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“No shit.” Cal looked at Lucas as though he pitied him and his uphill battle. “Don’t hurt her.”
“I can’t promise that, but if I do, I’ll do everything I can to make it right.” Lucas knew he would mess up and hurt her, and he feared it would happen sooner rather than later. His dad still wouldn’t give him a straightforward answer on Brewster’s, and Jack avoided him. He and Maggie were finally together and Lucas felt powerless imagining the pain train destroying their newfound happiness. Choo-choo, he thought bleakly as Cal tossed the game controller in his lap.
Chapter 21
“Hey, Vivi.”
“Hey yourself. You’re here earlier than usual. Time off for good behavior?” she asked, sliding the tea selection toward him, but he pushed it back.
“Something like that. Is Maggie around?” He’d finished early and Kevin, the Tetons main receptionist, had snagged dinner reservations for them at the hot new place in downtown that everyone was talking up.
He and Maggie hadn’t gone on a proper date yet, and it was long overdue. Plus, he knew she’d be impressed with the restaurant, and maybe him, too, with his pressed button-down and dress slacks. He would have picked up a bouquet, but the flowers he’d brought her last month still looked great. Must be her green thumb, he’d thought the other night when he’d stuck his nose into a fully open yellow rose.
“No. She took off about an hour ago after meeting with Jack. She said she had a headache.” Vivi leaned on the counter and looked over her shoulders, motioning him closer. “But Maggie doesn’t—”
“Get headaches,” he finished with her. Vivi nodded her head.
“I’m outta here.” He dashed toward the door, not waiting for her reply. Lucas took the stairs two at a time. He buzzed her apartment and waited. He tried again. Nothing. This is not good. He checked his phone to make sure he hadn’t missed a call or text. I’m not going away. You’re going to have to deal with me, he thought, pushing the security button harder and longer before stabbing it with short, impatient jabs. The lock finally released, and Lucas yanked the door open and bolted down the hallway.
Maggie’s door stood ajar, and he slid inside, closing it behind him. The room was dark, but her sniffling gave away her location. He eased himself onto the couch, careful not to sit on her, or worse, George. The last thing he needed was to squish her cat to death.
Lucas carefully pulled her into his arms and tucked her head under his chin. He stroked her hair and slowly drew circles on her back, hoping she didn’t notice that his circles were heart-shaped. He couldn’t help himself. “Heard you have a headache,” he said, goading her to correct him and hopefully give him an opening.
“I don’t get headaches,” she mumbled into his chest.
“I know that and so does Vivi, so you might want to find a better excuse for next time.”
“Doesn’t matter. There won’t be a next time.” Her fingers brushed over his shirt. It felt good until he realized her fingers were trying to pleat the fabric, her nervous tell.
“Sweet bean, why won’t there be a next time?” He covered her hand with his, forcing her fingers to still. If her fingers stopped moving, maybe her mouth would start. She needed to tell him something. Something concrete and useful. Something actionable.
She took a deep breath, and it shuddered as it left her body. Maggie sat up straighter and leaned her head against his shoulder. He couldn’t hold her in that position, and he wondered if that was her intent. As if sitting up straighter would strengthen her and allow her to share her hurt with him. Her icy fingers clasped his.
“Sweet bean, huh?”
“You always smell like sugar and coffee.”
“Hmmm, we’re going to circle back to that. Later.”
He shrugged, not wanting her to know how proud he’d been of creating a unique term of endearment just for her. It was easier to sweep a defensive lineman off his size fourteen feet than Maggie’s petite tens.
“Vivi said you had a meeting with Jack before you left.”
“He already sold the business. Without telling me.” Her voice cracked, and she curled her body into his. Lucas wrapped his arms around her, wishing he could shield her from the pain. “I…I told him I thought we had a deal. That he would wait until I had the money.”
“What did he say?”
“He said he’d waited long enough and couldn’t wait any longer. Jack should have told me, Lucas. He should have given me a warning or something.”
“He should have.”
“And now I have to pay the lawyer for this worthless deal and tell my parents I failed before I even started.”
“Hey, now, you didn’t fail.”
“I did and pretty soon I’ll be an unemployed failure.”
“What do you mean? Did he fire you? Did you quit?”
