Page 37 of A Bossy Surprise

“I don’t know about that. Of course, I can’t be mad at you forever. You’re my sister, but Adam is a different story. He took advantage of you. I don’t think I can forgive that.” He folds his arms.

I look at my brother for a moment then say, “Interesting…”

“What?”

“I thought you knew Adam better than I did, but I’m starting to think that maybe that’s not the case.”

His brows draw together. “What are you talking about?”

“Just that I’ve spent a lot of time with him over the last three weeks. Although he can be abrasive and often seems quite callous on the surface, deep down that’s not who he really is.”

“What the fuck are you talking about?”

“Adam has spent all of his free time with Brady, trying to get to know him. He has taken to fatherhood quite naturally, and he’s good at it. He isn’t even angry at me for keeping Brady from him for all this time. At first when he said he wasn’t, I didn’t believe him, because of everyone involved in this, he’s the only one who deserves to hold a grudge. However, he doesn’t. Even that night at the party he was pretty good to me. That was before he freaked out about what you might think.”

“What’s your point?”

I roll my eyes. “Look at it this way. He is a great friend, a great father, and a pretty standup guy. According to you, the only part of his life where he isn’t stellar is how he treats women. So, is it possible that he just never learned? As his friend, one can even argue that it was up to you to help him with that.”

“So this is my fault?”

“That’s not what I’m saying. I’m saying he’s human. He made a mistake. Get over it.”

I can see my words bounce around in Lucas’ head. “Still, I’m not ready to forgive him.”

“Oh my God! Have you heard a single word I’ve said?”

“Of course.”

“Apparently not, and I’m done dancing around your feelings. Adam has done nothing that requires your forgiveness. Get over yourself.” I snatch my bag off the island. “Also, it’s extremely offensive that you think he took advantage of me. Like I was some idiot who didn’t know her left from her right. I chose tosleep with Adam that night. It wasn’t something he coerced me into.”

I turn from him and head to the elevator and he has a contemplative look on his face.

I jab at the call button and the doors slide open. Before I get in, I toss over my shoulder, “And come see your nephew.”

When I get to the lobby, I pull out my phone and call Amanda.

“Hey. What’s going on?” she asks.

“Not much. Where are you?”

“I’m doing street interviews outside West Side Market. Tim wants content for our social media. So I am asking pedestrians what they think about our Democratic and Republican presidential hopefuls.” I can hear the contempt in her voice.

I chuckle. “Shouldn’t an intern be doing that?”

“Exactly, but Tim likes to show me that he’s the boss by giving me grunt work. What he doesn’t know is that I don’t care. Everyone knows I’m better at what we do than he is. That’s what matters. He has seniority. That’s why he’s heading the department and I’m not. That’s what pisses him off.”

“Anyway, are you almost done? I’m downtown. Can you do lunch?”

“Yeah, I am almost finished here, but I’m running way behind today. There is a burrito place just across the street from where I am. So if you’re cool with a burrito on a bench, then sure.”

“Great. I’m on my way.”

It’s a five-minute walk to where Amanda is. So it doesn’t talk long to find her.

When I approach, she has a microphone in some poor bastard’s face and he’s stumbling over his words in answer to her question.

When the man is done she says, “Thank you so much for your time.”