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“You and your precious golden boy can have Moore’s then.” I stand and walk to the door, not caring enough to look at the old man. Because that’s all he is to me. An old man.
“I quit.”
* * *
Bell
I’m shocked stupid.
My mouth, which has probably been hanging open the past ten minutes while Thomas regaled me with his family’s secrets, finally closes. I open it again and try speaking. It doesn’t go so well. Clearing my throat, I try again. “Are you kidding me?”
It’s a dumb question. I don’t think anyone would willingly make up a story like that about their own family. But a girl can hope.
Thomas, as expected, shakes his head. “I wish I was.”
I whistle low. “Jesus.”
“Nope. Just me.”
Caught off guard, I blink at him. “Did you… did you just make a joke?”
He shrugs, the action looking awkward with his stiff shoulders. “Chase is the funny one.”
“Yeah. I can see that.” Standing, I grab my bag, hitching the heavy weight onto my shoulder, and pick up my latte. The latte I insisted Thomas get me before diving into his family’s convoluted and downright ridiculous history and present-day shit show. “Come on, Chuckles. We need to find Chase.”
Once standing, Thomas straightens his cuffs. “Chuckles? Really?”
“You don’t like Golden Boy. I was trying something new out.”
“Please don’t.”
“Fine.” We begin our short trek to the elevator. “You actually like being called Thomas? Seriously?”
“Stan wouldn’t allow anyone to call me anything else growing up.” He shrugs again, this time a bit less awkwardly. “I got used to it.”
I slide my free hand into my bag’s front pocket to get my security card. “I’ve never watched a soap opera, but I have a feeling even they don’t compare to the kind of drama your family creates.” As I slide the card to open the elevator doors, I have to tilt my body to the right to keep my bag in place.
“Do you need help with any of that?”
“No, no. I’ve got it.” I slip the card back in my bag and shift the strap higher on my shoulder. Once inside the elevator, I take a fortifying sip of my white mocha. “Hey, don’t you think we should involve Liz in this? This affects her, and if what you said pans out, you’re not going to be able to protect her for too much longer.” I press the button for the main office level. “We should probably include your mom too, for that matter.”
“I know. But not yet. Liz is in the middle of mid-terms, so I’d like to shield her from this as much as possible. At least until her exams are over.”
“And your mom?”
“Mom’s had it rough. I know it doesn’t seem that way, but I’d like to keep her out of Stan’s crosshairs.”
I nod, trying to psych myself up for this unplanned turn of events. After Chase opened up to me yesterday, I can’t say I didn’t have a small ember of hope that one day I’d find a way to make things better between him and his brother. But I sure as hell didn’t think that day would be today.
“Never wait for tomorrow.” I whisper one of my mom’s favorite Elvis quotes to myself. “What if tomorrow never comes?”
“What was that?”
“Nothing.” I avoid his eyes and adjust my stuff again.
“Here, you really should let me carry something. That bag looks heavy.” He reaches for the strap.
“No, really. I’ve got it. I’ll just—”
