Page 37 of Billionaire Retreat

“Whatever, I’m sure it’s going to be puffy and swollen tomorrow.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I’ve been hit by a truck.”

“You can tell you’re an actress, drama is definitely your specialty.”

“You’re so catty.”

“Meow,” he said, wrapping an arm around my shoulder. I leaned on him, grateful that he was taking care of me. I’d missed him when I’d returned to Georgia.

When I started feeling less sore, I also started feeling more charitable. “You’re the best cousin in the world. Thank you for getting me off the couch.”

“You’re welcome... but honestly, I wanted to join in on your junk food binge since I’m so miserable, but I’m just too disciplined to eat crap like that.”

“Thanks for that insightful information,” I said sarcastically.

He laughed and then instantly his smile faded as he thought about Cyril. “This whole Cyril situation has got me down. I left Georgia for a reason and I have no interest in going back to the same type of situation. I’m pretty sure Texas will be just as welcoming to our kind as Georgia had been.”

I knew what he was talking about. As far as I knew, he’d been the only openly gay kid at school. He’d been bullied and picked on. The administration hadn’t done much. And so, his mother had sent him to L.A. to live with his father. I’d missed my cousin, but I’d understood.

“The world’s changing, Kenny.”

“Not fast enough,” he said softly.

I looked at him and could see that he was truly upset. Not much got Kenny down, but apparently this situation with Cyril was weighing on him.

“Do you need a hug?”

“I’m not five anymore,” he said, and then looked up at me. “But I’ll still take a hug.”

I embraced him and as I pulled away, I heard someone clear their voice.

I instantly stiffened when I saw her. “Mrs. Wallace.”

“I see you’re still getting around,” she said succinctly. She was wearing designer leggings and a tank top. She looked like she was in great shape. What’s that saying? The evil ones are always well preserved. She then walked away from me without uttering another word.

“Woah, that’s one cold bi—”

“Kenny!” I admonished him.

“What? I wasn’t going to say anything bad.”

“Please! We both know that’s not true.”

He shook his head. “I think she covered me with frost by just glaring at me.”

I laughed. “Let’s go.”

When we were in the car, he said, “I’m sad that you had to deal with the Ice Queen alone. She’s no Elsa, that’s for sure.”

“Kenny,” I said, thoughtfully. “Earlier, Griffin said that he wasn’t married.”

Kenny glanced at me and then back at the road. “But I thought you said that you saw him with his wife and child...”

“That’s what I thought I saw, but what if I jumped to conclusions?” I shook my head sadly. “Then that would mean I single-handedly deprived Sadie of years she could have spent getting to know her father.”

“I don’t know,” Kenny said uneasily. “You did what you thought was right. You made the best decision you could based on all the variables around you.”

“I know, but—”

“No, buts. You can’t go back, so there’s no need to worry yourself about the past.”

He was right, but when we pulled into our neighborhood I couldn't help but wonder if I had let the scared little Nina win. Was it because of my cowardice my daughter didn’t have a father?

I was in a contemplative mood most of the night as I lay in Kenny’s guest bedroom. I felt ridiculous, staying up thinking about Griffin, but I couldn’t help myself.

I couldn’t deny that this trip to L.A. had me second guessing the decisions I made all those years ago. But Kenny was right, that was all in the past. I needed to focus on making things right in the present. Feeling conflicted, I closed my eyes and drifted off into a restless sleep.