,” I told my brother, even though it felt like another piece of my past was gone.
“I think so too,” Brock said, then narrowed his eyes at me and asked, “You didn’t drive, did you?”
“Nah,” I replied, slapping him playfully on the cheek, which caused him to chuckle. “My partner has my back.”
“That’s good, brother,” he replied. “Be safe.”
“You too. Kiss Tori and the kids for me.”
“Why don’t you come over for breakfast tomorrow and kiss them yourself. They miss you.”
I nodded.
“Will do, bro.”
We said our goodbyes, then Doobie and I left the party.
“That was fun, Brady, thanks again for inviting me.”