Eason
Well, I did get to see the beauty that I’d accidently caused her to spill her coffee all over herself. Unfortunately, I was pretty sure she hated my guts. The drink she’d poured over me was a mixture of beer, tobacco spit and cigarette butts. I didn’t even have a moment to blink before she had melted into the crowd.
“That was awesome.” Wilder crowed as I joined him at the bar.
“You saw the whole thing?”
“Yep. We did.” Kai added.
“At first I thought you two were going to give everyone a show and fuck on that nearby table. But, when she dumped that horrible drink on your head it was fantastic.” Wilder laughed.
“I’m leaving.” I grabbed my jacket to leave.
“I’m ready too.” Kai said.
“I’m not. I’ve got my eye on a sexy little thing that keeps teasing me. Maybe I’ll be the one to fuck on that table.” Wilder pushed off the bar and strode onto the dancefloor.
“Come on, Kai. Let’s get an Uber.” I pulled up my app and ordered the ride. “It will be here in a couple minutes.”
Kai just nodded as he kept his focus on the phone in his hand. A night of drinking with my brothers was supposed to help me forget about my troubles from the day. I was back to where I started. Thinking about the girl I’d met and wondering if I’d ever see her again.
***
“…he looked like a drowned rat. Actually, a drowned rat probably looked better than he did.” Wilder cackled.
“Man, I wish I’d been there. Why didn’t you call me?” Dylan asked.
“It was a last-minute thing. I’ll make sure you’re on my list to call when I want to humiliate myself again.” I said to my cousin.
“Boys, do we really think this conversation is appropriate for brunch?” My mother admonished.
“Sorry, Mom.” Wilder said sheepishly.
“It is quite funny, Willy.” My father smiled at us.
My mother’s glare could have killed any one of us. This time it was aimed at my father. My father winked at her as he took a bite of toast.
“Let’s change the subject.” Mother shook her head then looked to me. “Eason, darling, are you excited?”
Wilder snorted.
“Excited?”
“To take the reins so your father and I can go traveling.” She smiled.
“Oh. Sure. I guess.” I looked down at my plate.
“You don’t sound so confident, cousin.” Dylan looked at me appraisingly.
I looked up at him. Dylan was the one person I couldn’t hide anything from. We were cousins born only a few weeks apart. We were inseparable when we were younger. We even had the same tutors growing up. However, when he decided to follow his love of history and become a museum curator it caused a rift in the family. His father wanted him to take over as a partner with me, my brothers and my father at Hill Inc. Dylan was brave enough to say hell no but he agreed to stay on the board for major decisions. He had the obligatory office in the building but I think I’d only seen him there a grand total of three times. If he wasn’t mandated to be there he wasn’t going to be.
“It’s fine, Dylan. How are the fossils?”
A light glinted in his eye. It told me we’d have a discussion later. “Oh they are great. Love every second with them. They are better than your company, Eason.”
The table laughed. I glanced over at my mother who had stepped away from the table. Flashing Dylan the middle finger, I grinned.
“Eason Christopher! We do not give vulgar gestures during brunch.” His mother yelled from the other room.
“How the hell…”
“I see everything in this house.” Mother said return to the table.
Wilder shoved his shoulder into mine. “You got in trouble.”
“How old are we, Wild?”
“Doesn’t matter you still got in trouble.”
Mother let out an exasperated sigh. “Will you boys never grow up? How will a woman ever want to marry such childish boys? If only I’d had girls.” She looked to the ceiling.
“Did you used to dress Kai up in dresses?” I asked.
“What?!” Kai jerked his head up from his phone.
“They weren’t dresses. It was a christening gown.” She shook her head.
Wilder, Dylan and I looked at each other than said as one, “Dress.”
Bursting into laughter, we watched as Kai got embarrassed. The rest of the brunch was thankfully uneventful. I didn’t mind visiting my parents for Sunday brunches but sometimes it was too much family time. As the afternoon approached, Dylan and I chose to leave.
Mother gave Dylan a big hug. “Tell that sister of mine that we need to have a spa day.”
“Will do, Aunt Willy.”
She set her sights on me and pulled me into a hug then kissed my cheek. “You are going to be great, Eason. I’ve always known you’d do great things.”
A knot formed in my stomach. “Thanks, Mom.”
“You two drive safe. See you next Sunday.” She waved at us as we walked toward our cars.
“She’s right you know.”
“About what?”
“You were born to take this job on.”
I shrugged and leaned against my car door. “Being able to do the job and wanting to do the job are different things.”
“Don’t I know it. I’m sure you’ll do fine.” Dylan opened his door then turned back to me. “Oh I forgot to tell you, I got you a present.”
“A present? For what?”
“Well, I heard you were losing Edie so I recommended my friend.”
“Dad did say they found a new assistant.”
“Yep. She’s awesome. You’re going to love her.”
“Good to know. We should do dinner next week.” I said.
“Celebrate your first week as a big deal?” Dylan grinned.
“I’ve always been a big deal it’s just official now.”
He laughed. “Ok. Have your new assistant call me next week. See ya, Eason.”
“Later, Dylan.”