“The more, the merrier. I have six siblings, and we had so much fun growing up. I’d love to give my kids the same experience one day.”
I nearly choked on my water. “Six.” I coughed, my eyes watering. “Wow. That’s… a lot.”
“It is, but it’s great,” Brady said earnestly. “My mom made sure all of us felt valued individually. We had personalized lunches, hand-knitted sweaters, big birthday parties. The whole nine yards.”
It sounded like his mom should’ve been paid a full-time salary times seven.
“What did your dad do?” I asked.
“He was a lawyer. Still is. He’s a partner at Pierce, Waltham, and Greene.”
“That’s not what I meant,” I said. “What did he do around the house?”
Brady gave me a puzzled smile. “I’m not sure I understand the question.”
A headache set in behind my temples. “Your mom personalized the lunches and knitted the sweaters. What did yourdaddo?”
“I told you, he’s a lawyer,” he said patiently. “His job is to be the breadwinner. My mom’s job was to take care of us and the house. Actually, she used to be a lawyer too—they met in law school. But she quit when she had us, which made sense.”
Alarm rang in the distant recesses of my mind. My eye twitched. “Oh, really? Why is that?”
“Because family comes before career.”
“I assume that applies to your dad too.”
Brady laughed. “You’re hilarious. They didn’t tell me you were this funny.”
“I’m not trying to be funny. Considering your mom is the one who carried her kids for nine monthsandgave birth to them, I think it should’ve been the other way around. Your dad should’ve quit his job and pitched in. The same goes for other men in general.”
I had no issue with women quitting their jobs to raise their families if that was what they wanted. Ididhave an issue with Brady’s blatant misogyny and condescension.
He was lucky I was a vegetarian because if I had a steak knife nearby, he might not make it out of the restaurant alive.
His laughter died. “You can’t expect them to do that. Theyhave important work to do.”
Jesus. Was he even a real human? He was acting like a caricature, but I’d been around enough toxic dude-bros to know some of them really did think like that.
“That’s funny,” I said. “Because a lot of them are shit at their allegedly important jobs. For example, owners of a boutique investment firm should have an adequate grasp of risk management. If they did, they wouldn’t have cost one of their clients hundreds of thousands of dollars because they made a bad bet.”
Brady’s smile vanished beneath a flush of red. “What—how—”
“I know a lot of people, and some of those people like to talk.” I’d done my research before this date. Too bad no one had mentioned what a douchebag Brady was, or I would’ve canceled, my mother’s recriminations be damned. “That’s why I find it hilarious that you talk such a big game about being a ‘breadwinner’ when you can’t even bring your clients a decent slice without dropping it. Also, in case it wasn’t clear…” I leaned forward, my eyes pinned on his. “This date is over.”
Brady was smart enough not to make a huge scene in the restaurant. However, he wasn’t above delivering a parting shot.
“No wonder you’re single,” he hissed on his way out. “I feel sorry for whatever poor sap you end up with. You want to be so high and mighty?Youpay for the dinner.”
He stormed out, leaving a cloud of overpowering cologne in his wake.
I wrinkled my nose. Men could be so dramatic.
The server popped up and discreetly whisked away Brady’s half-eaten food. She was the same one from last time. “Would you like more wine?” she asked, her expression sympathetic.
“Please.” I gestured at my empty glass. “Keep them coming.”
She winked at me. “Understood.”
I sighed, oddly deflated now that I didn’t have anger proppingme up.Most romantic restaurant, my ass.This place was cursed.
