Page 137 of Can't Get Enough

“That was our garden,” she says wistfully, and aims a smile over her shoulder that’s just like Hendrix. “It was full of ranunculus.”

“Did you ever enter any of those floral contests?”

“No.” She grabs a paper towel and blows her nose. “They were just for him and me. I haven’t had the heart to get out there in…” She bunches her brows like she’s concentrating, maybe trying to remember, before she shakes her head and nods to the backyard. “He’d probably say,Now Betty, you know that’s a shame. Got my garden looking like that. Get on out there, girl.”

“What’s stopping you?” I ask softly.

Her smile slips and her eyes drift back to the window. “I guess nothing at all.”

CHAPTER 43

HENDRIX

There used to be lots of laughter in this house. Less so of late, but it still sounds familiar drifting from the kitchen. Freshly showered, I flatten my back to the wall and eavesdrop on the conversation between my mama and my boyfriend.

Boyfriend.

I let that word boing around the bouncy house in my head for a second.

I have a boyfriend. A lover. A guy. Aperson.

My stomach growls and the smell of Mama’s collard greens and mashed potatoes and baked chicken reminds me I skipped breakfast, too. I had an early London call before I screwed Maverick in my dad’s old office.

Sorry, Daddy.

He would have loved Maverick. I think. He never thought anyone was good enough for his little girl. To be honest, I’ve mostly agreed with him. I’ve found men to be overwhelmingly underwhelming, with a few exceptions like Josiah and Judah.

And Mav.

Before I can interrupt their conversation and fix a plate, the phone buzzes in my skirt pocket.

Zere.

Moment of truth. Although I’m fully prepared that she’ll say I’m out and can’t work with her on the show, there is a small part of me thatwould love for us to move past this. Holding out the tiniest bit of hope, I step into Daddy’s old office to take the call.

“Zere, hi,” I say, settling into the office chair.

“Hey, Hendrix.” Her voice holds none of the warmth I’d become used to before this all went down. “I wanted to follow up after our last call.”

“Sure. Thanks for giving it some thought.”

“I don’t want to be in business with you.”

I close my eyes and slump into Daddy’s old chair. Even knowing it was a probability, I didn’t want it to go this way.

“I’m sorry to hear that,” I reply. “But I understand.”

“In talking with my lawyers, I—”

“Wait. Lawyers? Why?”

“In case there was any confusion about who conceptualized this show or who has the right to move forward with its development. I feel confident, based on the counsel I’ve received, that you have no real claim here. Should you want to take me to court—”

“I don’t.” I stand and walk back and forth, the only outlet for my agitation. “It never even occurred to me.”

“Very naive of you. Of course there were possible legal repercussions. That’s what I’ve been investigating since we last spoke.”

“So you never even considered that we might get past this and work together? Be partners?”

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