Take Your Time (Boston Love #4)(34)

“I’ve heard this tale before,” I remind him in a tired voice.

“It’s different this time!” he snaps, looking more pissed than the day I snuck into his room at age six, disassembled the LEGO castle he’d spent weeks building, and used the pieces to make a house for my Polly Pockets. “ManScents has a massive target demo, and investors are psyched about its potential.”

I freeze. “I’m sorry… did you just say manscents?”

“Yes,” he mutters.

“What in the ever loving hell is a manscent?”

“Did Mom and Dad not tell you about my new company?”

“I’m sure they did at some point,” I murmur unconvincingly. “Honestly, Duncan, you’ve changed careers so many times it’s a little tough to keep track of what you’re up to, these days.”

“Well, we can’t all make it as easy as you do.” He smiles coldly. “I never have trouble keeping up with your career path, considering you’ve never actually bothered to pursue one.”

“Nice. Real nice.”

He shrugs. “You started it.”

“Did we take a time machine back to the ‘90s without my knowledge?” I shake my head. “Can we just talk like adults for once, without the unnecessary verbal sparring?”

“Fine.” He holds up his hands in surrender. “I’ll be on my best behavior.”

A well-behaved Duncan? That’ll be the day.

I stare at him. “What, pray tell, is a manscent? I’d guess, but I’m somewhat afraid of the answer.”

“Pretty self-evident. It’s right there in the name. Man. Scents.”

My brows lift, still totally confused.

“They’re male candles.”

“I wasn’t aware wax had a gender,” I say in a strangled voice, trying very hard not to laugh.

He pins me with an exasperated look. “Candles for men, Lila. Man candles. It’s really not that complicated.”

Complicated? No, that’s not the word I’d use to describe this new business venture. Asinine, on the other hand…

I bite my inner cheek so I don’t start giggling. “And… what do these man candles smell like?”

He hesitates for a beat, jaw ticking like a time bomb. “Our most popular scents are Golf Course and Crispy Bacon. But we’ve been seeing steady increases in demand for Gunpowder and Pot Roast over the past few months. Gym Socks also has a surprisingly strong cult following.”

I try to hold it in, I really do… but I can’t help it. I start cackling like a hyena.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” Duncan sounds majorly offended by my mirth. “Great to know I’ve got your support.”

“I’m sorry,” I gasp, trying to get a handle on my meltdown. “I think…” I choke down a snort and try for a somber tone. “I think ManScents sounds like a genius business idea. Gonna be huge.” Another giggle slips out. “Save me a celebratory Gunpowder candle to light up when you make your first million. It’ll be like blasting off a cannon in my living room.”

“You don’t have to be a bitch.”

“I was being serious!”

He glares at me. “You’re my family. You’re supposed to believe in me, no matter what. Guess it was ridiculous to assume you’d have faith in your own blood, though, huh?”

“Duncan…” I sigh, feeling my amusement flee. I don’t want to crush his dreams, but by god, the man needs a reality check. “Maybe it would be different if this was the first time we’d had this conversation about your big, new business idea… about how it’s so radically different than all the others that failed before it… about how this one is the one that’s finally going to make it big…” I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but we both know that’s just not the case. I wish you all the best, I truly do, but the fact that we share DNA doesn’t guarantee I’ll put blind trust in every one of your ventures. Especially when I’ve been burned in the past.”

“I realize some of my past ideas haven’t panned out but I swear, Lila, this one is—”

“Different?” I cut him off. “I know. They always are… until they’re not.”

He glowers. I know he’d love to contradict me, but he can’t. Deep down, he knows I’m right.

“If I’d known you were going to be such a bitch, I wouldn’t have flown three thousand miles.”

“If being honest makes me a bitch, I guess I’m a bitch.” I shrug. “Trust me, I’d love to believe you about ManScents. I hope it’s a huge success. I’m your sister — I support you, I believe in you. But it can’t be unconditional, Duncan.” My tone gentles, to soften the blow of what comes next. “Trusting your word when it comes to where I should investment my money feels less like a leap of faith and more like a free-fall off the side of a cliff. Onto jagged rocks. In shark infested waters.”

“Oh, fuck you, Lila.” His expression clouds over into a dark scowl. “Clearly I was an idiot to come here, thinking you might help your only sibling.” He pauses and his voice drops low. “Isn’t that what we promised each other, after her funeral? That we’d always be there for each other, now that it’s just the two of us left?”