“So?”
“You painted. Played with kids. Who are you?”
Noah huffed. “Yeah. I painted. That’s what you do when you want something a different color. And what the hell? I like kids. I like basketball. What’s your problem?”
Chris took a sip. “No problem. Just surprised. You’re really doing shit on this one. Like rolling up your sleeves, fixing fences, painting walls.”
He bit down on his frustration. “I’m going to live there.Yes,I’m getting involved.”
To his credit, his brother leaned back, eased off, giving Noah a few minutes to breathe through his frustration.
When Chris leaned forward, he met Noah’s gaze squarely. “You don’t need a pool, man. Why are you making such a big deal of it? The ocean is literally at your back porch.”
Why was it so important to him? There were his summer memories with his brothers and grandparents. “It’s such a simple acquisition. She’s being stubborn.”
Chris laughed. “So, your business ego is bruised because someone said no? Is that a first?”
Noah stiffened, the cup in his hand scrunching a bit in his grasp. “You know what? I’m tired of everyone saying shit like that. I work damn hard, I’ve had plenty of losses professionally and personally. Just because I was the face of Dad’s company and lookgood in a fucking magazine doesn’t mean everything has been easy.”
Chris’s gaze widened. He leaned in, pushed his drink away and rested his forearms on the table. Someone laughed loudly as a few more people shuffled into the bakery.
“Where’d that come from?”
Noah grunted. “Gee, I wonder. You know how many times it’s been alluded to in the last couple weeks that I don’t commit, I’m not serious, or I’m not invested? More times than I can count. I lost out on three deals last month. Every one of them should have been mine. Two of them came right out and said they wanted Dad’s name on the deal. The other one was quieter about it but I know that’s what they were waiting for, too.”
Nodding like he understood, Chris said, “Okay. Sorry. It’s a tougher transition than you thought it’d be but come on, you’re a third owner with us, you have the house, will probably have the house beside it because you’re bullheaded, you’ve got the office buildings downtown, with full rental income. What’s going to be enough? What’s it going to take for you to feel successful?”
Damn. He almost wanted to punch his brother for getting to the heart of the restless spinning. What the hell was it going to take to make him feelgood enough?
“Maybe that’s something I should figure out. I gotta go.” He stood, needing the fresh air, the space.
Chris stood as well, clapped him on the shoulder. “Hey. I’m here. I wasn’t trying to piss you off. I know it’s hard to get out from under Dad’s foot. But you’re doing it. So what if a few deals didn’t pan out. Let’s do dinner. Forget about business for a bit.”
Noah nodded as they waved to Tara and walked out together. “That sounds good. Sorry I snapped.”
“I get it, man. You know I do.” Chris held his gaze. Sometimes Noah felt like he was the older one. “Right?”
Noah nodded again, gave him a one-armed hug, then shovedhim just because he felt like it. Chris laughed. “You’re such an ass.”
“Takes one to know one.”
Chris laughed harder. “Good to see you’re all grown up.”
He didn’t feel less restless when he got in his truck, but he did feel happier.
Noah might not be entirely sure what was going on with him lately but he knew, as he parked his truck in front of the worn-down recreation center about twenty minutes outside of Harlow, that this place brought up a lot of memories and feelings. Good ones.
Grabbing the huge duffel bag from his backseat, he had a wide smile on his face when he met up with Rob in the parking lot.
“Hey. Sorry about last time, man,” Rob said, coming up beside him.
“No worries. It was fine. Relationships take time. Think the kids will show up?”
“I do.” Rob jutted his chin toward the duffel. “I told them there was a surprise. Thanks for doing that. I really didn’t tag you into this for the money.”
Noah knew that but had some ideas about it anyway. He’d been invited to enough things in his life because of his financial status or his family name to know when something was genuine.
“It’s all good. I’m happy to do it. I’m not above a little bribery to get them to let me in a little.”
