Page 58 of The Plan

“Why?” She picks up a fork full of whatever the hell she made, but when she puts it to her mouth, I slap it out of her hand. “I know your life is hard, but please don’t poison yourself right now. I like having you around.” She bursts into a laugh and shoves me playfully.

“Asshole.” I chuckle in response and take her plate to the trash before making something actually edible. “I got fired because I’m too depressed to go to work, and I’m depressed because I have to go to work, but now I don’t, so I’m depressed that I’m jobless.”

When I turn to her, she has her head in the palm of her hands. “So do you want a job or not?”

“I want a million dollars.” I turn around completely and study her for a beat.

“Do you actually think a million dollars will solve your problems? Because I’ll sign the check right now, Lis.” She looksup at me and watches me for a few seconds like she’s trying to make sense of my words.

“I was joking. I can’t take your money either way.” She shakes her head and runs a hand through her hair.

“Of course you can, Lis. It’s not like I don’t have it. Seriously, if financial issues are what's stressing you out, then say the word, and your problems will be solved.” She shakes her head softly, and I roll my eyes. She never wants to take a helping hand, even when she’s stuck in a damn ditch.

“You can’t throw money at my problems.”

“I can since I’m a millionaire.” I smile, and she laughs, but it comes out weird. “Lis…”

“It’s not that. Sire. I’m not broke—I just don’t want to work—but I will be broke if I don’t work.” She shakes her head at whatever she just remembered. “It’ssodraining.”

“Then don’t,” I say without hesitating.

“What?” She sits up completely now, and I lean against the counter across from her.

“You need to put your mental health first, especially given your history of self-harm. If having a job is mentally exhausting, then don’t worry about needing to work. I’ll take care of everything, and you take care of your mental health.”

“Sire—” I cut her off before she could turn down my offer.

“Please, Lis. If you want to paint your feelings away and never go to work again, consider it done. Let me do this for you. All you have to do is give your sobriety and mental health your best shot. You got this, Apple Jack.”

The biggest smile lights up her face at my nickname for her. I barely ever call her that anymore, but when I do, she knows I’m serious. Lis is anamazingfucking artist. She finds peace in painting, so if she says she doesn’t want to work and sit home and paint, then she's getting what she wants.

“Are you sure?” I roll my eyes at her, and she only smiles bigger. Without a second thought, she walks around the counter and pulls me in for a hug. “I’ll pay you back every penny when I’m as famous as Picasso.”

“So I’m never getting paid, noted.” She pulls away, and before I can even make a run for it, she punches me in the gut. “Asshole.” I struggle to pull in a breath, and she walks over to the little green thing.

“Did you hear that Piglet?” She taps his head. “Uncle Sire is going to buy you the biggest tank I find.” I throw my head back with a laugh. Of course, she doesn’t have a proper home for this shit.

“Don’t tell me you bought that thing off the road.”

“Okay, I won’t.” She walks off with Piglet, and when she turns to give me a smile, I feel more hopeful than this morning. She’s going to be okay. But then I think about the shit show that went down half an hour ago, and I wish I could say the same about Vid.

Chapter Thirteen

Sire

It’s not like that.” Ideny August’s stupid claims about me still having feelings for Vidia. After the shitshow in the alleyway the other week, I’ve been trying to be a good person and reach out to her more than often. He thinks that means I want to start a damn family with the little shit or something.

“Bro, you said, ‘Talk to me, my love.’ Stop lying to yourself.” I roll my eyes at him. She was talking to Hazel about it the other day, and when I saw her tearing up, that slipped out.

“I was just comforting her. Leave me alone.” I take a sip of my Sprite and scroll through my phone.

“I’ll leave you alone when you admit you still have feelings for her.” God, he’s so damn persistent. When I don’t reply, he smirks and takes a sip of his bourbon. We’re in Texas for the game we just won by a long shot.

The team wanted to come out to the hotel bar, and although I’m not drinking, I joined them to prove to August that I’m fine. He didn't want to drink around me or even come down here to celebrate, so here I am. Reassuring him that I have everything under control.

“You are horrible at giving directions, August.” We turn to see Hazel and Vidia, who are both in tight, very short dresses.

August downs the rest of his drink before pulling Hazel onto his lap. “Not too bad if you found us.” He kisses her temple, and I fake a gag, which makes him gag over Hazel, and I break into a laugh at his weird reflex. He can’t hear people gag, so I do it to bother him.

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