Page 25 of A Bossy Surprise

Lucas isn’t a violent person. Before today, I would’ve said he was probably the most Zen of everyone in my family. That just goes to show how seriously he took that promise.

I can understand why he got so angry, but him going around punching people is unacceptable. I will have to have a conversation with him about that. I’m just so glad that it didn’t happen in front of Brady because that boy worships his Uncle Lucas.

The last thing I need is for him to get it in his head that it’s okay to hit people.

Goodness, I shudder to think of the calls I would get from his school.

I’m also quite surprised that Adam accepted my apology. Considering how furious he was with me before Lucas showed up, I didn’t think he would be calmed so easily. To be fair, if I were in his shoes, I would make me work a little harder.

He is more gracious than I would be.

I guess I just have to take it as the blessing it is and move forward.

This isn’t going to be easy. I’m so used to being everything to Brady. Even though I’ve had a lot of help from my family over the years, I’ve always been Brady’s whole world. Now, I’m going to be introducing Adam into the equation.

I don’t know how Brady is going to respond to that, or how it will affect my relationship with him.

That’s the thing that has me the most unsettled about this whole situation.

What if Brady bonds with Adam and likes him more?

Oh my God… Barf…

I roll my eyes.

I guess we will cross that bridge if we ever get to it.

8

ADAM

It’s been two days since the showdown in Kayla’s office. I gave Lucas a day to calm down, and have been calling him for the past 24 hours. He hasn’t answered a single one of my calls.

It’s moments like this that I love how predictable my best friend is.

Ever since he started making money, whenever he’s out of town and there’s a Hilton wherever he goes, that’s where he stays. Something about cleanliness, service, and trust as it relates to name recognition.

If this were any other relationship, I would be happy to let it die, but Lucas is important to me. He’s probably the person who knows me the best besides my mother. I know he feels betrayed by me, but that doesn’t mean we can’t come back from this.

I’m not willing to leave this up to chance. So I’m going to force the issue.

I pull up to the Hilton in downtown Cleveland. I hand my keys to a valet and make my way inside.

It’s 8 o’clock in the evening on a weekday. So if he’s staying here he should be in his room.

When I get to the reception desk, I put on my best poker face and say, “Good evening. My name is Adam Grant. My friend, Lucas Wood, is staying with you and I’m supposed to be meeting with him. Could you call up and let him know I’m here?”

“Of course, sir.” The young blonde man in an impeccable suit says. “What room is your friend in?”

“You can’t find his room?”

“Yes, I can, sir. I just need you to give me the room number for security reasons.”

Shit. I don’t know what room Lucas is in, but if he had plans to stay long like he said the other day, he wouldn’t have gotten an ordinary room.

“He’s in the penthouse,” I say.

The receptionist types on the computer in front of him, then says, “Very good sir. I’ll let Mr. Wood know you’re here.”