Page 69 of Theirs to Treasure

Sam nodded. Figured, Sam was like Sarah in that. Chance was more like Becca.

“So, it must have been really bad, huh?” Chance nudged her to have another sip of her juice.

“You would have thought so by how bad I was reacting yesterday, but I think some of that was because of the flu. Now that I have a little time and distance, I really think I overreacted. I mean this is tough, don’t get me wrong. But I’ve sure as hell dealt with tougher. Boy, have I dealt with tougher, and so have they.” She grinned.

“What’s tough about this?” Chance frowned. “I thought this was pretty good.”

“What’s tough is that Sarah is really happy, and I quote, ‘thrilled you have two boyfriends who treat you well after the douchebag’.”

Sam snorted out a laugh. “I’m with Team Sarah. Now what about Becca?”

Josie felt her bottom lip tremble, despite all the talk about being tough.

“Becca said that a relationship like ours wasn’t normal. She wants me to get married and have kids so she can be an aunt. She said she just didn’t feel that in her heart it was the right thing for me to do. Then she hugged me.”

Chance caught the tear that escaped her with his forefinger.

“I couldn’t be mad at her, and I didn’t want to argue with her. It was a loving way to reject me…Us.”

Chance took the tray out of her lap.

“Come here, Zee.”

She snuggled up against him.

“What did you say in return?” Sam asked.

“I told her I was proud of her for speaking up and that no matter what we disagreed about, or how often, I would always love her, too.” She reached across Chance and snagged the napkin off the tray and blew her nose.

She looked at both men. “What else could I say? I mean, that was really freaking brave of her to say. I am proud of her.” She gulped. “It just hurts, you know?”

She looked at Chance, then at Sam, waiting for them to say something.

“What are you going to do?” Chance finally asked.

“Well, I’m sure as hell not giving up on us.” She said with a fierce smile.

“Hallelujah,” Sam murmured.

“I think I might have the start of a plan.” Chance said.

Chapter 27

After Josie finally finished everything on her tray, she settled in for a nap. Sam and Chance walked out to the dock to have a couple of beers.

“I don’t know how you drink that swill,” Chance gave Sam a pitying look.

“One day when you run out of money, you’re going to regret having changed your palate to only accept expensive beer,” Sam warned.

“You know, you have a hell of a lot of money, too. You don’t have to be drinking that crap.” Chance used his bottle to point to Sam’s.

“That portfolio you set up for me doesn’t count. Hell, Chance, I only have money because you made me invest it in your company. I haven’t touched any of it. It doesn’t feel like it’s mine.”

“You’re an idiot,” Chance said, without heat. “The initial money was yours. I just helped you to multiply it a hundred fold, so that’s yours, too.”

“Still doesn’t feel like I earned it,” Sam groused.

Chance leaned back on the dock, admiring how clear the day was now that the clouds had dispersed. “Did you ever consider the possibility that you might have an inferiority complex? That somehow your parents fucked you over into believing you weren’t worthy of anything good? So, whenever something bad happens, you blow it out of proportion and let it justify your underlying belief system?”