15. Marcus
15
Marcus
“What’s your secret, dude?”
Lauren’s smiling face disappears as I quickly press the button to close our chat. I drop the phone on my office desk and turn to Noah, hoping my expression bears no guilt from reading that message about the handcuffs for the fifth time. “Secret?”
“Yeah.” He approaches my desk with a speculative frown. “You look quite relaxed for someone in charge of a multi-million-dollar company.”
I shrug. “Shouldn’t I be relaxed?”
“After the day we’ve just had?” Noah snickers. “If he was here, Gabriel would be wearing racoon eyes by now. You look like someone just sent you an orgy invite.”
“Or maybe I’m just a natural at running things,” I suggest, glancing at my phone to confirm I’d actually closed the chat. Noah’s staring right at the screen. “I manage a department, remember?”
“So do I,” Noah points out. “Do you see me grinning from ear to ear?”
To deflect, I jerk my chin toward him. “What’s that? ”
“Came by courier.” He juts the small brown envelope at me. “Figured I’d take it to you myself, considering what’s on it.”
The ‘confidential’ stamp prompts me to tear it open, and tension zings up my spine when I see what’s inside.
Noah peers over my shoulder. “Seeing the black and white evidence makes it even more real. Damn,” he mumbles.
My eyes scan Dad’s medical report. Heaven knows why he insisted on sending me the hard copies instead of emailing them to me. “I’m trying to get a second opinion,” I explain. “Another urologist might suggest a longer life span.”
Noah squeezes my shoulder. “I’m sorry, man.”
I nod, still staring down at the paper in my hand. “I don’t want to lose him, Noah.”
“I know.”
My head lifts. “This has nothing to do with not wanting to marry Harper either, although him getting more time might end his desperation for a grandchild. God, I hope.”
“You should see your face,” Noah says, chuckling. “You look like someone just emptied all your bank accounts. Settling down isn’t that bad.”
“How would you know?” Noah has been hung up on his ex, Ana, since they broke up years ago. She’s engaged to someone else, and he still hasn’t moved on.
He catches my meaning. “There’s a difference between not wanting to settle down and not being able to settle down. I’m not ashamed to say I want no one but Ana. If she ever leaves that asshole, I’ll marry her in a heartbeat. You, my friend, are terrified at the mere thought of a wife.”
“I’m not terrified, I’m just…” Not finding the right word, I wave him off. “It’s not for me.”
Noah smiles. “You’re going to meet the right woman and eat every one of those words, trust me.”
I snort. “And pigs will fly. Been there, done that. I’ll never be that vulnerable with another woman again.”
“Yeah, keep giving Harper power over you.” Noah scoffs. “If you’re going to let your ex stand in the way of your happiness, that’s on you.”
“Who says I’m not happy?” I spread my arms wide. “I have more money than I can spend, a fancy apartment, nice cars, and women I can get with just by picking up the phone. That’s contentment, my brother.”
Noah doesn’t look convinced. “If you say so.” He jerks his thumb at the door. “I’m heading back to work.”
“Handle your business,” I reply. I have a couple more tasks to complete before calling it a day. I’m not a workaholic like Gabriel and, unlike Noah, I don’t take mini breaks throughout the day that lengthens my workload. Whenever the clock strikes six, I’ll be making a beeline to the door.
My plans for tonight… Well, I have none. Usually, it involves dinner and a woman or two, but I’m not feeling the urge. I have this insane longing for my couch, a video game, and a sassy, long-legged opponent.
And a double dose of self-control.
Careful, Marcus .
Yeah, inviting Lauren over for a few rounds of Mortal Combat might not be the best idea after all.