Leon frowned. “What?”
“My brother and mom wanted to buy this fancy house with a guesthouse in the back. They were going to run it as an Air BnB or something and live in the guest house. They wanted me to get you to give them the money. Apparently, my brother sawan article about a company you invested in going public, and he realized you were probably rich.”
“You never told me this.”
“I was ashamed. Embarrassed.”
“You don’t have anything to be ashamed or embarrassed about.”
“Technically no, but my brother and mother told me to get hundreds of thousands of dollars from you and give it to them. They didn’t even ask. They told me to do it and just expected I would.” Remembered outrage and embarrassment heated her cheeks. “And why wouldn’t they think I’d do it? I’ve been doing whatever they asked for years.”
Leon was frowning, clearly thinking. “You told him no.”
She nodded. “I told him no. Planned every word out on an emergency call with my therapist. I know it’s going to sound like I’m making this up, but I did start pulling back from them about four months ago, after they demanded all that money.”
“Baby, I wish you’d told me. I would have cheered you on.”
“I wanted to come to you when it was done. Once I’d clearly set my boundaries with them.” She turned her head to look out the window. “And proven to myself I wouldn’t cave if my mom called crying.”
Leon kissed the top of her head, and it felt like a benediction.
Then Leon stiffened. “That fucker…” A muscle in his jaw clenched. “The identity theft was revenge.”
Cessie was painfully relieved he’d figured it out before she had to say it. “Yes. He said he was going to buy that house one way or another. His plan was to take all my money—cash advances, loans, buying things to resell—and bet it on the craps table until he’d made enough.”
“How are you so smart, and he’s an idiot?” Leon winced. “Shit. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. My opinion of your?—”
She pressed her fingers to his lips. “Don’t apologize. You’re not wrong. It’s just… hard for me.”
“And that’s why I’ll stop,” he mumbled against her lips. “And next time they need something, I’ll be there to support you while you say no, or help you help them. Because it’s not about whether helping is a good decision or a bad decision. It’s about being there for you.”
Cessie rested her cheek on his chest. A weight she’d refused to acknowledge was sliding off her shoulders. “I was so scared this was going to be our breakup trip.”
Leon kissed her hair. “Honestly, so was I.”
“I feel like we were standing on the edge of a cliff and finally took a step back.”
“I don’t think I could ever have stopped loving you, but I knew I couldn’t watch you keep going like you have been this last year.”
Her stomach clenched. “I’m sorry I let it get this far.”
Leon gently eased her away, ducking his head a little to hold her gaze. “So it wasn’t him almost ruining your life that made you put your foot down.” His gaze moved over her face feature by feature. “It was when he asked you to do something you thought would hurt me.”
She nodded. “I was terrified that if I asked, you would have said yes. For a couple hours after they explained the grand plan, I thought about it, but only because I was betting on you saying no. That I could do what they wanted and ask you, you’d say no, then I wouldn’t have to tell them no myself, and instead blame it on you.”
“For the record, I would have been fine with that.”
“But the way he was talking about you, like he had a right to everything you’ve worked so hard for…” Cessie shook her head. “I told him no, and to never ask me for help if it meant taking something from you. They were going to live for free in the guesthouse and get rich renting out the main house for bachelorette parties. He was so in love with his plan, and my mom insisted it was going to be wonderful and so good for ‘us’ as a family.”
Cessie blew out a breath. “I was in shock, but after I went to bed, I emailed my therapist. She called me the next morning and I sat down with my family and told them I wouldn’t ask you for the money, and neither would they. We had a huge fight. My mom sobbed. So, I left. I ended up at the airport six hours early.”
He studied her for a long moment. “You’ll protect me, but not yourself.”
She hadn’t thought about it quite like that, but it was true, so she nodded.
Leon rubbed her bare back with his hands.
“I don’t think my life will ever be totally calm,” Cessie rushed to add, wanting to temper this hopeful feeling with reality. “I’m not cutting off my mother. I want to help her deal with my brother going to prison.” She gathered her courage. “I’m going out next month to be with her for the initial hearing and I’ve already scheduled some meetings with therapists who specialize in helping families of incarcerated individuals.”
