Chapter 39
THIRTY-NINE
GRACIE
“You should have seen her, Gracie. She was incredible, like nothing I’ve ever seen before.
Apparently, now that we’re dating, it’s frowned upon for us to get into the ring together,” Cole says with a roll of his eyes.
“Whatever that means. But that doesn’t mean we still can’t go and have a date night there; we just have to fight other people.
But seriously, Lana’s skills are insane… ”
I zone out as Cole keeps regaling me of how amazing his girlfriend is.
It’s not that I don’t like Lana, because I really do.
But we’ve been in the coffee shop for our weekly sibling date for the last forty minutes, and he’s spent the entire time talking about his girlfriend and how obsessed with her he is.
It’s weird seeing him so gone over a girl, and while I’m incredibly happy that he’s happy, I’m getting a little bored of hearing about it.
Fingers click in front of my face before Cole says, “Are you even listening to me?”
My grumpy brother’s face is twisted into a usual scowl now that he’s not talking about Lana, and it’s actually a welcome sight for once.
“So, everything is going well then?” I ask before grinning. “Are you going to thank me for knocking some sense into you and showing you that you had feelings? I feel like the full credit for your relationship should be given to me.”
He grunts and reluctantly nods. “I suppose some credit should be given to you. But the rest was all me. Not you, not Lana, but me.
“You’re not giving Lana any credit for your relationship?” I ask with a raised brow, and he snorts.
“Oh please, if I left it in her hands, we’d still be hating each other while reluctantly fucking each other.
She had no idea what was actually going on between us, but I didn’t give her a choice when it came to our relationship.
I told her she was my girlfriend, and that was it.
” His proud smile makes me laugh and I shake my head.
Honestly, they’re freaking perfect for each other.
So utterly clueless when it comes to their feelings that it just works somehow.
He then goes on to talk more about her, what it’s like now that she’s living there full time—don’t even get me started on that—and tells me all about how the guys love her and how she fits in seamlessly.
Eventually, I get bored enough of the conversation that I can’t help blurting out, “I’m seeing someone,” just to end the mindless chatter coming from my brother’s mouth.
He stops talking abruptly, his mouth opening and closing like he’s at a loss for words, blinking like an owl.
Is it seriously so hard to comprehend that I would date someone?
When did I get that boring?
“Who?” he eventually demands and I roll my eyes, not at all surprised by his frosty demeanor at the news.
I snort. “Like I’m going to tell you. It’s early still, but I’m giving you a heads up so you can brace yourself in case it goes somewhere, so consider yourself warned.”
Cole glares at me. “Who is this guy, Gracie? Do I know him? How did this… seeing him start? I want to meet him.”
I huff out a breath, now regretting telling him anything at all and scramble to change the subject before he does something ridiculous and demands to see my phone so he can read my messages.
Wouldn’t that be hysterical.
He’d lose his goddamn mind if he saw the messages Noah sent me from his burner phone.
Or the texts he’s sent from his normal phone, for that matter. Things have been going… well. Ever since I decided I’d try to let go of a little of my anger and try to see where things could go between us, I’ve been feeling a hell of a lot better about the situation.
Now all I need is for Noah to come clean about the entire thing and hopefully things will work themselves out.
Hopefully.
“You know I’m not telling you any of that,” I say simply, like I’m trying to explain myself to a toddler. “All you need to know is that I’m happy, okay?”
He huffs and slowly nods his head, but I know the subject is only dropped for now and that he’ll no doubt come back to it at a later date.
I steel myself and move onto an even harder topic. Ever since Noah’s words the other night, I’ve been debating it over and over again. Hell, ever since the day at the lake with my stalker—with Noah—I’ve been thinking about it.
“Do you… do you think that if I didn’t want to work for Dad’s company one day, he’d be mad?”
Cole stares at me, seemingly at a loss for words, either because of the topic or because of the quick change of subject, I’m not sure.
He manages to visibly pull himself together and says, “Is this because of this guy you’re dating? Did he say something to you about it?”
I have to fight to roll my eyes, and while he’s technically right, I’ve also been feeling like this for a long time. Years, to be exact, I just never had the guts to do anything about it. But with Noah having so much faith in me, it’s makes me wonder if it really is a possibility.
“It’s nothing like that,” I murmur and fidget with my hands on top of the table.
“I’ve never really wanted to go into the family business.
You know I’ve always loved art, and lately I’ve been thinking that I maybe, kind of want to do it as a career,” I whisper, my words barely audible but Cole’s wide-eyed stare tells me that he heard.
He takes a moment to process before a small smile covers his lips and he reaches a hand over the table to take mine in his and squeezes.
“I think Mom and Dad would want you to do whatever makes you happy. I know Dad and I have had our differences, but he’s actually been making an effort with me lately, and the only reason he was so hard on me was because he wanted me to achieve the best of my ability.
Mom will back you no matter what, and I think if you tell Dad how you’re feeling, then he’ll see it the same way we do.
There’s no rule that says you have to follow in his footsteps, G.
“You’ve gotta do what’s best for you, and if that’s pursuing a career in art rather than sticking out your business degree and being unhappy in a job you don’t want for the rest of your life, then you have to do it.
And you can do it, Gracie. You can do anything you put your mind to, I believe that with everything in me.
I know you, G. You must have been thinking about this for a long time before finally bringing it up, and I’m glad you could open up to me about it.
I’m here for whatever you need. If you need me to come and talk to Mom and Dad with you, then I will. I’ll be in your corner the entire way.”
Tears spring to my eyes and I blink them back, trying to pull myself together enough to thank my brother.
“You always know exactly what to say,” I murmur and try to smile, though it’s shaky.
He laughs. “I’ve been spending too much time with Noah.”
I choke on a laugh. My brother doesn’t know his best friend nearly as much as he thinks he does.
I think the only person who knows who Noah really is, is me.
“Love you, big brother.”
Cole grins. “Love you too, little sis.”
Let’s hope he still feels that way when he finds out the truth.