Page 64 of Floodgates

“You started it with the whole ‘would you date her’ bullshit.”

“Yeah, I did,” I assented, owning that.

“But to your original question, do I think Celia Hughes is pretty?”

“Yeah.”

“She’s a beautiful woman.”

“Yeah, I thought so too.” I sighed wearily.

“But a homewrecker nonetheless.”

“Whatever. It takes two to wreck a home. She couldn’t have done it by herself.”

“Funny, though.”

“What is?”

“You and Breckin.”

“How so?”

“I never actually saw it. You and him, I mean.”

“What are you talking about?” I asked, turning to look at him. “You loved Breckin.”

“Past tense, yeah. Not anymore,” he made clear. “He cheated twice.”

“How did you know? Did Alex tell you?”

“Oh, come on, Trace, there’s only one reason people take a break. Alex didn’t have to tell me. I knew when Dad told me Breckin moved out that that’s what happened.”

“That’s bullshit,” I said, rubbing my eyes.

He scoffed. “Whatever you say.”

“I knew Alex knew,” I sighed, looking back at him.

“He’s a cop, right? He’s gonna notice shit like your friend treating Breckin like a leper.”

“Yeah.”

“And just so you know, even if you forgive him for all this bullshit—I won’t. Not ever. Nobody treats you like this. He and I are done.”

It was so sad to hear. One of my favorite things had been that both my brothers liked Breckin so much.

“But even before that, I never really got you guys.”

“How do you mean?”

He shrugged. “He’s a status guy, and you, you’re happy with the working-class stiff. You’re about the day-to-day and the work and the long run, and him, he’s more about the fast rise and power and prestige.”

“How can you say that? He was an ER doctor.”

“Was,” he emphasized. “Now he does research and decides who gets grants from the foundation he works for. He attends fundraisers and stuff like that. He’s the face of Dedham; rolling in money now.”

“I guess.”