Chapter 24 Grant #2
“Well, no,” Cameron said. “You’ve dragged us here on a Saturday to talk shop. The least you can do is give us a good story before we start.”
“She’s sick.”
Heath blinked, concern overtaking his expression. “What does she have?”
“A cold.”
He instantly relaxed.
“You came back early from Seattle for a fucking cold?” Cameron said. “What is it with you?” He held up his glass. “Huh. I think this might have worked too fast.”
“You care about her,” Heath said after he swallowed another mouthful of his waffle. “See, Cameron? That’s a very polite way to put it.”
“Yeah, but when have I ever been polite?”
“I do care about her,” I admitted. “And I’d wrapped up the important things in Seattle anyway.”
“She has family here, though,” Heath said. He seemed very amused by this.
“Yeah. Her mom actually stopped by with food while I was there.”
“So you knew her family would look after her. But you wanted to do it yourself.”
“Yes.” I looked from one brother to the other. “Is this an interrogation?”
“No! We’re just curious,” Cameron said. “This is very unlike you. But it’s a good thing.”
“Just surprising,” Heath added.
Of the two of them, he should understand. After all, he’d been married.
“Right, you know what,” Cameron said, putting down the glass.
“A deal is a deal. I got some intel on Ruby, so before we work, I want to freshen up a bit to actually be able to get the engine”—he pointed to his temple—“running. I’ll take two laps in the pool to wake up.
Then we can catch up on business. Are you in a hurry? ” he asked me.
“No.”
After he jumped into the pool, I sat down in the lounge chair he’d vacated. “Plan to give me some more shit?” I asked Heath.
“No, man. Like Cameron said, this is a good thing. It’s just not something I ever expected you to do.
” After a brief pause, he said, “You know what? Give me Cameron’s waffle.
He won’t finish it.” I passed him the paper plate, and he added, “I figured you’d always want to be by yourself.
But family life is something worth aspiring to, and it’s very fulfilling.
I was at my happiest when Gabby was alive. ”
He hadn’t uttered his late wife’s name in a long while. He practically never spoke about her after she passed away.
“Then why have you been alone since?”
“That was a beautiful chapter in my life, but it’s completely closed.
I’m focusing on bringing Evie up as best I can.
But I’m not doing that again—building a life with someone, falling for someone, and then they’re gone.
I can’t do it again.” He seemed to be talking to himself more than to me, and he was uncharacteristically serious.
We were quiet for a bit as he finished the waffle. Then he put the plate down and said, “But don’t let that deter you.”
“Have you met me? When I decide something, I do it. I don’t let anything stand in my way.”
He nodded. “That’s my brother.”
A few seconds later, Cameron swam to the edge of the pool. “I’m going to stay here for the duration of this meeting. Cool water helps me keep a cool head. Dude, what did you even put in that cocktail?” he asked Heath.
“Might’ve made it stronger than usual. Didn’t think you’d notice,” he answered jovially, but his tone was a bit forced. He still had a vacant look in his eyes—probably still thinking about Gabby .
A moment later, Heath shook his head like he was clearing his thoughts. “Right. We better start.”
“Yeah. Can we fucking cut LaCroix loose?” Cameron asked.
“No,” I replied immediately.
Heath grinned. “Told you he was going to say no. They’re our biggest client.”
Cameron groaned. “They’re a pain in the ass. They want to lowball us every year.”
“And every year we talk them into not doing that. They bring in a lot of revenue,” I countered.
“Look, I’ll make you a deal. If I bring in enough clients to make up for the loss of revenue, then we’ll cut them loose.”
I narrowed my eyes. “Okay, that would be a fair deal.”
“Good, because if I have to face him one more time, I might just lose my shit during the meeting.”
Cameron was usually extremely charming. Frankly, he was the best sales guy out of the three of us. But if he didn’t like you, you were toast.
“Who do you have in mind?” I asked him.
He immediately rattled off a list of companies, detailing how he’d approach them.
I looked at Heath, grinning. “He’s been plotting this.”
“Looks like it.” He sounded stunned.
Cameron held up his hands. “What can I say? I’ve got a goal in mind—to fucking get rid of assholes this year. I have zero tolerance left.”
“You’ve never had much to begin with,” Heath pointed out.
“I don’t understand why you two have any.”
“I don’t care if someone’s an asshole as long as they bring in revenue.”
“That’s because you have conveniently managed to pull yourself out of every negotiation involving an asshole client.”
Heath shrugged. “I didn’t say I played fair.”
“So, does Daphne know about you and Ruby?” Cameron asked, completely changing the conversation .
“You’re back to talking about Ruby?” I asked.
He smirked. “We’ll be back to talking about Ruby for a very long time.”
I cocked a brow at him. “Why? We never talk about women.”
“There’s usually nothing to talk about. I whore around, you whore around. No one knows what Heath is doing. But now it’s different.”
“This conversation is making me uncomfortable,” I announced.
“Yeah, dude, can’t you tell? It looks like he’s about to make up an excuse to leave,” Heath said.
I frowned. “I can’t stay here forever anyway.”
Cameron pointed at me. “See, that’s exactly what I mean.”
I sighed. “Let’s go through my agenda. Then I want to go in and talk a bit with Evie before I go.”
“You came here with an agenda? You want to get on Cameron’s shit list?” Heath asked.
“I’m already there,” I said.
“You know it,” Cameron replied with a huge shit-eating grin.
* * *
My brothers and I managed to talk about everything I wanted to in half an hour. They went off on weird tangents today, but we were always efficient and got things done.
Afterward, I went into the living room to see Evie.
“Hey, Uncle Grant,” she said while pausing the TV.
“How are you doing, ladybug?”
“I’m good. I’m a bit sad that you didn’t bring Ruby, though.”
“You really like her.” I sat next to her on the couch. My brother’s living room was even larger than mine. The couch was a huge horseshoe shape, and Evie was perched right in the center of it, her hair styled in pigtails. Yeah, I knew exactly what pigtails were. I’d done them for her a few .
“I can’t wait to see Ruby at the engagement party next week.”
I kissed her forehead. “Ruby will be working then, so she probably won’t have time to chat with us.”
“I’m sure she will because Ruby’s cool.”
“Yeah, she is.”
“Want to watch cartoons with me?” she asked.
“Nah, I’ve got to go.”
As much as I loved my niece, I couldn’t wait to pick Ruby up and spend the rest of the weekend with her.