Page 114 of Just for Tonight

“Not your car,” I say softly. “That’s the detail that matters.”

“I needed the money. Dad said he’d fix it.”

I nod. “Here’s the thing. If you really care about something, if you really want it, don’t let anybody else have any claim to it. That way, you can never lose it.”

He glares at me, proof positive that I’m not getting anywhere, so I step past him to head back to my car.

“Nice trees. Good luck with this.” I unlock my car with the fob and it beeps audibly.

“Nice trees,” Ethan mimicks. “Asshole brother. How am I supposed to make anything happen now? I have no money. I have no car. I don’t even own the fucking land my trees are planted on, but hey, you’re going back to Toronto and leaving all of us to deal with this mess alone. Good for you, Jake. Well done, Jake. Do you get a bonus for that, Jake?”

And that’s enough. I pivot and head back to him, seizing him by the collar and backing him into one of his beloved trees. “If I was going to leave this mess, I would have done it two months ago. Instead, I’m back here all the fucking time, trying to sort it out so you can all continue with your lives of carefree indulgence, just the way Daddy intended. I’m doing my best to fulfill the intent of his will, without the benefit of any money.”

“Am I supposed to say thank you, Jake?” he sneers. “Am I supposed to grovel at your feet in gratitude?”

“No, but you could refrain from damaging my car.” I give his collar a shake and let him go. “How old are you now? Thirty?”

“Twenty-seven.”

“But you’re acting like a six-year-old.”

“Expensive repair?”

“Yes, but who cares? All that matters is that you and Madison and Candace spend what you want and do what you want forever and ever and ever.”

“While all you want is to leave Empire forever.”

“The prospect has an appeal.”

“What’s the call about Monday?”

“My attempt to give you all a legacy. Something instead of nothing. It might not work. Any one of you can veto the scheme.”

“And then what?”

“And then no one gets anything, unless all the property sells and there is suddenly a vast pool of cash to divide amongst us all.”

He snorts. “This is Empire and most of those properties are dumps.”

“Exactly.” We’re standing about six feet apart, glaring at each other. “What do you want, Ethan? What will it take to get that chip off your shoulder?”

He sneers. “You even say that as if I’ve made up a problem.”

“I find it hard to see any cause for your attitude, but whatever.”

His eyes flash but that’s enough.

“My mistake thinking we could talk it out,” I say, then turn away to walk to my car.

“You know what I want?” Ethan roars just as I’m opening the car door. “I want respect. That’s what I want. That’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted from you and Mike and even Austin, but all I get from you is, I don’t know, disdain. It’s like it’s not even possible for me to be worthy of being your brother. It’s like I never had a chance to be part of your family. It’s like I’m nothing!”

Were we too hard on him? Maybe. I remember him mostly as being so much younger than us that he wasn’t interesting. I count it out. There’s ten years between me and Ethan, as well as a vast difference in privilege and parental expectations. We were kids. He and Madison were showered with gifts and benefits. We were scraping for crumbs. It was unlikely we would ever be friends, and less likely that we’d admire or respect the golden children.

“Well, the funny thing about respect is that it has to be earned. No one gives it to you, like a gold star for attendance.”

“Fuck you, Jake!”

“Tell you what. I’ll send you the bill for the repair on the car. And if you pay it, I’ll respect that.”