Todd reached across the table and slapped my shoulder, hard. “Look. I’m sorry. Explain everything to me, from the beginning. And how you two ended up kissing? Didn’t you all meet just a week ago?”
“It’s been almost a month. Have you heard a word I said?”
He threw his hands up in protest. “My bad, PJ! I’m just saying, how’d you make a move on the girl so fast. She hasn’t even had time to get used to the firm.”
I put my hands on my head, rubbing my forehead. I was sure I was getting a migraine.
The waiter brought over the rum and cokes. Todd stirred the rocks glass and then slammed it on the table. “Alright. Now tell me about you and this kiss with Ari…” Todd had drained his first glass so fast that the glass was still cold to the touch.
“Nah, man. She’s… I’m not thinking about her like that. I just… The kiss was a mistake. Plus, I’m up for partner.” I was lying again. The only regret I had was not kissing her longer.
Todd raised a brow. “Right. Partner. So, you being into Ari doesn’t really seem to align with your brand. Got it.”
My eye twitched with annoyance. “My brand? What the fuck does that mean? I don’t have a brand.”
Todd waved his hands dismissively. “Yes, you do. The Harrison Brand. You know what I mean. The right school. The right job. And the right woman. Everything’s got to be perfect for you. This girl is not on brand. God, what would Grandpa Senator say about his favorite grandson?” mocked Todd.
“Todd, you know that isn’t true. I’m simply not trying to fuck up my professional life. What does Grandpa have to do with anything?”
Todd drained the last of his second glass. “Because ever since Daddy’s death, Grandpa is the one you’ve been so eager to please. For what reason, I have no clue. The man is mean as fuck, but you wouldn’t know that because you’re his favorite. Look at how he treated Mama.”
I bristled at the mention of Grandpa and our mom. It was true. Grandpa Senator was never nice to our mother. Our Grand-Mere was even worse. When our father died, it gave them more of a reason to pretend Mom never existed. In the end, I think guilt weighed on his conscience which was why he bent over backward for Todd and me. He paid our college tuition. He quietly set up trust funds and rewrote his will to have Todd and I inherit all of the family property and money upon his death. We didn’t have to work. We were set for life.
Todd folded his arms across his chest. “Who got you into Hampton because we all know your grades were mediocre? Grandpa Senator. Who made a call and got you the internship that landed you the job at Riddle and Robinson? Grandpa Senator. Maybe kissing this girl was your way of blowing up your own career? Because it’s not the career you really wanted in the first place.”
I wasn’t sure what they put in those drinks, but they must have given Todd liquid courage to be an even bigger asshole.
I leaned across the table. “C’mon, Todd! You and I both know I got into Hampton on my own. Listen, I’ve been there damn near fifteen years. I’ve more than proven myself as a damn good architect. I love what I do.”
Todd rolled his eyes with a groan. “Be real with yourself, PJ. Do you really want to make partner at that firm? What are you trying to prove? That you aren’t some entitled kid? You don’t even like being an architect. You picked that major because Grandpa was going to cut you off if you stuck with fine art. Your paintings were so good, and you loved it. One thing Des and I can agree on is that you could have been the next Basquiat or something. But no! Listening to that mean old man, you’re stuck doing some shit you’re lukewarm about because you didn’t want to be a disappointment.”
“Uhm, I don’t recall you turning down any money Grandpa gave you!”
Todd laughed. “The money? That was the least he and Grand-Mere could have done for me. God, don’t get me started on that old hag.” Todd mimicked our grandmother’s accent. “‘Stay out the sun, Todd, or you’ll get darker, Cher. Put on a different color, Todd, that doesn’t suit your complexion. Toddrick would be so handsome if he was just a touch lighter.’ Crazy, colorist shit! Always pitting us against each other. You were the handsome one. I was lucky that I was the smart one, the next great Harrison politician. Fucking ridiculous. I damn sure wasn’t going to do what they wanted me to do. I didn’t want to be the next Senator Harrison. Fuck that.”
I watched Todd’s face contort at the memories. “I know. I’m sorry. I was a kid back then. I couldn’t do anything about it, and I didn’t realize how that hurt you. I would have if I could. But trust me, it has never been a competition between us.”