A hot flush ran over Brogan's skin. This was what he’d avoided. Since the lawsuit that almost destroyed everything, he'd vowed to never put the business, his brothers, at risk again.
Seeing Trevor, holding Susie's hand, brought it all back again.
Brogan opened his mouth to respond, to tell Trevor it wasn't any of his business, but Trevor kept right on making everything worse.
“It's pretty cool, you know. You have a woman now.” He grinned and held up Susie's hand. “I have a girlfriend. Maybe we can double date.”
Brogan scanned the room, his mind racing. Five other employees stood near the bar, watching him and Selena.
Selena appeared oblivious. She finished clapping along with the crowd and turned back toward him. She reached out, but he stepped to the side. They still couldn't do this. Not yet.
He'd let his guard down long enough. Enjoyed himself when he shouldn't.
The happiness in her eyes disappeared. She shook her head. “I can't believe it. You have your money, Brogan.”
“I just need to figure it out,” he said as low as he could with the crowd. He tilted his head toward Trevor. “I can't put everything at risk. After the sale is finalized—”
“You keep saying that.”
“Selena, just wait a second.”
She held her hands up, eyes shining. “I can't do this anymore.”
Rian and Cathal walked up, their laughter dying on their lips as they spotted Selena, almost in tears. He hated that he was the cause of them. Hated that he had a damn audience.
“What the hell did you do now?” Rian shouted. The outburst so unlike Rian, that Brogan stared at him a moment before he could think of an answer.
But he didn't get a chance. Selena ran a rough hand through her hair. “I...I don't know what I'm going to do, but Ican't do this any longer. I'm done. I quit. It makes it easier, right? To walk away from what I love—”
“Wait!” His world tilted for a moment, his stomach dropping. She's done with him?
In that one moment, he didn't give a shit about his restaurant. He only cared about Selena.
He opened his mouth to say that.
“It's too late, Brogan. There's no other way.” She crossed her arms, looking determined.
The pain was too much. He swallowed, his throat feeling like dust. Control. He needed to control his emotions and reaction.
She wanted him to forget his obligation to his family. Rian and Cathal were his responsibility, be it she understood that or not. He couldn't put their future, livelihoods at risk. If she couldn't wait any longer for him to figure it out the right way, then there might not be a way.
“Fine. You're right.” Brogan shook his head. “We can't do this any longer. You obviously don't understand how the business world works. Not everything can be done your way when you want it done. Some things are more important.”
No!His heart screamed at him that he was wrong. Selena was the most important thing.
But she took a step back like she'd been struck.
Rian rounded on him, his hand landing hard on Brogan's shoulder. “What the hell is your problem?”
Selena shoved Rian to the side, her expression a level beyond angry. Furious. What the hell did she have to be mad about? She'd broken up with him.
They were done. Her decision.
“I quit my job, Brogan,” she said, saying each word slowly like he was dumb. “I didn't break-up with you.”
That stomach-dropping feeling hit him again.
“But I am now.”