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“It’s all Dad’s fault,” Wolfe put in. “All of that effort just to spite a guy he went to college with, who he hasn’t seen in more than three decades. No due diligence, no forward planning, no contingencies. Just leaves it up to us to try to make it work.”
“Which is exactly why he’s got a bug up his ass about it. He needs this to work to justify the whole thing. Which is also why, Rhett, you have to be all over it like a fly on shit.”
“Great, thanks for that, Gray.”
“I’m serious. Do whatever you can to convince Scarlett that the benefits of the project far outweigh her concerns.”
“Whatever it takes, huh?”
“Yes. Whatever it takes.”
My brother had no idea of the world of options he’d just given me.
CHAPTER 4
Scarlett
Irested my head against the car seat and closed my eyes, pinching the bridge of my nose. The fact that I was meant to be knocking on Stef’s door ten minutes ago, and I’d told Mom that twice, didn’t stop her. She just droned on and on and on until I had a throbbing headache. I pulled my phone away from my ear. She’d been going for thirty minutes, barely drawing a breath. It was all about how Tyler and Misty had taken Mom and Dad out to the movies. From the way Mom was talking, you’d think they’d gone to the Greek Islands or some shit.
“It was just such a wonderful evening.” The gushing just wouldn’t stop. “Misty is an absolute delight. And Tyler seems so happy with her, doesn’t he? I wouldn’t be surprised if we get some good news soon.”
Well, if that wasn’t putting the cart before the horse, I didn’t know what was. But I wasn’t going to mention that. “Wouldn’t that be great?”
“Yes! I would love to plan a wedding and you know I can’t wait to be a grandma. Tyler will be such a wonderful dad, too.”
Would he, though?I’d roll my eyes, but that would just make my headache worse.
“You know, Scarlett, the next time we all go out, you really should join us,” Mom continued. “It would be lovely if you brought…what’s his name?”
“Who?”
“That boy you were dating. Works for the FBI.”
“Daniel.”
“Yes, Daniel. We’d all love to meet him. I’m sure he and Misty would have a lot to talk about, what with them both working for the government.”
I did actually roll my eyes at that, as though working for the FBI was in any way similar to being an office flunky for a municipal council member.
My parents had been mildly impressed when I’d first mentioned I was dating a law enforcement officer. Now I had to tell her the bad news. “Actually, Mom...” I started, then paused. I knew the reaction I was going to get, and I just didn’t have the energy for any of it. Oh well, better to just rip the band aid off. “Daniel and I broke up.”
The words hung on the line for a moment before Mom made a tsking sound, then said, “I worry about you, Scarlett. You’re past thirty. You really need to start thinking about your future, about settling down. I mean, look at Tyler. Not thirty yet and he has all his ducks lined up.”
“Yeah, well, them’s the breaks, Mom. We can’t all be as perfect as Tyler.” Fuck. I did not mean for that to come out, edged with the bitterness that I always tried to hide.
“Scarlett! There’s no need to be like that! I understand it’s hard for you?—”
No, you don’t. You never have.
“—and I only say this because I do love you. Your father and I just want what’s best for you and honestly, darling, you need to get your life together. You’ve worked hard enough on your career. It’s high time you found yourself a good man and settled down. Started a family.”
Blech.
“How about I talk to Tyler for you? See if he knows anyone that he could set you up with. Obviously, there’s no guarantee that they would be in Misty’s class, but at your age…:
“No! Mom, I have to go. I’ve got a meeting.”
“On a Saturday?”