Chapter Six #2
The place was full, which was normal for a Saturday afternoon. There were four rings, and each was occupied.
Colton and I had a rule about not bruising each other; we wanted to let off steam, not look like banged-up idiots.
“What's got you up in arms?" Colton asked as he landed the first punch.
"Nothing." I punched back, and he blocked me right away. He was better than me at this, but he also had more practice. It didn't matter. I didn't come here to win.
"You’re the one who suggested boxing."
Punch. Punch back. Punch. Block. Punch.
"That's because I knew it was the only thing that would get you out of the office."
We went back and forth, back and forth. I wasn't in fighting shape. Colton was. I went to the gym religiously, but my workout didn't include dodging my brother’s fists. My reflexes weren't as quick.
"All right, I think that's enough," Colton said forty minutes later. We were both drenched in sweat, and I was panting like a dog. "Fuck, this was good." He took off his gloves and put them on the bench next to the ring. I did the same.
"I agree. Feels surprisingly good."
He grinned. "That was a win. And you're still insisting that nothing's wrong? Did Grandmother get on your nerves?"
"No. You know she admitted to matchmaking Jake and Natalie?"
Colton jerked his head back. " I don't like that word."
"Neither do I, especially since she informed me that she’s hoping to do the same with Meredith and me."
"Oh, yeah. Spencer told me that."
"Dude, I thought you didn't have time to go out with any of us, but you have time for all the gossip in the family? You know more stuff than I do."
"What can I say? People just tell me stuff. I never ask them for it.” He paused, then said, “I don't remember Meredith."
"You weren't in high school anymore."
"But I know Mom liked her."
That caught me off guard. "Mom talked to you about Meredith?"
"Yeah. After you failed some test in math. She said it was a good thing Meredith agreed to tutor you and also that she liked her."
I had no idea why that impacted me. I had so few good memories of that period.
Whenever I thought back on that time, I only remembered Dad's betrayal and my shitty reaction to it.
I should've been there for Mom. We all should've.
Instead, we gave her headaches on top of everything else she had to deal with.
As we went to the showers, I racked my brain, trying to remember when Mom and Meredith had interacted. For the life of me, I couldn't remember. I had to ask Meredith.
Colton and I showered and changed quickly. We were out of the place ten minutes later.
"We made great time, and I still have hours of work ahead of me."
I groaned. "Dude, come on. I thought this would motivate you to take today off. Let’s get a drink or bite to eat."
"No can do."
"Do you have an Off button?" I asked in exasperation. "The world won't stop if you take a break."
Colton swallowed hard. His eyes turned cold. "No, but some people might unnecessarily lose their lives."
"What are you talking about?" I asked. My brother was losing it.
"This is medicine, Cade, not coffee."
"I know. Don't be a jackass about it," I snapped back.
"Ever stop to wonder what would've happened if there had been a good medicine for Mom?"
His words were like a punch to my gut. I always knew Mom's illness made him get into biotech, but I never realized it was what still drove him to this day. I chose my words carefully.
"I did. I still do. Sometimes. Not all the time, Colton. It's not healthy."
"That's not what I meant. I feel a responsibility for getting a good product on the market every time."
"That’s admirable. But if you work yourself into the ground, you won't be able to help anyone at all."
"See, now you almost sound like Grandmother."
"Well, I have been attending her lunches more often than you. By the way, she invited Maddox, Leo, and Nick for Thanksgiving too.”
Colton set his jaw, glancing away. “Fine.”
This wasn’t news. Grandmother insisted we all get together a few times a year, but Colton always needed a warning. In the past, so had Jake, but he’d changed his attitude toward our half brothers as of late. As of Natalie.
“Colton, it’s not their fault—”
"I know. I have no time for a lecture again. See you when I see you," he added as we both went to our respective cars.
Our grandmother was right about Colton. Almost unwillingly, I wondered if she was right about Meredith and me too. This intervention of hers was working. It was reverse psychology at its best, and I knew it. We often used it for our coffee ads, and now my grandmother was using it against me.
People weren't meant for each other. I was sure of that. The concept didn't exist. Grandmother was wrong on that one. But attraction was a real thing. I felt it every time I was around Meredith.
I'd teased her enough about catching up on old times. Now I just wanted to hear her voice, to be around her.
Once I got to my brownstone in Back Bay, I poured myself a glass of whiskey, sitting in the huge armchair I had in front of the fireplace. On instinct, I called her.
"Hi, Cade." She sounded uncharacteristically shy.
"Meredith! Are you alone?"
"Yeah. I’m driving to my parents’ house. You?"
"I went boxing with Colton."
"Oh wow. Talk about the unexpected. I thought you’d be a tennis guy or something like that."
"I am. I play with my half brothers on weekends."
"Your half brothers? They live here?" She sounded surprised. Then I realized that happened after I changed schools, so she wouldn’t have known.
"They moved here after college. We grew closer over the years."
"That's cool. So now you have seven brothers, huh? I thought four was a lot."
That made me laugh. "Yeah.”
“When I was little, I always envied your family."
"Why?" I couldn't fathom it. Her parents were warm people who cared for each other.
"Well, I only have my sister, and I love her, don't get me wrong, but I always hoped for more. I want to have at least three kids myself."
“Three!” Not only did that seem like a huge number to me, but it also drove home how different Meredith and I were. There were no children in my future. No plans for a family.
"You're acting as if I told you I want to commit a federal crime. Let me guess—you're an eternal bachelor."
I sipped from my glass, choosing my words carefully. "I don't believe in family."
“Cade!" Her tone was exasperated but also soft.
"I had one, and then it imploded. I kind of expect everyone to lead a double life now. I lay all my cards on the table when I’m dating. I'm easy—or, if you believe my family, a flirt.”
“You certainly have the looks for that."