It was Sierra.
After the events of today, it was the only thing that made sense. But that didn't mean I had to like it.
It was time to squash this latest rumor like a bug – except that's not what happened.
Not at all.
65
Just a Few Digits Shy
Griff
Ryder laughed like I'd just said something funny. "You're shitting me."
I shook my head. "Nope."
We were standing in the gourmet kitchen of a hot new property that was only hours away from being listed. The place had five bedrooms, six bathrooms, and a view of the Mackinac Bridge that would knock Maisie's socks off.
I smiled at the thought.
Ryder asked, "So why are you smiling?"
The last twenty-four hours had given me plenty of reasons to smile, and all of them starred Maisie. "Why wouldn't I be?"
"Because you just told me you were busted."
"You mean the thing Sierra said?" I waved it away. "Eh, it's not a big deal."
"The hell it isn't." He gave me an expectant look. "So…?"
"So, what?"
"So, what did Maisie say when she learned you were loaded?"
I smiled. "She didn't."
He gave me a funny look. "But you said it yourself. SierratoldMaisie you're a billionaire."
"Which I'm not." And then, at his confused expression, I added, "I checked the markets this morning. I was a few digits shy."
"A technicality?" he said, like I'd tried to tip a valet with Monopoly money. "Youdoknow that's not gonna fly, right?"
I recalled us laughing in the shop – me and Maisie, plus Chad – after Sierra and Devon had bolted. "Relax," I said. "Italreadyflew."
"What, like a pig?"
"No, like a rocket."
Ryder frowned. "What do you mean?"
After Sierra had dropped that bombshell, I'd called her a liar to her face.AndI'd told the whole lot of them that even if I were the richest guy in the world, I'd still pick Maisie over anyone else.
Maisie had loved it.Sierra, not so much.She'd bolted soon after, dragging Devon along behind her. And then, after a single question from Maisie, the thing was done and settled.
Sticking with the basics, I told Ryder, "Maisie asked if it was true. I told her no. End of story."
His frown deepened. "So you lied?"
