Page 100 of Between Now & Heartbreak

There’s a beat of stunned silence.

“Wow.”

“I’ve never been in love before, Nadia.”

“I know, honey. Is she coming with you this time?” she says lovingly.

“I wish.”

I tell her everything that’s happened.

“You should have called me when all this went down. I could have helped you.” She says piteously.

“You mean you would have meddled. I don’t need my big sister sending threatening emails demanding my bully leave me alone.”

“You were twelve, and I won’t apologize for that. But this is different. We have to get rid of this Duke.”

“I’m actively trying to avoid becoming a murderer, Nadia, but thanks for the suggestion,” I say dryly.

“Murder is for amateurs,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh at her blithe tone.

“Okay, Nadia Bosh, tell me how you’d do it.”

“Catfish him, and get something really incriminating…his father is a politician, right? I’d get a video of him taking it up the ass with my strap-on – and then blackmail him into walking away.”

I’m stunned silent for a second.

“You watch too much reality television.”

“No, I’m serious. Arrogant men are the easiest marks, the best cons.”

“What do you know about cons and blackmail?”

She laughs like she would at a child she’s humoring.

“I’ve built a skin care line brand based on nothing but amazing selfies and staged lifestyle photo shoots. They’re admittedly fantastic pictures, but that’s all they are. The product is fine, but they’ve bought into me and not one bit of it is real. I’m theultimatecon woman. And I’m telling you, he would be an easy mark. But, now, we don’t have that kind of time. You’re coming home in a couple of weeks. You need to make sure she comes with you or that you have a plan in place to make sure she’ll be close behind you.”

I think about what I’ve got to offer, and it’s not much. Maybe I’m the one mired in mediocrity. Duke, while being a complete douche, at least can offer her a home. I deride her desire for financial security, but I also can’t deny that I’ve enjoyed having money for the last few months.

“She’d have to walk away from everything she’s ever wanted if she chooses me,” I lament.

“You can’t frame it like it’s a choice between you and him.”

“Well, it is.”

“No, it’s not. God, I raised you better than this,” she says in mock despair.

“Please just say whatever I’m missing,” I say, my impatience for a solution that wouldn’t make me feel like I’ve ruined her life holds my sense of humor hostage.

“Carter, it’s clear. It’s a choice between a vibrant life where she has to work hard for what she wants, but then gets to go to sleep at night knowing she’s not beholden to anyone…and something that’s a little less. Not because she’s choosing Duke. But because she’snot choosingherself.”

“I like that. She’s scared to rely on me.

“Of course she is. She’s clearly crazy for you, but she must be terrified. Her father sounds like a nightmare. Her mother and younger brother are nonexistent. Her other brother is dead. Everyone she loves is gone. You are leaving.”

“I have to. I need to see Dean.

“I’ll call Jack. He’ll help. Dean was pissed but he wants to work with you. He’ll draft a new one. All you have to do is sign it. You can take care of her if she needs it, but better yet, you can take care of yourself, too.”

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