Page 99 of Bargain With the Boss

“Sorry, man. I can’t let her go off like that. Not when it was my fault.”

“It’ll wait.” Gavin hopped down. “Go talk to her.”

Jude nodded and jogged across the parking lot to the hill.

“So, when are you going to tell Jude you’re in love with his sister?”

“Hell.”

Gavin snickered. “Another one bites the dust.”

“If only it was that easy.”

And she didn’t lie to me about something so huge.

“Go on. This has been a cluster. We’ll do it another day.”

“Sorry, G. This was a great idea though.” I slapped his arm. “Such a thoughtful guy.”

“Shut up.” He was wrapping up the cornerstone carefully.

This place meant something, and I needed to keep my eye on that prize.

I headed up the hill after Jude and Sydney.

I was catching feelings, but I couldn’t shake the thought that she lied to me about this—what else was she lying about?

Chapter 23

Sydney

The lake blurred as I practically ran around the path past the food trucks to the more secluded portion of the lake. I just needed a spot to hide.

I hated to cry, but in front of those three men—absolutely not.

Or the unsuspecting people who wanted a damn taco.

I took a left off the path into the grove of sugar maples where a few benches were hidden in the shade.

“Sydney!”

God, couldn’t he just let it be?

I wasn’t sure which was worse—my brother or Xavier.

When I heard my name again, my shoulders hunched. My brother.

All week, I’d been dreading the turn of each day. The countdown to another loss of my team made my stomach churn. That my inability to break my brother’s heart was going to take away the livelihood of people that counted on me all because my mother couldn’t stand the idea of Jude being happy without her.

I put my head between my knees as my empty stomach burned.

Jude’s voice got closer.

I should get up and go deeper into the trees. Maybe he wouldn’t find me.

Maybe he wouldn’t find out just how awful I was.

“Sydney.” His voice was shaky. “God, are you okay?” He crouched next to me.