“Somebody stab me in the eye,” Special K says.
“Happy to,” Declan says.
For nearly an hour now, we’ve been gathered in Evander’s living room, getting our marching orders from Cal.He thinks the world will stop spinning just because he’s going on his honeymoon.
Evander slouches down on his couch and puts a toss pillow over his face.“Please, for the love of all that’s holy, get on with it, Cal.We already know all this shit.”
“It’s important,” Cal says.“I’ll be gone for twenty-eight days and six hours.”Cal shoots me aget-a-load-of-these-idiotseye roll.
I sigh.“Actually, I agree with them.We’re perfectly able to run StellaR Tech without you for a few weeks.After all, Declan and I created the company.”
Declan puts his hands behind his head and nods.“I’m the creative genius in this fam, for sure.”
Cal points at us.“You two are napkin scribblers.”
He thinks that’s an insult.I take it as a compliment.How many dudes come up with a billion-dollar satellite-based cyber-surveillance technology over beers at a dive bar?The answer is “two”—Declan and Finn MacLaine.
I set Cal straight.“If it weren’t for me, there wouldn’t be a company.”
“Excuse me?”Evander removes the pillow from his face.“I’m the one who created the S-Corp.I’m the one who’s negotiated every damn contract we have.”
Special K stands.“Enough with the corporate dick competition.Finn, let me know if there’s an emergency and I’ll put out the fire.Won’t be the first time.”He sneers at Cal with his last statement.
“Okay, but don’t forget—”
Special K cuts him off with a grunt and walks out the front door.
“I can’t believe I have to contend with his shit,” Cal complains.
“Ditto,” Evander says.
“Double ditto,” I say.
Cal scowls at us.He’s still pissed off about this morning, for some reason.He looks about an inch away from canceling his honeymoon.
Declan puts his hands up in surrender.“I get it, bro.I’m the only one around here who knows what it means to be a team player.”
Evander hits Declan with his pillow.“Oh, fuck off.You’ve slept through every business meeting we’ve ever had.”
“I resent that.”Declan drops his hands from behind his head and straightens.“You know I get low blood sugar in the afternoons, and yet you insist on scheduling meetings during that time of day, which makes me think you might be trying to push me out.And even after all that, here I am in the late morning hours, contributing like a motherfucker.I believe I have proven my point.”
Declan’s observation leaves us sitting in stunned silence.It’s his gift.
I stand.“This has devolved,” I tell Cal.“I’m gonna go.”
He rubs a hand over his hair.“Victoria wants us to go off the grid for our honeymoon, but maybe I should bring my laptop and do a couple hours of work a day.”
“Whatever floats your boat,” I tell him.
“You think I should?”Cal asks me, his eyes wide.“We’ll have satellite internet.”
Evander kicks Cal in the shins.“If I had a beautiful wife who was packing for our honeymoon, I’d be helping her, not giving lectures about correct invoicing procedures.”
“Shit!I forgot to review the correct invoicing procedures!”
“Fuckity-bye.”Declan jumps to a stand and heads for the door.
I’m right behind him.“Bon voyage, big brother.Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do, such as bring your damn laptop along on your honeymoon.”
