“Yeah, but you’re out late all the time.”
“Eh. Been busy. Another summer camp session starts today.” My eyes remained on my plate. My talent for lying was nonexistent.
“I didn’t realize summer day camp counselors worked until two a.m.”
Kellan wasn’t easy to fool. Derek once said he’d rather face a CIA interrogation than a line of questioning from Kel.
Taylor coughed once in the background. She was signaling Kel to back off. I was twenty-one years old. I may be his little brother but I could do as I pleased until whatever hour I felt like doing it.
A few seconds of weighted silence prevailed. The rumble of engines thrummed in my ears while the adrenaline rush of physical speed coursed through my blood. This was nothing but the echo of a memory, a recent one, not one I could share with Kellan.
The bite of sarcasm crept into my tone. “I wasn’t aware that you had so much experience as a summer camp counselor. Tell me what the other requirements are.”
Kellan continued to appraise me. He could stare all he wanted. He was smart as a whip but he was no mind reader.
Taylor cleared her throat and changed the subject. “Hey Thomas, your mom is trying to get a final head count for Saturday.”
‘Saturday’ referred to my parents’ twenty fifth anniversary party at their house. My memories were littered with Gentry family backyard celebrations.
“I’ll be there,” I said and wondered why anyone would have doubts about my attendance.
“She was curious if you’re planning on bringing someone special.” Taylor arched an eyebrow. “I told her I didn’t think you were seeing anyone.”
I wasn’t surprised to hear that my mother had been fishing for gossip from Taylor. My oldest brother Derek was already engaged to the love of his life and I would stake my left nut on the fact that Kellan was going to marry Taylor. Although my folks had never pressed me to dive into a relationship, it was possible they were hoping the right girl would set my world right. This, after all, was the Gentry way. For the most part we are a long list of eternally monogamous couples that mate for life. We come in pairs. The idea of one lone Gentry was abnormal.
“Not seeing anyone,” I said. “I’ll be going alone.”
Taylor glanced at Kellan. He shrugged. I could swear there was a silent dialogue happening.
Taylor pretended to think real hard. She was not a good actress.
“Did I ever tell you about my friend Callie?” she asked.
“I don’t think so.”
“No? I could have sworn I did. Anyway, Callie was in my sociology class last semester and I just got her a summer job at the Closet Exchange.”
I knew where this was going. I wondered if I could escape before it got there.
Taylor spoke rapidly. “Look, she’s ridiculously cute, she’s funny and she’s a state swimming champion. There’s even a chance she might go to the Olympics.”
I forced down another bite of breakfast brick.
“Anyway,” Taylor continued. “I bet you guys would really click if you got together. I could set something up. Maybe we could all go and try that new Cajun restaurant on Mill.”
“Am I invited?” Kellan asked.
She pinched him. “You’re required.”
Hope was written all over Taylor’s face. She meant well. They all did. When I left school just before the start of last semester I said that the decision was temporary. Every second I spent sitting in a lecture hall made me want to jump out of my skin. Since then most of my time had been spent training on the field and now those plans were over. My folks were worried about me. My brothers were worried about me. No wonder why ‘Operation: Nice Girl For Thomas’ had been launched. In Gentry World, finding your other half was the key to salvation.
Taylor chewed a corner of her lip as she waited for me to comment. I knew she still blamed herself for what happened. She shouldn’t.
“Thomas, tell them the truth!”
“I’ll think about it,” I told Taylor because she was one of my best friends and I wanted to make her happy. In reality I wasn’t tempted. While this Callie girl was probably all kinds of special, I disliked the idea of being set up. The fact that Taylor’s friend was serious about sports was also a red flag. I used to be drawn almost exclusively to athletic girls who understood all about being competitive and driven. Those qualities were less important to me now.
Again my mind conjured the chaotic thunder of racing engines, the shrieks of spectators, things that existed in a world I never expected to seek. I’d always been straight and narrow. Focused to the point of obsession. Motivated by the euphoria of pushing myself to perfection. Losing that with no warning had carved a deep hole. And now I needed something else. Just for a little while. Just until I stopped wanting to punch a brick wall.
Kellan complained when Taylor hopped off his lap. She flashed her phone screen in his face, warning him he’d be late for work. That was all it took to flip Kel’s switch. He gulped his coffee, straightened his collar, and kissed Taylor before installing the expression I thought of as his Executive Face.
“He’ll own us all in ten years,” I said to Taylor once my brother was gone. There was no jealousy in the words. Kel was for sure the sharpest guy I’d ever met.
“He can own me any time he wants,” Taylor said with a smug little grin.
“Perhaps he could work on trying to own you more quietly. ”
“Did we keep you awake last night? Because I know for a fact you didn’t roll through the door until long after your brother was snoring on my shoulder.”
“I just feel sorry for the neighbors.”
Taylor scrutinized me. “Have you been hitting the club circuit? I’m not judging. You could use some fun.”
My mouth was full. I took my time to chew and swallow rather than blurt out something that would light up the Gentry phone chain. “I think maybe you worry about me more than my own mother does.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Sorry. I don’t mean to pry. It’s just that you’re the only little brother I have.”
“I was unaware I’d been promoted to little brother status.”
She smiled. “I’m afraid so. You’re stuck with me.”
I was touched by the idea that Taylor thought of me as a brother. Her own family was such a shit show that there was no mystery about why she’d joined mine with such enthusiasm.
Taylor elbowed me away from the sink when I tried to rinse out the breakfast dishes. After my close encounter with a baseball bat and a pair of madmen, the property manager was agreeable to letting us move to a different unit. With Kel now raking in a nice salary, he and Taylor could have chosen to move to a much nicer place when the lease came up for renewal. Plenty of apartments were available a little farther away from college party lunacy. But they insisted they had no plans to leave in the foreseeable future.
A mild twinge of guilt stabbed at me as I left Taylor behind and hopped behind the wheel of my truck. The people who loved me couldn’t help but worry. If they knew what had been keeping me out late they’d freak out. That realization should be enough to stop me and I knew it wouldn’t. A text had already landed on my phone telling me what was going on tomorrow tonight and I planned to be there. As smart as Kellan was, he’d never guess the truth. It’s likely he assumed I stayed out late to get my dick sucked in order to take my mind off my major league disappointments.