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“I won’t be alone.” He heard a resigned sigh and the sound of talking again.
“I better get back to the party.”
“Yeah, you should.”
“Merry Christmas, Gus.”
“Merry Christmas, Sky.”
After they hung up, he stared at his phone, trying to decide if he would call Sebastian. He hadn’t heard a peep from his brother in all the time he’d been gone. And though he knew Sebastian was getting settled in Montana with Genevieve and getting ready for their wedding, he had at least expected a text or phone call. Not that he’d reached out either, but this wasn’t normal for his brother. Sebastian was always the one who looked out for him over the years, checked in on him, cleaned up after all his messes. But maybe Sebastian had tired of all that and had finally given up on him.
He tossed his phone on the couch cushion and stood, wandering to the kitchen for something to snack on.
A soft knock summoned him to the door, where he found Adelia holding a few envelopes in her hand.
“These came for you earlier.”
He took them from her. “Thanks.”
“Are you sure you don’t want to come have some dessert with us?” She nodded across the yard toward her party. “Cherry delight. Your mom’s recipe.”
He smiled, knowing that was Adelia’s favorite. “No, thanks,” he replied.
Adelia reached out and rested her hands on Gus’s shoulders, looking him straight in the eyes. “Is this the life you envision for yourself? Living in my pool house, moping around, feeling sorry for yourself every day? Because I know you were meant for more than this, Augustus Schultz, and I want you to come back to the land of the living.”
He reached up and squeezed her forearms. “Not today, Deals.”
“Okay, but you are coming out for New Year’s with me. I won’t take no for an answer.”
He rolled his eyes.
She lifted an eyebrow at him. “I’m serious, Gus.”
“Fine.”
Her arms wrapped around his neck as she hugged him. “Good.” She let go and gave him a smile before heading back to the party.
He closed the door behind her and sighed as he tossed the envelopes on the table by the door and headed for his bedroom. A New Year’s party was the last thing on his mind, but there was no way Adelia was going to let him get out of it.
FOUR
The thought of the new year brought Merritt feelings of excitement and anticipation, along with a good dose of nervousness. For nearly a decade, she had been working to start and grow her cosmetics company, and she was finally on the verge of taking it global. More and more, people were in search of clean makeup products made with simple organic ingredients and no harmful additives. But her passion for these products could only take her so far.
What Merritt needed now was a cash infusion for product development and testing, expanded manufacturing, shipping internationally, and marketing worldwide. She was anxious to launch a new campaign with Adelia as the face of Merritt Cosmetics. But there were many hoops to jump through to move on to the next step, and all of them required more money than she had at her disposal.
The day after Christmas, she had met with a venture capital firm, who sounded very interested in investing in her company. But they had said they’d get back to her with an answer by today and she’d heard nothing yet, which was why her stomach was currently a gigantic bundle of nerves.
She stood in front of her full-length mirror, turning left then right, and took one last look at herself. The gold sequined dress she wore was perfect for a New Year’s party, and she was determined to push her worries aside and enjoy herself for the evening.
Her phone signaled a text from Adelia.
We’re here.
Merritt walked outside to find a black limousine parked in front of her apartment building with the driver standing beside the door, waiting to open it for her.
“Thank you.” She climbed inside and was greeted by whistles.
“Wow! You look hot,” Adelia said.