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“Say you love me. That’s a high school trick. You can’t get what you want, so you say you love her to get into her pants. It’s not fair. You can’t say that now.”
“But it’s true,” he yelled.
I blinked, trying to hold back tears. “Look, Josh, you’re a great guy, but you have to go to London, and I can’t leave Rossi’s. I have to stay here.”
“I know that. That’s why I’m staying in LA. For you.”
I began to cry. “I am not going to wake up a month from now, or a year from now, and see in your eyes that you hate me because I made you choose between me and your dad, between me and your promise. Your dream.”
“You won’t. It won’t be like that.”
“Don’t you see? You have to go to London or let him down, let your family down, and renege on your promise—the very same thing you said you’d never forgive me for. I won’t let you do that. It’s not fair to you, and in the end, it’s not fair to me when you end up hating me for it.”
“I can’t hate you; I love you.”
“Stop saying that. You’re probably the most principled man I’ve ever met. And I won’t let you destroy that about yourself on my account. You have to keep your promise to your dad and to your family. Family comes first, remember? Isn’t that the Benson way?”
“You don’t get it. You’re more important to me than that.”
I banged my head back against the door and tried again. “I’ve grown up in a family company. I know how it is, which is why I have to stay at Rossi’s. It’s my duty, my destiny—my family’s legacy is at stake. The same is true for you, but that destiny runs through London. You told me so yourself. You’ve had your heart set on running that operation. I can’t do long distance. Maybe some people can, but I can’t.”
“I’ll quit the company and stay here with you, at Rossi’s.”
“It would break your father’s heart for you to quit. Just as there’s no Rossi’s without a Rossi at the helm, you have to stay at Benson. You’re the last brother standing. You told me so yourself. You’d still end up hating me later. I won’t let you quit the company over me.”
“You’re still not listening to me, Nickels. I love you, and love conquers all. We can make this work. You have to know that in your heart. I can leave the company if I have to.”
Talking about my aching heart was a place I couldn’t go. “It’s been a long day. I’m going upstairs.”
“Tell me you don’t feel the same way about me that I feel about you.”
“I’m going upstairs now, Josh.”
“Are you lying to me again?”
I blew out a breath. “I am not lying to you.”
“Then tell me you don’t love me, and I’ll go away.”
I couldn’t utter those words. They’d be a lie. He’d know it, and worst of all, I’d know it. “Josh, we’re done.”
“Okay. We’ll talk another time.”
I let out a relieved breath. “Another time,” I repeated.
“This isn’t like dessert in Barbados. This time it’s the truth, right?”
“Josh,” I said, shaking my head.
“Is it?”
I felt tricked again by his logic. “It’s the truth. Another time.”
“I’ll leave your tacos here by the door, in case you’re hungry. Or you can feed them to Echo—your choice.”
I snorted. “He doesn’t eat Mexican.”
“How do you know if you haven’t tried?”
