Page 4 of Submitting to Them

“Yeah.She’s working tonight, of course.How do we convince her to quit the pub?”

“No idea.I’ve a mind to find out where she owes money and pay off all her debts, but even I know that wouldn’t be a welcome gesture.”

“She’s very proud.”

“If she moved in with one of us, she might stop working at the pub,” I say.“Because then she won’t be paying rent.”

“Or she’ll keep working to save more money, or insist on payingusrent.”

“Shit, I didn’t think about that.”I drum my fingers on the table for a minute.

There’s nothing I can come up with, no easy solution to help Ella without offending her or us coming off like controlling assholes.

Our server returns with my iced tea.As soon as they leave, Kingston says, “I guess we just ask her if she wants to move in with one of us, and maybe, eventually, she’ll feel comfortable enough to not pay rent.If nothing else, she could save her money toward rent, if she’s worried about breaking up.Which certainly won’t be initiated by me.”

“Not by me, either,” I say.The very idea makes my heart crack.

Kingston’s focus strays to his phone.

“Okay, stop it,” I say.“What’s really going on?”

He sighs and shoves the phone to the side, farther out of his reach.“I want out, Bash.”

“Out of…?”

“Out of the business.I’m rich.”

I laugh.“No shit.”

“I’ve earned enough, and I’m tired of working all the time.If I quit, I could do, I don’t know, fun shit.Or I could just take a more hands-off approach to the business.Consult.Sit in on the occasional meeting.”

“Remember when we were in college?”I say.“You always said you didn’t want to become a rich prick.Rich, yes.A prick, no.”

He levels a gaze at me.“You think I’m turning into a prick.”

“Leaving for work at four a.m.?While a beautiful girl asks you to stay in bed with us?Yeah.”

“Look, my goal is to step back.Work less.”

I shrug, take a sip of my tea, and say, “All right.How long do you have to push so hard before you can take a back seat?What’s your timeline?”

“I don’t have one yet.”

“If you don’t come up with one, then it sounds to me like you’re all talk.”

“Fucking hell.”He lifts his whiskey and swallows the rest down.“You’re right.I’ll think on it.”

I know I’m right.

Kingston’s phone buzzes and he snatches it from the table.His eyebrows bunch together and he starts to stand.

“Dude, don’t,” I say.

He gives me a regretful look.“Sorry, Kristin needs help with something.I’m the only one who can do it.”

I don’t say anything else, just let him go.He knows what he’s doing isn’t healthy.

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