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He shifted awkwardly. “She’s not my girlfriend yet, but I’m working on it.”
I almost groaned internally. Milton seemed like the type who’d be lucky to get a text back, let alone land a girlfriend. Socially, he was probably way out of his depth. I doubted he had much of a chance with her, whoever she was.
“This would definitely give you an edge,” I replied with a grin, moving closer to him. “Most guys your age are still living with their parents.”
He let out a laugh that was more bray than chuckle. I barely managed to keep my expression neutral. Jesus Christ, I probably had a better shot with this girl than he did.
“You think she’d like this place?” he asked, his tone almost desperate.
I slapped him on the back, sending him a step forward. “You get this place, and it’s a lock. Cook her a nice dinner, get to know her.”
Milton’s eyes lit up with hope, and I could almost see the wheels turning in his head. “What’s the maintenance?”
“Fourteen hundred a month,” I said, “but it’s more than worth it.”
A bit more back and forth, and I had him. Milton agreed to purchase the loft, sealing the deal. This week was finishing nicely. With it being Friday, I was already planning to drag my brother Talon out tonight, even if it killed him. He was a few years younger, but I could still outlast him on our nights out. The only downside was how he was still trapped under our father’s thumb. I was just glad I’d managed to break free.
After I put Milton in a cab and promised to get him the paperwork via email, I finally headed home. It had been a relentless week, and I was more than ready for the weekend. As soon as I walked into my apartment, I called my brother, Talon, who, true to form, immediately tried to wriggle out of my invitation.
“Don’t hand me that shit,” I said, cutting through his excuse.
“I’m serious, Lincoln. I have a ton of paperwork to go through,” he insisted.
Talon was only twenty-four, but he was fast becoming a clone of our father—a workaholic with zero social life. I refused to let him slip away like that.
“I’m just asking for a couple of hours to hang out,” I pressed.
“Where?” His voice was already laden with suspicion.
“Surge.”
“A fucking dance club?” The disgust in his tone was almost palpable.
“Big deal,” I shot back. “We hang out in the VIP section, throw back a few drinks, and maybe meet a few women.”
“For what purpose?”
My patience was thinning. Talon was acting like he was seventy instead of in his prime. If he kept this up, he’d die single.
“Whatever purpose you want.”
“Like you, to have unemotional sex?”
“There’s plenty of emotion during the sex I have,” I retorted, my voice sharp with irritation.
“Why don’t you find someone to love?”
“Like Michael did?”
“Don’t say his name,” my brother croaked.
I felt a sharp pang in my chest. Talon had never been able to talk about our brother without shutting down.
“Why can’t you talk about him?”
“Because I miss the shit out of him. It hurts to know he’s gone.”
“Maybe he isn’t,” I said, grasping at the hope we both wished were true.
