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He chuckles. “Tonight, I’m meeting Dyson for drinks. Would you like to join us?”
Dyson is our older brother; he’s forty-one and the CEO of our family’s company, Banks Finance. When my father retired, Dyson took over so the company wouldn’t be controlled by someone who wasn’t family. It was always supposed to be me, but I decided to continue forward with my sister’s legacy and took over her firm. It only took me two years before we were at the top, changing the lives of so many. Thankfully, all the traveling I did in my twenties paid off. I found investors, expanded the business, and used my contacts to forge connections between various industries.
“We’ll be at the bar by his house around eight,” Nick says.
“I appreciate the invite, but I can’t. I have tons of work to catch up on before the end of next week. I’m working from home because of it.”
He gives me a pointed look. “Will you ever forgive him?”
“I don’t know,” I state.
He dated a woman I thought I was in love with. I wasn’t. However, it hurt to know that Dyson didn’t respect my boundaries. I lost trust in him the day he asked Emma out.
“Do you think we’re cursed?” I ask Nick.
“What do you mean?”
“Do you think we’re incapable of being in a relationship, just like our father? Look at Dyson. You. Me. The three of us are in the same boat with our relationships. Maybe it’s bred into us,” I say, throwing the ball into the air.
The conversation isn’t that serious; Nick knows how I’ve felt about this for months. I need more time.
“Look, I’ve done some shitty things in relationships. Ruined mybest friend’s soon-to-be wedding. But I’m not a bad person. He isn’t either. I think the problem we each have is, we fall hard and fast, and when that happens, we lose our logic. Dad was the same way. Otherwise, I wouldn’t be sitting here right now.”
I smile. “I’m glad he fucked your mom.”
“I’m glad he decided to re-fuck your mom,” he tells me with a laugh. “I think it would’ve been lonely, being an only child.”
Nick also has an older half-sister, but she was never around. It was always just us. He was the cool older brother who snowboarded competitively and played hockey professionally. It’s how he became best friends with Zane Alexander. Years later, he ruined that brotherhood. To make things even more awkward, they are now officially stepbrothers. He’s currently trying to repair their friendship that’s hanging by a thread.
“Just to play devil’s advocate, you and Emma had been over for three months when Dyson asked her out,” Nick says. “And you weren’t supposed to be at that party.”
“Hmm. Maybe your stepsister shouldn’t have invited me,” I tell him. “He knew how I felt about Emma. We’d talked about it in depth. He knew I would’ve married her.”
“I get it.” Nick sighs. “But I don’t think you were in love. The two of you were much better friends.”
I smile. “Maybe I wasn’t, but I could see myself falling in love with her. And it felt like a betrayal. He never apologized.”
He nods. “That’s why you should come tonight. Give him an opportunity.”
“Maybe some other time,” I say.
“I just don’t want you to regret something,” Nick tells me.
“He can make the effort if he cares. Now, can we talk about something else?”
Nick’s brows crease as he looks behind me. Then he suddenly bursts into laughter. I turn in my seat to see Billie directing someone on a ladder as a sign is hung. It saysASSHOLEin big letters with several exclamation points behind it.
I smile, interlocking my fingers together. “Oh, she wants to play.”
Billie glances at me, and I wave. She glares and then returns to her desk.
“Little Calloway has spirit. Gotta give her that.” His phone buzzes. “Shit, I’m supposed to be in a meeting. I’ll catch you later.”
“Sure.” I give him a nod, turning back to my desktop, trying to push thoughts of her out of my head.
“You think she’ll cave?” he asks, moving toward the door.
“Eventually,” I tell him. “She loves Bellamore. She’ll do whatever it takes to save it.”