“But what? It’s not fair that you should be punished for that. Just like it’s not fair that children in Argentina have to live in poverty. Why are you fighting for one but not the other? You want the job and Jack? For goodness sake, then throw yourself into it with as much passion as you do saving the world! Lyle thinks we should lead the team together. I think we should lead it together and so do you. Why on earth is Dad’s opinion more important?”
“Because he ultimately decides who gets it!” she said incredulously.
Gareth’s mouth twitched and he leaned toward her. “I’m going to tell you a secret, Penny. Just because he’s our father doesn’t mean his opinion has more weight than anyone else’s. Or Mom or the press.” He lowered his voice. “Penny, most people think I’m an asshole. I don’t care. But I don’t want to lose the only person who knows I’m not.”
She laughed, despite everything. “Then maybe you should stop acting like an asshole.”
He grimaced. “I’m working on it. What I’m saying is that I promised you that I wouldn’t forget that I’m your brother first and foremost, not just your competitor. I admit that I’ve failed miserably at that in the last few weeks.”
“Yeah, pretty much,” she admitted.
He snorted but smiled. “Well, promise me you’ll stay. That you won’t take the first escape route that comes along. Then I’ll tell Dad that I want the team with you or not at all. And you do the same. Because he doesn’t want to look for anyone new. He’s bluffing. I’m fairly certain. And if he’s not…well, then we’ll just look for a new job together. And when that’s over, you can still fight for
Jack’s—” he sighed heavily—“for Jack’s heart or whatever. Even though I don’t know if he’s good enough for you.”
She sniffed and gave half a chuckle before pulling Gareth into a hug. “He’s not a penniless artist and he doesn’t sleep on his best friend’s couch. He also never has holes in his pants and his hobby isn’tenjoying the day. I thought that was what you wanted for me?”
“Yeah, that’s a big bonus, I guess,” Gareth said matter-of-factly. “I should be happy, shouldn’t I?”
She smiled and nodded before murmuring, “I want to stay in LA, Gareth. Really. It’s nice to have a home.”
He breathed a sigh of relief. “Thank God, because it’s been really boring without you. I haven’t seen anyone slaughter a rooster on stage in ages.”
She hiccupped. “Maybe at the next charity gala.”
“I’m counting on it,” he murmured, patting her on the back. He didn’t say anything for a few moments and then he asked softly, “Did Mom really suggest that you leave? Back then?”
She nodded.
“Man, Penny, why didn’t you say anything?”
“Because you get along with Mom, Gareth. I didn’t want to take that away. And she was right. It was good for me to get away.”
“But it was for so long.”
“I know. I won’t do it again. I promise. I’ll…stay. No matter what happens.”
Because Gareth was right. Some things were worth fighting for. Even if she couldn’t save the world — but only herself.
Chapter Twenty-Five
She didn’t write him.
She didn’t call, didn’t visit, or even send him smoke signals. Jack shouldn’t have been surprised: He’d given her the choice and she’d obviously chosen the distance option. He just wished he didn’t feel so crappy about it.
He couldn’t sleep anymore. He couldn’t eat properly. He felt like he was missing all the important parts he needed to manage his life even though it was probably simply one part: Penny.
The absurd thing was that he was still playing well. All these years, he’d only imagined that he had to forego the ups and downs of a relationship to be the best. The truth was, it was probably because he’d been too scared of it. After all, so far, all his relationships had ended in failure, be it within his family or with random women. Or maybe he’d just been waiting for Penny, for the right person to prove him wrong.
He told himself that he needed to get over it. He understood that Penny wanted to prove herself at work, so he wouldn’t ruin her job or take away her opportunity. He had already destroyed too much in his life. It had to stop. But why was it so damn hard for him to accept, with Penny?
“Because you love her, man,” Dax said, annoyed. “That’s why. You’re obviously one of the slow ones. Usually, you get it after one or two internal monologues or a lecture from Matt, but you still don’t get it after a monologue spoken out loud.”
“I know I love her,” he said, annoyed. “And keep your voice down!” They weren’t alone. They were standing in the tunnel at the edge of the ice rink with two dozen hockey players and ten thousand fans surrounding them.
“Really?” Dax raised his eyebrows, impressed. “You know you love her?”
“I’ve known for weeks.” He wasn’t a complete idiot. He could tell the difference between love and sex. Sex made you feel like you were in seventh heaven. Love, too — but with both feet firmly on the ground. You didn’t just like the qualities of and moments with the other person that made you float above the clouds, but also those that brought you back down to earth. And when he was with Penny, he always felt…whole. Up and down. Not just in the middle. Did that make sense?
