She pursed her lips. “Occurred? What could have occurred to you to form such a negative reaction as I talked about architecture and what helped inspire me in my career as it pertains to your home?”
“It had nothing to do with the conversation.” He straightened an already perfectly straight arm cuff.
She waited but he did not elaborate. Impatiently she asked, “Something to do with me then?”
Brad closed his eyes and took a long breath. Finally, he said, “You did not do or say anything that upset me. I am sincerely sorry if you got that impression.”
She waited a few moments in silence. Finally, she stood. “Okay. Thanks for clearing that up.” She stepped backward and lifted a hand in a clumsy wave. “I’ll just see you later then.”
She turned and took two steps when Brad’s voice stopped her. “Valerie, wait.” When she turned, she saw him standing by the chair, his hands in his pockets. His face looked strained. “May I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“I hesitate to even bring this up.” He took two long strides toward her. Another step and he’d completely invade her space. It took willpower not to take another step back. “I couldn’t help but notice. I’ve watched your, ah, well, your ease, I guess, with Jon and Ken. Yet you appear to be uncomfortable and nervous around me. Why is that?”
She could think of a dozen different questions she expected from him, but not that. She couldn’t possibly tell him that he made her nervous and fluttery and all she wanted in the world was for him to see her as something other than some pseudo-sister. So, she lied. “Uh, hmmm,” she stammered, frowning. “I don’t know. Maybe because you’re the boss, which changes our dynamic. Maybe because our first meeting in years was in this office about business instead of casually in the café like with Jon. Maybe because they both came to me smiling and arms outstretched, and you frowned and barely shook my hand.” Lifting her chin, she said, “It could be any one of those things. Why do you ask?”
“Not sure. Curiosity, I guess. Maybe wondering what my brothers have that I don’t. Perhaps a desire to get back to the way we once were.”
“Brad, the way we were was fifteen years ago. We need to focus on the way we are, not the way we were.”
His smile covered his face and lightened his eyes. “You’re absolutely right.” He took another step toward her, and she had to lift her head to keep eye contact with him. He suddenly felt a little too close for her comfort. She started to shift her feet but stopped.
“I’d rather you didn’t think of me with the boss title. I know it’s hard, since it’s what I am, but I’d rather be a friend first.” He stepped back. “I’ll talk to you later.”
More than a little confused, she walked to the door of the office and put her hand on the handle. When she looked back at him, he was back at his desk and had the laptop open and appeared engrossed in whatever occupied the screen. Instead of saying anything else, she walked through the door and into Sami’s office.
“Hey,” Sami said with a smile, “I just confirmed dinner tonight with my friend, Calla. She’s a chef. Do you want to join us?”
She really liked Sami and felt like they could become good friends. Despite the internal knee-jerk reaction to say no so she could get home and lock all her doors, she smiled and said, “I’d like that.”
“Great! I’ll text you the details. Calla knows where all the best spots to eat are. As soon as she gets with me, I’ll get with you.”
“Thanks.” She looked at her watch. “I’m going to head down and grab a sandwich before I go back to work. Can I get you anything?”
“Nah. Thanks, though.” She tapped her desk drawer. “I brown-bagged it. Brad’s usually nonstop on Mondays, so it’s better to be prepared than wishing I’d brought something around three this afternoon.”
Valerie lifted her chin toward his office. “Is he good to work for?”
Sami grinned. “Best boss I’ve ever had. Seriously. I hope I have this job for the rest of my life.”
“That’s awesome.” As she started to leave, she paused. “Oh. What time tonight?”
“It’ll be seven or later. Is that still okay?”
Thinking through her afternoon, she nodded. “Sure. That’s better, anyway. Okay, see you later!”
Brad pulled his tie offthe second he got into his car. Another long Monday lay behind him. He felt mentally burned out and physically exhausted. The idea of driving home held absolutely no appeal.
Instead, he turned left instead of right and worked through the evening traffic. He stopped right off his exit and bought takeout fried fish and French fries with a big bowl of cold coleslaw and a bag of hush puppies. Back on the road, the smell of the fried batter filling the car, he made three more turns and pulled up in front of the first house at the entrance of a dirt road.
Ken’s truck sat backed up to the side of the house. Brad grabbed the bag of food and walked along the red dirt path to the truck. The twangy tones of country music filled the air. He found Ken in the back, pouring dry concrete mix into a wheelbarrow. Floodlights filled the back yard with artificial light and cast long shadows. Dozens of bugs attacked the hot lenses of the lights.
Ken glanced up as Brad’s shadow fell across him. Brad held up the bag. “Dinner.”
His brother wore a denim baseball cap and a gray T-shirt. He set down the half-empty bag and took the cap off, using his shoulder to wipe the sweat off his forehead. “You here to help, too?”
“Yeah. After we eat. Mind if I change?”
