I nodded. “It is.”

He stared at me for a minute. “I had no idea Marty was that bad. I respect what you’re trying to do, but please be careful. This isn’t just about Marty and the investor.”

I patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks for your wisdom, brother. I know what I’m doing.”

I started to walk back to the table when he pulled on my arm again. “So what happens when this is all over? When the investors are happy and Marty is well, you know…”

I didn’t give him an answer because I didn’t have one.

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

HARLOW

“Okay, now that we are alone, tell me what the hell is going on with you two.” Molly said, closing the bathroom door and sliding the lock in place.

I spun around and grabbed one of the paper towels from the dispenser. “You already what’s going on. Brooks and I are engaged.”

She grinned. “I thought you were ‘fake’ engaged.”

I rolled my eyes. “Nothing has changed between us. It’s all for show.”

She stepped up next to me and propped her hip against the sink. “So, are you saying that you feel absolutely nothing for him?”

I sighed, knowing I wouldn’t get out of this conversation without giving her something.

“My feelings for Brooks are complicated. You know that.”

You would think, after all these years, I would be over him and that he would somehow manage to forgive me. But I’ve come to the conclusion that there was too much anger and resentment on his end.

She stared at my reflection in the mirror. “I think it’s kind of romantic that he stood up to your dad for you.”

I scoffed. “He did it because he can’t help himself.”

Her eyes softened. “No. He did it because he still cares about you.”

I wish she would stop putting ideas in my head. The last thing I needed was to get my hopes up.

“It doesn’t mean anything.”

She crossed her arms and tilted her head to the side, like I was in some type of denial. “Come on, Harlow. You’re not stupid. When is the last time someone went to bat for you like he did?”

“He has his own reasons for doing this.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “I don’t care what other reasons he has. He could have helped you find a rental. He could have told you to call someone else, but he didn’t. Why do you think that is?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he felt pressured, or sorry for me because I had nowhere else to go,” I said, even though my logic was weak.

Molly scoffed. “Brooks Dawson doesn’t do anything he doesn’t want to do. You know that.”

She was impossible. Even if there was some truth to her words, it wouldn’t change anything.

“Molly, I’m trying to be realistic about this. You and I both know I never stopped loving him. If I could go back in time and fix my mistakes, I would in a heartbeat, but he doesn’t love me like that anymore.”

“Okay, fine, believe whatever you want to believe. But I can assure you on everything I own that you are wrong.”

I stepped toward the door, thankful that she wasn’t going to push any further. “Can we get back out there now before your husband comes looking for us? I’m already on his bad side.”

She looped her arm through mine. “I think he’s softening up toward you.”