Chapter 29
Chapter Twenty-Nine
L ila walked into her bedroom to find Brian stretched out on her bed with his hands clasped behind his head, staring up at the ceiling.
She crawled onto the bed and burrowed herself into his side. “You know everything is going to be alright.”
He sighed. “You heard?”
“Yeah, Colby told me, and then I sat with her until she fell asleep.”
“They are both as stubborn as a mule.”
“They are, but Colby’s right about this one.”
“She is, but Liam’s not wrong.”
Lila sat upright. “Isn’t he?”
“No, he’s not. I’d feel the same way if it were you. You can’t blame him for hitting a pain threshold. He loves her.”
“He has a funny way of showing it. Colby needs him, and he just left.”
“Does she need him?”
“Of course she does. Why is it always the woman who has to give up her hopes and dreams when it comes to making a relationship work?”
“This is different, and you know it.”
Lila wasn’t so sure. “I have a hard time believing if she were a man, we’d even be having the same discussion.”
Brian was trying to keep a level head but was finding it difficult not to get pissed. “Don’t do that. Don’t brand us as sexist or misogynist. Don’t forget, I made Colby my lead driver.”
“I’m not branding you anything and keep your voice down before you wake up the house. These walls are paper thin.”
Brian whisper-yelled, “Don’t brand Liam either. Do I need to remind you that it was his money and connections that made sure Colby had everything she needed for her first race?”
“Does that mean he owns her or that she owes him?”
“No, of course not.”
“Really? Because it seems to me that he wants her to give up everything so they can get married and have kids!” Lila raised her voice. “What is he giving up?”
“His sanity!” Brian shot back. “It’s not easy being in love with the women in the James family. You do realize we have round-the-clock security assigned to you because of all the death threats? We’re doing our best to keep you all safe on and off the track.”
He was right at least about that part. Lila calmed down.
Brian turned to face her. Even when Lila was backing down, she still had that same determined look in her eyes. In many ways, she was just as stubborn as Colby. “Look, I don’t want their personal issues to bleed over and become ours.”
He was right. “Me either. It’s just...forget what I said earlier. Deep down I know that Colby and Liam really love each other, and this sucks.”
“It does. My hope is that they will figure it out. In the meantime, I’ve got to focus on Lockwood. Just when I think I’ve got everything sorted, new shit keeps popping up. What are we going to do about that damned article? We only have a few days to get ahead of this story before it’s released. If it gets out, it could be career-ending for Colby anyway.”
Lila raised up on her elbow. “You’ve figured out the money situation?”
“For the most part. I’ve got that handled.”
“Really? I mean, like, how?” She felt so guilty, being the reason Brian lost the Glenmore financing but relieved that everything seemed to work out on the money front. Lila fired off a bunch of rapid-fire questions. “Did you get another sponsor? Will it be enough for next season?”
“I’m still finalizing everything, so I don’t want to talk about it before the ink is dry, but if all works out, it could be better than anything we ever expected. Now, I just need to put out the fire Mark failed to do.”
Lila lay back down in the crook of Brian’s arms. “Mark was an asshole and a terrible partner to Colby.”
“On that, we can agree.”
Lila pressed her face into the column of his neck. “I think I can manage the article. I’ve already made a few calls.”
Brian was surprised. “Powerful enough to get it shut down?”
Lila smiled and nodded. “Yeah, from back in my modeling days. You would never believe how closely fashion and sports journalism are related. Just leave that part to me.”
“You sure? This could end Lockwood and Colby if we don’t get it handled.”
“I promise. This, I can handle.”
Brian’s cell vibrated. He lifted it off the nightstand and looked at the screen. “It’s Liam,” he said quietly to Lila before answering it. “Hey. I’ve been looking for you.”
“I know. That’s why I’m calling.”
Brian sat up. “Are you slurring?”
“What?” Lila whispered. She could only hear Brian’s side of the conversation.
“I don’t know. Am I? It’s possible.” Liam was drunk as a skunk.
Lila mouthed the words, Is he drunk?
Brian didn’t respond and held up a finger, asking Lila to hold on a second . If Liam was drunk, it would be a first because the man was all about self-control. Brian asked, “Where are you? You’re not driving, are you?”
Worried, Lila asked, “Where is he? Let’s go get him.”
“I would never drink and drive. I’m on my jet headed back to Singapore.”
Brian was relieved. “C’mon, Liam, really? You and Colby have a fight, and you run like a little bitch?”
Liam laughed sarcastically. “I hardly think it was a little fight.”
“Whether she knows it or not, Colby needs you. Why don’t you turn the plane around? I’ll meet you back at your place, and we can game things out.”
Sadness was evident in Liam’s voice. “Nah, I’m good. Colby’s good.”
“She’s not, only she doesn’t know it, and that’s your job to make her see the light.”
“The woman won’t listen to reason. She for damn sure won’t listen to me.”
“Pot meet kettle. You’re both the same person.”
“ I listen to reason.”
“Only when it’s your voice talking. Like now, I’m telling you to come home and fight for the woman you love, and you aren’t listening.”
Liam released a deep breath. “I’m not listening because you’re wrong. It will only prolong the inevitable. I love her, but we are at different places in our lives. She wants one thing, and I’m ready for another. It is what it is.”
“That’s the alcohol talking.”
“Maybe, but it’s still the truth. Look, I didn’t call to discuss this. I just wanted to give you a heads-up. If you need me, I’m a phone call away.”
This was fucked up. “How long are you going to be gone?”
“Not sure. I’ll finish up my business reviews and play it by ear after that.”
Brian felt awful that his brother was dealing with his pain alone. He wished he could be in two places at once. However, Brian’s priority had to be Lockwood. He was on the precipice of making a couple of game-changing moves. He wouldn’t be able to fly out to wherever Liam was for a few weeks. Especially if Colby qualified, they would only have a week before the NASCAR Cup Series Championship Race at Phoenix Raceway. For now, he could only offer comforting words. “If you need me, I’m just a phone call away too.”