“I’ve never tried them and never will,” she said firmly. “It’s not my thing.”
“Especially here on the island,” Kelsey said. “And we know you want to avoid Boston now.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m not avoiding it. I grew up there and loved it for a long time. It was time for a change.”
“Because Jonathan is a dick,” Kelsey said. “And I’m surprised your father didn’t get him fired.”
“My father wouldn’t do that.”
Though maybe she would have liked that deep down, but Jonathan didn’t do a terrible job, just used her.
The curse of people finding out the family she was part of.
It hadn’t helped any that her father was Vice President of Finance for Bond Enterprises, working for Mitchell Bond and overseeing many endeavors.
Alana had been a finance manager at one of Mitchell’s companies. Did people assume her father pulled strings to get her the job? Absolutely. But she kept her head down, proved her worth, and made damn sure everyone knew she earned her place.
She’d met Jonathan Andrews at a work retreat. He worked for another of Mitchell’s ventures. They were both a few years out of college and looking to launch their careers.
Her in finance.
Him in operations.
He learned fairly quickly who her father was, but hadn’t realized she was part of the Bond family until over a year into their relationship.
“My dad would have,” Kelsey said. “I wouldn’t have even had to ask him. He’d be pissed knowing that someone used anyone in the family.”
“Your father also owns all his businesses. My father doesn’t.”
“Oh please,” Kelsey said, rolling her eyes. “I know you. You’re a people-pleaser. You told your father not to do it. And then you went to Mitchell and Ethan and said the same thing. Right?”
It was impossible to hide anything from anyone.
“It was better that way,” she said. “It’d do nothing more than give Jonathan ammunition to talk about me.”
“Youshould have been running your mouth abouthim.”
“Not my way,” she said. “I wasted too much of my life with him and thinking of him. That chapter is closed and he can do what he wants, where he wants, and with whoever he wants. My life is full on the island and it’s mine.”
“Filling it with pleasing everyone but yourself,” Kelsey argued.
She heaved in a breath. “Maybe one day I’ll put myself first. But it’s not today.”
“No, today you’re going to babysit a little girl you met once.”
“I love kids,” she said. “You know that. I’m always watching Penelope’s and Emily’s kids.”
“You are and I’m sure they love it. But you should spend more time on yourself and not everyone else.”
She shrugged. Not something she hadn’t been hearing for years.
“Spending time alone is boring,” she said. “So there you go. And Brennan is new to the area. I’m just helping a coworker out.”
Kelsey sighed. “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t pick on you. I just want to see you as happy as I am with Van.”
“I thought I was there,” she said. “Not sure I’ve got it in me to do it again.”
“Don’t feel that way,” Kelsey said. “Then you’re letting him win. If I think he is winning I’ll go pay him a piece of my mind with my sexy mean fiancé.”
