Page 38 of The Bargain (Dalton Family #2)
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sofia
W e end up throwing on jeans and T-shirts before grabbing Starbucks on the way to the passport office.
There’s this surreal moment as we wait at the counter for our coffees that I think, we’re a couple doing couple things, creating our own habits, learning things about each other, like we both love white mocha with skim milk and whipped cream.
I’m ridiculously pleased by the similarity, and as we climb back into the SUV and hand Paul his cinnamon dolce, I’m equally as pleased that he thought of our driver.
I also decide that Ethan smells like a forest on a fall day, woodsy and wild, with a hint of salt and amber.
Once we’re at the passport office, there’s a delay, and we end up sitting in wait for hours, which has me wishing I’d gotten something to eat when we got coffee.
During that time, Harper sends over the contract for me to review, but she summarizes the endgame.
I’m getting millions upon millions if the Zoey brand goes big, and I know that’s because of Ethan.
I also know it’s a little like the lottery.
It may be pennies, not millions, but I plan to turn my soft thank you to Ethan while we’re here, in the midst of a crowd, into loud appreciation later.
When the time comes and I hold my passport in hand, I’m a little giddy. “No one in my family has ever left the country, but thanks to you, Ethan, I am.”
“This is all you, baby. The Zoey brand you created is amazing. It’s all about your talent. Let’s go celebrate with lunch.”
A few minutes later, we climb into the backseat of the SUV, and I glance over at Ethan. “It’s nearly noon, and there’s been nothing from my father.”
“Give him time to process. He’ll come around.”
“I’m supposed to review the contract and sign over lunch,” I remind him. “Then we fly out to New York.”
“We’ll stay an extra day.”
I sigh in defeat. “I don’t think it will matter.”
“We won’t know unless we try. I’ll call and make arrangements to leave tomorrow night.”
“I thought you had trouble at home to deal with?”
“It’ll wait. Let’s get this handled so you can look toward the future and enjoy the ride you’re about to take.”
“You’re sure?”
“One hundred percent.” His voice is certain. “Now, where are we going for our celebration?”
“I know a Mexican place by my house.”
“Perfect. Tell Paul where to take us.”
“SOL, Paul,” I call out. “It’s on third.”
“I know it,” he says. “Good choice.”
It’s a full half hour later when we sit in a booth with margaritas, guacamole and chips, and my MacBook, as Ethan explains certain parts of the contract to me, outlining ways I could have gotten screwed and didn’t. “Now you know for the future what to look for. And now, you can sign and celebrate.”
My heart leaps, and my hand trembles. “This doesn’t feel real.
I can’t believe this is happening.” I scroll to the proper page, accept a digital signature, and make it official.
It’s done. And I hesitate only a moment before I send the screenshot to my father with a text: Zoey is happening! It’s done!
Ethan lifts our glasses. “Toast?”
“Toast,” I say, and set my phone down, accepting my glass.
“To a beautiful future dressed in Zoey by Sofia,” he says in what has to be the best toast ever.
We clink glasses, and I’m all smiles when my cellphone buzzes with a text. “I sent a note to my father,” I say, and quickly exchange my glass for my phone to find he’s replied: That’s amazing news, honey. I came by the shop and your house, and you’re not here. Where are you? Did you leave?
My heart leaps all over again, and I turn to Ethan. “My father tried to come see us. He’s asking where we are now.”
“That’s good. That’s what we wanted. Tell him to join us for lunch.”
“Right. Yes. I’ll do that.”
I text my father: We’re at SOL. We haven’t ordered yet. You want to join us? We’d like it if you did.
He answers right away with no hesitation: I’ll be there in five.
I set my phone down. “He’s on his way. You were right. What did you say to him?”
“Pretty much the same things I’ve said to you about him and us.”
“What about us?”
“I told him I planned on staying around, so it was going to suck to watch him do business with someone else when I believe we can make magic and money together.”
“You told my father you plan to stick around?”
“Of course, I did. I also told him what turned me around, which was him, through you. And if he wants to talk business before we leave town, I’m all for it.”
“I can leave after lunch and let you two talk. Or you can use my place, and I’ll go to the store for a while.”
“He might want to go to his offices,” he suggests. “That’s where he feels in control. I’m willing to do whatever. Let’s play it by ear.”
“Okay. I need to go meet him out front.” I lean in and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Ethan.”
He captures my waist. “Stop thanking me. This is a win for me, too. Keep reminding him of that, baby.”
“I will,” I say, and I slide out of the booth, snatch up my phone, and rush for the door.
I’ve been outside for about three or four minutes when he shows up, and he doesn’t hesitate to pull me into a bear hug. “Congratulations, honey. I’m so proud of you.” He eases back to look at me. “Ethan told me you’re a superstar.”
“I didn’t know he was going to show up at your door. He was supposed to be waiting on me at Starbucks, and after I told him how it went when we talked, he just took off. I couldn’t stop him. Did he freak you out?”
“It was unexpected, but I respect him for wanting to look me in the eyes and share his intentions toward you more than anything. I believe he cares about you.”
“What about him wanting to invest in you?”
He scrubs a hand over his jaw before he plants both on his waist. “It’s weird having an investor and partner that’s involved with my daughter, but there are reasons I approached him.
He’s known to be smart and ethical, and when I met with him, he seemed genuinely interested in our business.
It just took me a bit to get out of my own head.
I’m sorry I reacted so badly to your visit last night. ”
“Don’t be sorry. The Ethan and me thing is unexpected and kind of shocking, even to me but, Dad, he’s from a different world, and yet he seems to think Zoey is going to erase that feeling for me.”
“He really believes in you. He made that clear, and I believe him.”
“He lost his mom, too. She wrote him journals, almost as if she knew she was going to die, but he’s not close to his dad.
He seems to really understand how important you are to me.
Truly, he’s pretty amazing. I’m trying not to be too scared because of who he is, and every time I start feeling scared, he’s the one who makes me feel safe. ”
My dad steps closer, and his hands settle on my shoulders. “If you don’t risk your heart, you don’t find your heart. Now, let’s go inside and let me get to know Ethan. Not as an investor, as the man in my daughter’s life.”
“But you’re going to let him invest, right? He’ll be fair, Dad. He’s honest.”
“Let me and Ethan work that out. Right now, I want to celebrate your success.” He drapes his arm over my shoulder and turns me toward the door.
Nerves erupt in my stomach at the idea of him and Ethan coming together for lunch, both judging each other for various reasons.
Or maybe they just want to like each other , I tell myself.
Nothing is going to go wrong.
Nothing at all.