out with us, since we were just a couple of kids at the time. He still hung out with us, but more in secret. I don’t think he wanted to let on to his friends that he was slumming it with some dorky kids. “I don’t think anyone was as bad as you, Pres.”
He waves his hand through the air, done with this conversation. After a while, he asks, “So, how’s work going?”
I nod as I take a sip of my beer, already starting to feel a little better. “It’s going well. I’ve officially been there a year, so hopefully the promotions start rolling in soon.”
“I don’t understand the whole promotion thing. I mean, you’re a writer now, so a promotion to what exactly?”
“Writing better pieces—things that make the cover or are a page long instead of just a couple paragraphs. The bigger the piece, the more recognition you get. And eventually, I could move to head writer—or even editor. However, it’s going to take a lot longer than a year. Some people have been there since the magazine started, and they haven’t even gotten a promotion yet.” I shrug. “But for now, I’m content. I mean, it keeps me busy, it pays the bills, and I do enjoy writing.” I look over at him as he watches a couple of girls run to the water. “How’s work going for you?”
“Working on the Chicago Cubs team is cool, but being a systems analyst is kind of boring. It’s all just a bunch of numbers and computer stuff, you know?”
I nod but don’t understand a thing about his job. Preston went to college for sports management after dislocating his shoulder playing football our senior year. He wasn’t ever super-serious about continuing to play in college, but I think part of him was hoping for a scholarship that would eventually take him to the NFL. When playing sports got thrown out the window, he went into sports management as a last resort to stay involved in sports even though he would never be a famous quarterback. I thought he loved his job, but it sounds like he just loves sports and wants to be involved however he can.
“And how’s Calvin doing with his new law office?”
He nods and takes a sip. “Good, as far as I know. We only talk about once a week and it’s rarely about work. I can tell you what he had for dinner last Thursday or that he just broke up with the woman he was seeing these last three months, but I don’t know anything about his office or how it’s going.”
I smile. “Yeah, Jake and I are the same way. He just moved from his apartment in Chicago to his new place in New York. He got a big promotion with the move and my parents are so proud of him. Kinda leaves me feeling a little like a failure.”
He studies my face. “You know that isn’t true, right?”
I shrug. “I mean, Jake is some bigwig in the insurance industry and I’m a columnist? Doesn’t really compare.”
“And my brother is a lawyer and all I do is play with computers. When you say it like that, there’s no comparison. But when I say I’m a systems analyst for the Chicago Cubs, it sounds a little better, don’t you think?”
I laugh and nod. “You got me there. But there isn’t any other way to say you’re a columnist . . .”
“You could say you’re the head writer for Wonder Home Magazine.” His blue eyes widen and his brows shoot up like he’s found the secret code.
I laugh. “But that isn’t true. I’m not the head writer. I’m a lowly columnist.”
He shrugs it off. “Maybe our bothers are the ones who need to get together. They’re both outshining us.”
I smile over at him. “You do realize my brother is married with a wife and three kids, right? I highly doubt there’s any chance of that happening.”
He looks offended that I shot down his idea. “You never know. He could still be hiding the truth from himself,” he jokes.
“When are you going back home?” I ask him.
“Monday morning. You?”
“Tomorrow. I have work on Monday. You need to bring Calvin by my place. I haven’t seen him in forever. Last Christmas, I think.” I wrinkle my nose as I try to think of the last time I saw him.
“You got the hots for my brother?” he jokingly asks.
I snort and roll my eyes. “Highly doubtful,” I laugh out and