Page 129 of Pucking Rebound
“That’s none of my business, Marcus.”
“It sort of is.”
“It’s not. I have enough happening in my own life.”
“You’re doing a great job, Lola. With your dad’s business and with Wade.”
I don’t feel like I am. “I discovered I had a half-brother and a mom who I thought was dead, although she might as well be. My dad died. My fiancé cheated on me before Christmas, and now I am homeless because my ex talked me into selling my father’s house, so I’m currently living with Wade. I’m house hunting, which is the worst thing ever, and juggling eighty percent of my time being Wade’s assistant at the same time as trying to keep tabs on all of this.” I wave my hand, gesturing to the coffee shop, just one of the dozens of establishments I now own. “I’m exhausted. Oh, and to top it all off, my ex stole over a hundred thousand dollars from my account.” I shake my head. “Not doing that great, Marcus. I’m barely keeping my head above water.”
I hate the look of pity in Marcus’ eyes.
Maybe I shouldn’t have overshared, but to hell with it. This is my reality. “And I feel like complete crap today,” I add, pushing my hair off my face. It’s not even ten o’clock in the morning and I could do with a nap.
My shoulders deflate from the relief of sharing how I feel.
Marcus drums his fingers against the tabletop. “Take the day off. Go home. Sleep. Rest. Take the week off if necessary. I’ll speak to Wade.”
“I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine, Lola.” He leans forward and takes my hand. “Look, I may have messed things up with your dad, you, and Wade, but let me try to make it right. I can help you find a house.”
“I’m too fussy.” I justify my reasoning. “I don’t like anything. It’s either too big, or too small, not in the part of town I want, or doesn’t have a nice backyard.”
“You’re overwhelmed. You can’t think straight when your brain is busy.”
He’s right.
“I like living with Wade. It’s nice.” I pull my hand away, feeling slightly awkward that the man my mother had an affair with is touching me. He’s not being inappropriate, but it just feels weird. “He said I could live there indefinitely.” I don’t plan on doing that, but if I stop searching for a house, it would give me one less thing to think about. That already makes me feel better.
“No house hunting. You’re taking the week off. That’s an order.”
A whole week off sounds indulgent. “Okay,” I agree.
“And book a spa day. My wife loves the damn things.”
That sounds like heaven.
Marcus pushes his hands through his white hair, exhaling as if relieved. “Thank you for today, Lola. We needed this.”
“This doesn’t make us best friends or anything.” I have to hold back my smile because I can’t stay mad at him forever. He’s making an effort, and that’s all I wanted.
“And here was me thinking we would make friendship bracelets later,” he says, lifting the heavy mood between us.
“Guess you’ll have to cancel the friendship bracelet making class I’m sure you booked then.”
“Smart ass.”
“Jordy calls me that,” I let slip.
“Jordy?” he asks.
“And Wade, Daryl.”
“Spike,” he adds. “You’ve made an impression on the team.”
Phew, that worked.
“In a good way, I hope.”
