“Which is a good thing in this case.”
My eyes shifted back to hers.
She was smiling like she was trying to soften the blow. “I know you aren’t a man of many words, but words are what we use to communicate. You can’t put up a data sheet and expect everyone to understand the significance the way you do. You can change anything you want to make it more you, but your goal is to inspire people, to motivate people to strive to win the same award. You won’t live forever, and there will come a generation of scientists after you. This is your chance to encourage them.”
I turned back to the computer and read it again, knowing it was a good speech, just not my style. People had told me before how abrupt I was, how difficult I was to get along with. Some people understood it was a direct result of my intellect, but others didn’t. To them, I was just an asshole. “I’ll use it.”
“Great.” She closed her notebook. “How was the salmon?”
“Good.”
She rose to her feet and pushed in her chair. “Well, let me know if you need anything.”
I watched her walk away, and she was almost to the door before I could transfer my thoughts from my brain to words on my lips. “My brother is moving in with me.”
She turned back around. “When?”
“Next week.”
“I’m assuming this isn’t permanent.”
“He just needs a place to stay for a few weeks.”
“Alright. Let me know what I can do to help. I’ll get a spare set of keys ready, make sure housekeeping knows how to change his sheets weekly, and if you can get me a grocery list, I can make sure he has what he needs in the kitchen.”
I nodded.
She turned back to the door. “Goodnight, Deacon.”
I watched her leave. “Goodnight.”
I sat on the couch in front of the TV, my ankle resting on the opposite knee as I read through my papers. The TV was on, the evening news playing over the speakers. My phone was beside me on the couch, and it started to vibrate.
It was Tucker.
I answered without saying a word.
He knew I was there. “So, Mom wasn’t happy…”
“No surprise there.”
“She said both of her sons are running away from her.”
“That’s not inaccurate.”
“She said she’s going to join us in Manhattan. She just needs to sell her place so she can afford something in the city.”
“I can’t picture Mom living here.” I wasn’t a big metropolitan guy either. If I had it my way, I would have my lab somewhere in the forest, surrounded by mountains and lakes, with nothing but woodland creatures and peace and quiet.
“Yeah. But it’s better than being alone.”
“What about her grandson?” I asked in offense.
“She said she doesn’t see him much anyway. Valerie always says she’s busy.”
I leaned my neck back over the edge of the couch and closed my eyes, furious she wouldn’t even let my mother see him. I read the book that Cleo left for me, and while it was informative, I wasn’t sure if it would work on Valerie when she was still seething.
“So, what is going to happen with that? Are you living here permanently or just for a year or so?”
I intended to live here permanently, but I couldn’t imagine my life without my son, knowing he was growing up in a different time zone—and I was missing everything. Valerie loved New York and would love to live here, but she refused to relocate just to be difficult. “I don’t know, Tucker.” I had no idea how to fix this problem. Even if I were in California, Valerie would probably call the cops every time I stopped by to see him, turning it into a fucking soap opera. A part of me wished she were dead—so she wouldn’t be in my way anymore.
He sensed my tone and backed off. “I sold most of my furniture. So, I’m going to come out there with just my clothes and stuff. I’ve shipped the rest, but I’ll beat it there.”
“I already found a few apartments for you.”
He chuckled. “You don’t want me there at all, do you?”
I raised my head and looked at the TV.
“Because of all the women you’re bringing home? Don’t let me stop you.”
My sex life had picked up in the past few weeks. I went by the bar after work sometimes, met a random beautiful woman, and brought her back to my place. Natalie had contacted me a few times too, so she came over whenever I didn’t already have company.
I hated the fact that I’d left Derek behind, but I couldn’t deny the quality of my life had improved. I was happy to live alone, not to come home to Valerie every day, a woman who hated me as much as she loved me. I didn’t have to have sex with the same woman over and over, even if it was good. I had my freedom back, could do what I wanted when I wanted.