CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Garrick
“That was the snowshoe from hell,” I say to Tony as we tromp back into headquarters.
“I understand now how a whiny child could drive someone to murder,” he says. “I would have loved it if my parents had taken me snowshoeing when I was a kid.”
“Maybe we should set age limits on who we’ll guide.” I don’t mean it. I can’t afford to cut anyone out.
“Want to get lunch in town?” he asks.
“Nah. I’ve got to do some planning and I’ve got a snowmobile tour at two.”
“Want me to bring something back for you?”
The door to my office opens and Blue steps out, a bag in one hand and a paper in her other. “I’ve got lunch for him.” Her eyes are red and her smile is forced.
I’m at once glad to see her and filled with dread. Something is very, very wrong.
“Thank you, Blue.” I take the bag and move toward the office like I can herd her inside so we can talk about this. Whatever it is. “Why don’t you have lunch with me?”
She holds up the paper in her other hand and that dread that had been slowly building hits me so hard my vision blurs for a moment. It’s not enough to prevent me from seeing what’s in her hand. “I don’t think it would be good optics for you to have lunch with the mayor you’re working very hard to have recalled.”
“That’s not my petition, Blue. I’m not the one who started this.”
I fully deserve the disdain in the look she gives me. I’m man enough to admit it. “Is this not your signature on the petition?”
“It is my signature, but—”
“No buts, Garrick. You’re either on my side or you’re on the side trying to get me out of office. This signature says it all.”
She tries to push past me, but I block her path. “I’m doing what I have to do to save my business. The council will never work with you, and I need those permits. This isn’t personal.”
Her laugh is dry and bitter. “It’s extremely personal. Did you think I wouldn’t find out?”
I was hoping she wouldn’t. She’d be sad to not be mayor anymore, but being mayor isn’t her dream. She’d find another job, a better job, and kick ass at it like she does at everything else. “I need to have a good income to provide a good life for you and…” At least I possess the sense to look around and make sure no one’s listening in. Tony’s still standing near the door, pretending to be checking something on his phone. I turn so that only Blue can see my face. “And the baby.” I mouth the last word.
The tears in her eyes spill over and she looks angry enough to flay me alive. “My period started this morning, so you don’t need to worry about that anymore. In fact, don’t worry about me at all ever again.”
I feel like she’s smacked me. I’m stunned and speechless. “Blue, I—”
She holds up a hand as she walks past me. “Vacation’s over. It was fun, but it’s done now.”
I just stand there as she walks away, feeling like the biggest asshole on the planet.
“You okay, boss?” Tony asks.
“What does a broken heart feel like?”
He slaps me on the back. “I’ve never been dumb enough to fall in love. Sounds like you screwed her over pretty completely, though, so I doubt it’ll take you long to recover.”
I glare at him. “What does that mean?”
He looks at me like I’m the idiot. “If you were in love with her, you probably wouldn’t have signed the petition to get her canned.”
The door swings open, and Mav steps inside, a bag slung over one shoulder. “Hey, bro, I just saw your girl storm out of here looking pissed. Everything okay?”
I can’t even dig up relief or happiness that my brother’s here to save my business. “It doesn’t matter. We should get to work.”
