Chapter 11 #3
“That’s my girl,” James says in a low voice, leaning closer to press a kiss to her jaw. Winnie leans into him, giving him a hug.
They are … adorably in love. The ache of my figurative pinched nerve reminds me again what I’m missing. My mind sweeps back to Molly, but then I remember that she left. Left town, left me, left.
I lean back in my camping chair and take a sip of the cream soda. It’s already lost most of its fizz. “There you have it—the actual big mess. Clearly, what happened with Molly this week doesn’t even come close. That’s a little mess.”
James snorts, although I’m not sure if it’s agreement or irritation over all the drama I’m apparently able to stir up in such a short span of time.
“Surely this kind of thing doesn’t matter, right?” James asks. “She posted, and now everyone moves on.”
Winnie gives his head a gentle pat. “Oh, my dear, sweet, innocent fiancé. The internet doesn’t let things die so easily.
People made videos talking about her videos and have done recaps breaking down the whole situation.
And even though the Grahams aren’t quite household names like Beyonce, you’re still known enough that it added fuel to the viral fire. ”
“Which has complicated things like selling the gym,” I say.
James makes a sound low in his throat. Almost a growl. “And you’re sure you want to do that—sell the gym you’ve poured so much into?”
My stomach tightens. If there’s one thing I’ve always hated, it’s letting people down. I wouldn’t call myself a people pleaser, but I sure as hell hate disappointing anyone. Especially the people close to me.
This wouldn’t be the first time I’ve disappointed James, an older brother whose expectations loom almost as high as his protectiveness.
But this time, it bothers me more.
Maybe because James invested in Grit. He believed in me and trusted me enough to help me get started. Now, I’m throwing it away—at least, that’s how he seems to see it.
In contrast, we’re currently surrounded by the evidence of James’s success building his own business. Not only did I fail, I failed where he succeeded.
I mean, technically, the gym hasn’t lost money, other than what Liza stole. Though I don’t know if I’ll break even with the sale at this point—guess it depends how much damage Liza has done.
Money aside, the move to sell is giving up on a dream, changing course after only a handful of years. Just like we expect James to be the steady—and sometimes judgmental—rock, everyone expects Pat to be the one bouncing from thing to thing.
Now, they’re both settled, and I’m the brother who’s deciding at almost thirty to drop everything and start over.
“I wish you’d told us earlier,” James says finally.
I stare down at a crack in the concrete running between our chairs. “So you’d have more time to say I told you so about Liza?”
“No,” James practically growls. Then, he pauses. “Though I did tell you.”
Winnie smacks him on the chest. “Not the time, Boss.”
James sighs. “I’m sorry. Not just for saying I told you so even if I did—”
“You just did it again!” Winnie says.
“Sorry for saying it twice,” James says, giving his fiancée a look. “But what I mean is that I’m sorry you’re going through so much. And that you felt like you had to do it alone. For the record, you don’t. Ever. We’re always here.”
“Even when you might not want us to be,” Winnie adds cheerfully. “We’ve got your back, Collin. Say the word and I’ll happily put Liza flat on hers.”
James chuckles. “You’re offering to fight her?”
“I’d love to.” Winnie makes fists and punches the air. “Though violence isn’t the answer—so they say. I could find some way to ruin her online.”
“I thought you were already trying to do that,” James says.
“Oh, that was just me getting warmed up,” Winnie says with a cackle that scares me.
I find myself smiling, despite the circumstances. Though it sucked to admit all this, l feel so much better having said it all. Better knowing I’m not alone.
Better knowing they’re on my side. That James isn’t disappointed in me and that Winnie, even before I knew it, had my back.
“Seriously,” Winnie says. “Just let us know what we can do.”
“For now, I’m letting Thayden handle things.”
“The same Thayden who suggested you fake a relationship with Molly?” James asks, one eyebrow raised almost comically high.
“It’s actually not a bad idea,” Winnie says. James gives her a look. “What? Public figures do this all the time.”
“You’d know that how?”
“Celebrity gossip blogs,” Winnie says with a shrug. “Anyway. I like Molly. Fake or real—I’d be happy for you to spend more time with her, Collin.”
The look Winnie takes on now is a little too calculating. I point a finger toward her. “Don’t.”
“What?”
“Don’t … plot. Or plan. Or whatever it is you’re currently doing.”
Winnie blinks innocently, then pushes her glasses up her nose. “I’m just sitting here.”
James grins at this. “We both know you too well for that, Winchester.”
Wrapping both arms more tightly around Winnie’s waist, James pulls her closer until the two of them are—to use a term from celebrity gossip blogs, which I’ve also read on occasion—canoodling.
“Thanks for giving your stamp of approval. I don’t think the fake relationship is happening. The speed with which Molly vamoosed after his suggestion made it clear—”
“When I did what?”
All three of our heads snap up at the sound of a new voice. Molly stands at the edge of the row of plants. I wonder how long she’s been there and what else she might have heard.
“Sorry.” Molly tugs at the loose threads at the hem of her cutoff jean shorts. “I’ve been looking for you, and someone inside said y’all might be out back. Also, I think there are some raccoons raiding your dumpster.”
James groans, letting go of Winnie, who hops up. “If we kept OC here instead of pampering him at home, we wouldn’t have a raccoon problem.”
“Good to see you again, Molly.” Winnie gives her a hug, which Molly returns, seeming a little surprised.
“Oh, um. You too.”
“James and I were just leaving. We’ll take care of the raccoons on the way out.”
“We?” James asks, getting to his feet with a half-smile on his face. “I’d like to see you take on a raccoon.”
“It’s happening, Boss. Practice in case I need to use these for someone else.” Winnie, imitating a boxer again, shoots me a pointed look.
“I’m fine.”
James pauses by my chair, giving my shoulder a hard squeeze bordering on painful.
“I won’t do any punching, but please let me know if you need something.
I’m going to take it personally if you keep this kind of thing to yourself again.
” He releases me, only to take Winnie gently by the shoulders, steering her in the direction Molly came from.
“Let’s go, little fighter. I can’t wait to see you challenge a trash panda. ”
“Please take a video,” I call.
James offers me a thumbs-up as the two of them disappear down the alley, and Molly continues standing at the edge of the patio area. The same kind of vulnerability that had me jumping to say yes to all kinds of things makes me want to wrap her up in a hug.
But I don’t know where we stand now, so I simply point to one of the other chairs. “Feel free to sit. Stay a while. If you want.”
She sits but doesn’t lean back, instead sitting primly as close to the edge of the chair as possible without it folding up on her.
“Want a drink?” She shakes her head but still doesn’t speak. “I was wondering if you three headed back to Austin early.”
I thought you left me, I don’t say. Even in my head, that little voice sounds like a petulant child.
“Tomorrow. We’re leaving in the morning.”
The silence stretching between us is awkward. But it’s interrupted by a shrill scream from down the alley. It’s frightened, and it’s feminine and it clearly belongs to my brother. There’s a metal bang and then another scream. Winnie’s laughter filters down to us.
“Should we … do something?” Molly asks.
I grin. “Nope. Everything okay down there?” I call loudly.
“All good!” Winnie shouts back. “Other than James’s pride, which I think was mortally wounded when he screamed like a child over a sweet, little raccoon.”
I can’t hear James’s response, only a low voice muttering something before Winnie squeals and her giggles fade from the alley, once again leaving Molly and me in awkward silence.
When the bug zapper snaps another insect, Molly jumps, then laughs nervously. I’m about to ask if she’s okay when her gaze locks on mine.
She draws in a breath. “I think we should do it. I think we should do the whole fake dating thing.”