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Most of the time he was bossed around by his brother, but that didn’t count in many people’s eyes. West wasn’t always a dick about it, and if he was, he’d apologize.
It’s not like Braylon couldn’t call his brother out on things and had in the past, but he did try to keep it to a minimum. At least in the office.
Though he and Laken hadn’t held anything back with West two weeks ago. His brother was back to his old ways and they wanted to know what the hell was going on.
He knew it had to do with Abby, but West held it in like he had so many other things in life.
Their mother called Laken first, then him. He didn’t want to rat his brother out on his attitude but finally caved. He only did it hoping his brother could get his issues squared away.
His mother got to the bottom of it, found out Abby had ended things with West, and then gave her oldest son a piece of her mind and said to go get the girl and grovel if he had to.
Braylon only knew those things because West confided in him after he’d flown back home from Colonie to confess what happened and that he and Abby had made up. For once his brother wasn’t telling someone what to do, but asking and that was what Abby needed.
“Doesn’t sound like it was fun,” he said.
“I’m used to it,” she said. “Having yesterday off put us behind. Or so she said. What about you? Do you usually work this late?”
“I’m actually getting out early tonight,” he said, laughing. Most times he was leaving around seven or later. But Thomas was out of the office and West told him to get lost and go relax.
He was pretty sure West knew what was going on with Thomas at times but probably appreciated that Braylon didn’t go to his brother for special treatment.
In his eyes, everyone knew who he was to the CEO and they expected Laken and him to get what they wanted. He didn’t like that. He wanted to earn what he had and he was going to. Thomas was in his early sixties; he wouldn’t be around much longer.
“That stinks,” she said. He started to walk alongside her. Normally he got a taxi to get home, but he could do that at any point. Maybe the fresh air would do him good.
“Just like you,” he said, “I’m used to it. And hey, I got thinking that I shouldn’t have stepped up and said I was your fiancé. I might have made it hard for you if the real guy shows up in the coffee shop with you.”
She let out a sigh. He didn’t know what that was about, but he’d heard it even over all the traffic noise, not to mention every other sound on the block.
“Can I confess something to you?” she asked.
“Sure,” he said. He hitched his bag up on his shoulder a bit more.
“There is no fiancé or boyfriend. I just wear the ring to get people to leave me alone.”
He laughed. Not sure where that relief was coming from. He wanted to ask her out but then told himself she obviously didn’t want the attention so he’d be joining the asshole club doing the same to her.
“It didn’t seem to be working,” he said.
“No. It is now that you showed up. But I didn’t want you to feel bad or worry. Actually, this is stupid. I just thought, since it is working, maybe I could offer to take you to lunch as a thank you. I mean, we are in the same building.”
This was playing into his hand better than he thought it would.
“You don’t have to do that, but I’d like lunch. It’d be nice.”
She turned and smiled at him. “Just like you’re walking with me, but I know there is no way you live where I do. You’re probably going out of your way to be nice.”
Which made him feel a bit like a creep. “I can be nice, but I’ll grab my cab now.”
She laughed. “I didn’t say that to make you feel bad. I can do lunch one day this week. I start lunch at one,” she said. “I get an hour. No one actually bugs me for that and it doesn’t change unless my boss is out and then I’ve got more flexibility.”
He pulled his phone out. “Let me check my schedule.” He was flipping through his calendar and hoping he could make it work. “How about Thursday?” he asked. “I can do that.”
He had a two-hour window and didn’t worry he might get interrupted.
“That works,” she said.
“I just blocked it out on my calendar. It won’t be an issue for me.”
