Page 6 of Billionaire Enemy's Baby
“So, how does it feel to finally be done with college? Early graduation, huh?” I laugh with Luke. “You always were the genius of the family. We’re expecting big things.”
“Not too soon, I hope.” He raises his beer. “Because I’m going to see the world first.”
“You are?” Now that surprises me. I’d never taken Luke to be the free spirit who wants to backpack across the country, but maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps because he’s always been the smartest one, he’s always had too many expectations weighing down on him. He needs to do this to blow off some steam or whatever.
Well, good on him for finding out who he is and what he wants.
I’m proud.
“My flight is next week.” Luke lifts his beer up in a cheers gesture. “So, I guess so.”
We clink our cans together, before Mom calls us into the living room so we can all catch up together. Dinner will be done soon, and we have to make sure it’s all perfect and sweet for her.
* * *
My eyes are a little blurry as I try to scroll through the list of people from New York that I want to contact. I probably shouldn’t do it tonight, even though Luke’s party is over, today is still about him. Plus I think I might have hit the beers a little too hard so it might not be the best time. But I’m excited, I can feel myself getting carried away. I can’t stop it.
“What you doing there, Josh?”
Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how I want to look at it, my dad interrupts me before I can fire off any of the emails I desperately want to send.
“Oh, just making plans.” I smile at him and tuck my cell phone away. I suppose I can deal with everything in the morning, it won’t make that much difference anyway.
“For New York.”
He takes a seat on the couch opposite me. “So, you’re really set on the idea of New York, huh? I heard you talking to Luke about it earlier on.”
Did I? I don’t know, we all talked about everything. There has been so much for us to catch up on that the conversation just flowed like crazy. We talked about everything and anything.
“Oh right, well yeah I am pretty set on going to New York as soon as I can.”
“For your tech business, right?” Dad asks curiously. “Is that what I heard?”
“Yeah, you’re right. I’ve done so much work in the UK which Iknowwill help me with starting out on my own. I basically have my business plan written out already.”
“Mmm, good.” Dad nods slowly. “And New York is vital for that?”
“Well, yeah… that’s where I’m planning to take things. Why?” I don’t know what the hell he’s getting at here and it’s confusing the living hell out of me. Maybe I’m missing something completely obvious because I’ve been drinking.
“There isn’t any chance that your business will work here, Josh? Because me and your mother feel like we’ve just gotten you back but you’re already planning on leaving again.”
I sigh heavily. I really don’t need this guilt trip. I get their feelings, I understand because being back here has me all nostalgic as well. I’ve missed Beaufort more than I realized. Seeing my brothers has really made me happy. But that doesn’t mean I can just stay.
“Dad, Luke is going away for a year, Grayson won’t be here forever either…”
“Hmm, but Wyatt has a successful business here,” he reminds me. “He’s done very well.”
“His little bike shop?” I’ve only just heard about this tonight. I didn’t know it was that big a deal. “I’m sure it’s working out alright for him, but I want something more…”
“Little?” Dad scoffs. “It isn’t exactly little. He has a team working for him. He won’t brag about it because that’s not in his nature, but it really is something.”
“Huh.” I have to admit, I’m a little surprised to hear this. Wyatt isn’t someone who brags about stuff, he’s never been that way. So maybe this is true. Dad doesn’t often exaggerate either, not even about his kids’ achievements, so I’m intrigued.
“Well that is something.”
“You should go and see his store. See how well he’s doing.”
“Yeah, I think I might do that,” I say quietly.
