“You loaned her some of the money?” Drew asked.
“I invested. For three percent of the company, so she wouldn’t have to pay taxes on the gifted amount,” Anna said.
“Smart and beautiful. A deadly combination,” Drew said, smirking.
“Do you help Bryan employ the homeless men on the projects?” Anna asked.
“Nope. That’s all Bryan’s passion. He goes into the shelters and gets to know them. Serves them food. Helps them out. It’s his thing, and his thing alone.”
“That’s incredible,” Anna said. “You should feel really good about that. I’m so glad my sister found someone who’s as honest and helpful as you are.”
“It’s really nothing. Look, the traffic is starting to die down. We should get going,” I said.
“Don’t take it personally,” Drew said. “He doesn’t like talking about the good he does for the community.”
“Why not?” Anna asked. “I’d be all over that shit if I was doing it.”
“He doesn’t do it for the glory,” Drew said. “Or the attention.”
“I’m all about attention, sorry,” Anna said, giggling.
“I could pay you some attention if you’d like,” Drew said.
“Wait, why don’t you talk about it?” Hailey asked.
I could see the confusion on her face. I pulled my hand from ar
ound her body and slipped my hand into hers. She was so warm and inviting, and I needed to have her in my arms tonight. I loved that she enjoyed the time with her sister, but I missed her.
I missed her more than I was willing to admit.
“Because it’s about doing good deeds. It’s not about publicity or wanting people to know I do it. I do it to help. Nothing else,” I said.
“But that could really be a boost to your company’s brand,” Anna said. “I’m a regularly-employed lawyer with many smaller companies in the Phoenix area, and even I know you could boost your business by aligning yourself with a cause. You wouldn’t even have to advertise that you, personally, do it. Just that you support the homeless community and want to do something about it.”
“It’s not about that, though,” I said.
“Then what is it about?” Hailey asked.
“It ...”
I sighed, and my eyes locked with Drew. I could tell he was wanting me to tell them. He wanted me to open up to Hailey and tell her a bit about myself. I was hesitant about that, though. I was hesitant about telling her the emotions I held close to my chest. I didn’t feel ready to talk about what happened to my brother and how it sparked this insatiable need to help the homeless community, get them on the right path, and get them clean.
To save them from the fate that befell my brother.
“My brother, John. I see him in all the homeless people I employ,” I said.
“Was he homeless or something?” Anna asked.
“For a time. He was a drug addict. He’d get clean, slip up. That sort of deal. I’m not sure about the last few months of his life, but I know he was homeless for those last few months.”
“What happened to him?” Anna asked.
I felt Hailey brace against me, but I wasn’t sure why. Her eyes were downcast in her lap, almost as if she was trying to hide from something, and I second-guessed what I was about to do. I didn’t want to lose her. I didn’t want to push her away with my damage. She was so put together and grounded, and I didn’t want my emotional baggage to be the reasons he left.
“He eventually overdosed while on the streets. Died in an alleyway one night while it was raining.”
“I’m so sorry, Bryan,” Anna said.