Page 78 of Camping with the Boss

I sigh, taking a minute to process and push down my disappointment. My brother doesn’t trust me. But I already knew that. I press my thumb against my brow. “Do you ever get tired of playing games? Not just mentally. Physically exhausted. I do. I’m so done, Ander.”

He swallows, his eyes darting around the room. “What do you mean?”

“Let’s start again. The telephone game. The phrases changed by the time they got to you. And since Canyon didn’t go overthem in the debriefing, there’s no way you could know what they are. Correct?” He nods, and I continue, “Unless you were in on the entire thing.”

His cheeks turn pink. Ander has always been a terrible liar…but is that true? I’ve seen him lie successfully. Just never to me. “Well, there is that.” He pulls out a note card and hands it to me. The phrases are all handwritten. By Canyon? I resist the temptation to trace the letters with my fingers.Focus, Wade.

I know what you did this summer.

Loyalty is rare. So if you find it, keep it.

You are the weakest link. Goodbye.

“That’s genius.” I think back to the game. Did anyone act suspicious? Al. Maybe Jet. Owen was grumpy, but he’s always grumpy. And I’d mostly focused on Canyon. “I’d love to see the notes they took.”

“Are we done?” Ander asks in a sharp tone, drawing my attention. His face is pinched. “Or do you have another question?”

“This meeting was your idea, remember?”

“With Meredith here, I think we need to show a united front. That’s what I wanted to talk about. But you have questions, so let’s hear them.”

“Why bother if you’re just going to be evasive.”

He grabs the card out of my hand. I want to snatch it back, but I don’t. He waves it at me. “This wasn’t my secret to tell.”

That grates on my nerves. “This is my team?—”

“Our team, remember?” He slams the card on the table. “And that’s why I told you. Ask your questions, Wade,” he says, leaning back and crossing his arms.

I can’t askthequestion. Not yet. Maybe not ever. I’m not sure I’ll like the answer. “What do you want?”

He squirms and his chair scrapes against the carpet. “That’s a vague-ass question. For dinner? For Christmas? What do I want out of life?”

I’m fucking this up. I thumb at my brow again. It’s not automatic, but better than pressing the scars on my hand. “Meredith is asking for my removal as CEO.”

“What?” He places his hands palms down on the table. “I’m so sorry, Wade. This isn’t— I didn’t?—”

I place my hand over his. “I know. I’m not suggesting you had anything to do with it.” A week ago, I thought differently. But now? I can’t believe he would do that. “Regardless, you’re the obvious choice. Is it something you’re interested in?”

“I don’t know. I love the thought of doing it, but Meredith…I just don’t know.”

I lean closer. There’s no way she can hear us, but I still whisper my next words. “I’m going to find a way to get rid of her.”

Emotions flicker across his face. Hope. Fear. Desperation. Pain. He swallows. “What if you can’t?”

“It’s possible. Maybe things will be better without me. She hates me for some reason. I think she likes you, Ander. Or at least she doesn’t hate you as much. When we were kids… I was the one punished.” Ander’s eyes widen, and then his face darkens, and his hands ball into fists on the table.Shit.“I didn’t mean… I don’t blame you.”

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