I should have known he would ask. I hoped he would be too busy with the lights to notice. But of course he noticed. He always notices. I am not celebrating my engagement. My brother knew about the engagement. Hell, he helped me plan it perfectly.
I walk into the bedroom and close the door. I explain the whole day. From me opening my eyes, to the power going out, to the breakup, to Sutton knocking me out on accident, to me kissing Sutton in the kitchen like I had lost my whole mind.
“She knocked you out? Talk about ‘Honey, I am home’.” He laughs for a full five minutes.
“Thank God I did not have to go to the doctor. But yeah. That happened. Less than twelve hours and I am already single. Man, I cannot believe I am single.”
“Good. Because I could not stand her. Now I owe Iris a trip to Bali. I thought it would at least make it past the engagement.”
I deadpan at my screen, staring him in the eye. “What? Why did you not say anything?”
“Would you have listened? Maybe you do have a thick skull. Probably why your ass was not sent to the hospital.”
“I would have…”
“You were in love. Your first love. What could I have said that would change that?” he cuts me off.
“You are my brother. You could have told me she was not the one for me.”
“Just like I said, you would not have listened. Heaven, you are an ass. But you have a good heart. You can call me Mr. Goody Two Shoes, but I am not naive. I am kind, but that does not mean I do everything right. Yes, I could have told you. But that would have stopped you from experiencing what you needed to. You were in a dark place before Keke. And in some weird way, she gave you happiness. I was happy for that, but I still kept my eye out.”
He pauses.
“I noticed how Keke always made you pay for everything. She never lifted a hand to help. Iris is still mad she sat down in the living room during Thanksgiving, did not help with a damn thing, had the biggest plate, and complained the whole time.”
My chest tightens. Was I really that blind?
“She was more like a bad roommate with an even worse credit score. Like, come on. She did not even want you to move into the apartment you paid for. Red flag times two million. A messy situationship that turned into a relationship way too fast,” he continues.
I think about what my brother said. He is not entirely wrong. Keke and I were vibing, and that somehow turned into something serious. Well, serious for me. I think back to when she said I changed or got too busy. I never grew up with money, so I never wanted the people I love to struggle. So I stayed atwork a little longer. I bought things to make up for my absence. I chased the money, but that does not excuse her cheating on me. Communication is big for me. Something we both lacked.
I think about when I threw money at Sutton to leave so I could have the whole house to myself.
“Yeah… you are right,” I say quietly.
“Try not to beat yourself up. It is the holidays. Make the most of it. Watch Charlie Brown, drink some eggnog, or cozy up to someone new.”
“I am stuck in the house.”
“Exactly. You have a house with a little electricity, a full kitchen, a TV, and an extremely beautiful girl there with you.” He raises his eyebrows.
“Sutton?”
“Yes, Sutton. Do you like her?”
“She is cool. We have something going, I think.”
I am definitely not telling my brother that my mouth was about to be somewhere it should not have been moments before he called.
“Okay, good. I was about to say. Keke cheated on you. Cheated. It is all free game. If you are vibing with Sutton, then go for it. In a couple days, you will be on your biggest project yet. I am so proud of you, by the way.”
The mention of my project with Heph Inc. at the beginning of next year brightens my mood. I cannot believe my business is going international, helping clients in the UK. I am so excited. When I got the email last weekend, I did not hesitate to accept.
“Thank you for always believing in me,” I say to my brother.
“Always. Now have fun. Celebrate Christmas. Whatever you do is none of my business.”
“Well, thank you for the advice, support, and permission to fuck your house sitter.”
