My Boyfriend's Brother
"Sam, tell him he's being modest."
"You're being modest," Sam said, entirely on cue, and refilled his own glass.
I ate my potatoes.
"How's the new job going, Sam?" Liam asked, and I watched Sam's whole face light up like someone had switched him on.
"Brilliant, actually. Wouldn't have it if it wasn't for you putting a word in."
"It was nothing."
"It wasn't nothing to us," Ruth said, and reached across to squeeze Liam's hand on the table, and I thought, distantly, that my own sister was currently holding my boyfriend's hand with more enthusiasm than I had all week.