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“It wasn’t like that. I took on a job for him to try and help you, only I—”
“What?”
I swallow, hating that I hurt him. The noise of the street fades to the in my ears as I quickly outline my plan and what happened. Only I don’t mention the contract. I don’t mention that part at all.
“I knew it,” he says when I’m done.
“Knew what?”
“Knew you’d get yourself hurt by working for him. I could sense there was more than you working for Hudson.” He sighs. “He isn’t for us. I thought I wanted to work for him, but that’s out of the picture and nothing will change that.”
“You need the money.”
Danny nods and slides his hands in his pockets. “You’re my big sister and you’ve taken it on yourself to help me. And that’s on me because when I first got in deep shit with my stupid decisions in trusting my business partner I borrowed some money from you. And I’ve used you as my sounding board and you… Scarlett, you can’t fix things for me. I’m not asking and I should never have asked you in the first place. I’ve had my head up my own ass so long I missed all the signs.”
“What signs?” We’re outside the bar, but right now, I wish we were inside, and I was knee deep in drinks. But something tells me drowning my sorrows isn’t going to help.
He toes a piece of old newspaper on the pavement with his boot. “Everything you’ve been doing since college. You had plans, Scarlett, until you didn’t. At first, I figured the years of odd jobs were a way to save up to go to grad school. But there’s been a letter buried on your coffee table from Berkley.”
I stare at him. “There is?” Then I bite my lip. “I forgot about that. I didn’t open it. I need to throw that out.”
“It was an offer of a place way back at the beginning of the year. I know, I opened it. I only just started thinking about it with all this. And the huge amount of money you sent me.”
“I can’t afford that degree. It’s not a scholarship.”
“You could if you used this money.”
“It’s yours.”
He sighs and steps up to me and gives me a hug, and I stay there, listening to the steady, familiar beat of my brother’s heart. “I’m not a kid. And I’d rather you respected that, Scarlett.” He kisses the top of my head. “These are my mistakes and I’ll find a way to fix them, and make my career happen—even if I have to abandon it for now while I get out there and work. I’m not taking your money, okay?”
“I did it for you.” I try to pull free, but my brother tightens his hold.
“Yeah, and we’re okay, honestly. I love you and I’m going to be better than okay, but you have to look after you, not me.”
This time I pull away. “Danny, I always keep my eye out on you. I promised Gran—”
“But you took on more than you should, more than I wanted you to do. Now, I’ve got a meeting here at the bar for a job. I’m thinking I can work here, and start from scratch with the real estate, you know? Rebrand, start renting out little places here and there and build. But first, I’m going to earn the money, not you. And if you like this Hudson—”
“Don’t.” I wrap my arms around my waist. “I screwed that up, too. And—”
“You’ve a good heart, Scarlett. I don’t know all the details, only you took on a job with him, but…” He smiles like he suspects there’s more to it than I’ve told him. “If he doesn’t see what he’s got, then he doesn’t deserve you. Because maybe you took the job to help me, get in with him, put in a good word, but you care about him.”
“Go to your interview. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
“We’re good?”
“We are.”
I sniff and my eyes get a little blurry as he goes into the bar. I’m sort of at a loss on the street. All I’ve done is just make a huge mess of everything. Even Danny claims he doesn’t need my help and I did all that for…what?
I guess it doesn’t matter. I’m on my own, needing a job. And maybe I can go back to my AI work. Maybe a move would be good. I don’t know. I start towards the train when a sleek, spotless cream-colored car pulls to a stop and a door opens.
It’s Faye. Hudson’s mother. She’s looking completely perfect as usual and she pats the seat next to her. “Get in. Please.”
I’m so shocked I do.
“Scarlett. I was waiting for you.”
