With Vince, I no longer know what’s real and what’s a joke. I know he parties, and he always seems to have a different woman—based on his Facebook pictures—but a lot of the things he says have to be an exaggeration.
Or are they? I couldn’t say.
And then there’s the way he keeps showing up at my condo and office, as though he’s desperate for company.
Vince rolls his eyes. “I smoke pot on occasion. You gonna tell Mom? You gonna make me to go to rehab?”
“I’m sure there’s nothing wrong with the occasional joint. Just don’t hotbox my office.”
“Thanks for the great idea. I’m surprised you know what hotboxing is, to be honest.”
Okay, this conversation has gotten off-track.
I take a deep breath. “Something isn’t right with you, and I want to know what it is.”
“Why?” Vince folds his arms over his chest.
I frown. “Because you’re my brother and I...care about you.”
It’s hard to say those words to Vince. This is not the kind of relationship we have. But it’s suddenly obvious that although I think of him as a partying playboy, it’s far from the whole truth.
He lets out a bark of laughter. “Your girlfriend’s turned you into Mr. Touchy-Feely.”
Well, I certainly do a lot oftouchingwith her, that’s for sure.
“Just to clarify, she actuallyismy girlfriend now.” I smile. I can’t help it.
“I look forward to seeing a scrapbook of the first month of your relationship.”
“Back to you. Are you—”
“Julian!” Priya barges into my office, carrying a double espresso. “How was your vacation?”
“You didn’t need to come in at seven thirty,” I say, annoyed at the interruption.
“It’s your first day back. Don’t worry, I won’t be here until eight tomorrow. You have my word.” She hands me the espresso.
“His vacation was great,” Vince says, apparently deciding I’m incapable of answering. He’s probably relieved our conversation was cut short. “He got himself a girlfriend.”
“Really?” Priya says. “That’s fantastic. What’s her name?”
“Courtney,” Vince replies before I can say anything. “She bought him a cactus shaped like a penis!”
I put my head in my heads. “Dear God. Why do you need to be like this?”
“Is it true?” Priya asks. “About the cactus?”
“Well, I paid for the cactus, but she told me to do it. It’s true that Joey is rather phallic-shaped, although...” I trail off as I realize my mistake.
Priya tilts her head. “Joey? The cactus has a name?”
Vince claps me on the back. “Good going, dude.” He turns to Priya. “They’re going to take scrapbooking lessons together! I wonder what else. Maybe salsa classes?”
“Look,” I say, “I haven’t been at work in more than two weeks, and I have a lot to do. Could you please go somewhere else to discuss my love life?”
Just then, my father walks into the room. “I heard about this love life of yours. Your mother seems quite taken with your new woman, although apparently you claim she isn’t really your girlfriend.”
“You haven’t heard the news,” Vince says. “They’re officially going out now. Oh, this is so exciting!” He squeals like a preteen girl at a Justin Bieber concert.
