Page 89 of The Boss I Can't Stand
“Guess I’m just hung up on opening weekend. This will be the thing that really determines the film’s success with audiences. The thing that sets us apart. And I obviously want to generate the right amount of buzz to be an awards contender.”
“But how areyoudoing with everything?” Connor asked, tipping his head in my direction.
I tugged at my collar, popping open my top button. “As long as the press is going well, then I’m absolutely fine.”
Connor shoved half a taco in his mouth. “Liar,” he mumbled.
“Did you say something?” I snarked.
Liam reached down the counter and nudged me. “We’re worried about you, man.”
“What for? I’m great.”
“Great,” Connor said, putting the word in air quotes.
“You’re pulling longer hours than usual,” Liam pointed out. “I mean, we all work long days. That’s nothing new. But I’ve heard through the grapevine that there have been nights where you haven’t even left the office.”
Because sometimes going home to that massively empty king bed was just depressing. “Care to elaborate on said grapevine?”
“No comment,” Liam said.
“Plus, you tried flaking on lunch today,” Connor said. “Which is an even bigger red flag. You know we don’t cancel on each other without threat to life or limb.”
I licked my lips, caught. There was no way to play down that concern. Ihadtried to ditch my brothers this afternoon, but mostly because I wasn’t in the mood for an interrogation, however well-intentioned. “There’s nothing to worry about,” I assured them.
“And before you start harping on me for staying late at the office, you should know that I was out on the town almost every night last week. Trust me, I’m not working too hard.” In truth, I’d been out meeting with distributors and investors and lining up Hart of Gold’s next several projects, but they didn’t need to know that.
Connor hummed, unconvinced. “Yes, ‘on the town.’ The same place you like to go when you’re trying to hide the fact that you’re falling apart.”
“I’m not falling apart.”
“You forget we’ve had decades to learn your tells,” Liam said. “We know what you do when you’re struggling. Go out into the world and put on a show. Because what could possibly be wrong as long as you’re still showing up with that smile?”
I grumbled, hating how well they could read me. I hated being under their microscope. I hated knowing that they could pick me apart. It’s what Sierra had done, too, and I also hated to think about how well she’d come to know me. It stung somewhere so deep in my chest, it was impossible to reach.
Liam offered me the container of tortilla chips. “How are you really handling the brea?—”
“I’ve been talking to Mom a bit since she’s settled back in San Francisco,” I rushed to say, cutting off his question.
Liam’s eyes narrowed. Usually, he wouldn’t let me get away with changing the subject, but I was banking on him not being able to resist the rare opportunity ofmebeing the one to bring up Mom. “She told me you didn’t seem very receptive to repairing your relationship the last time you spoke.”
“Yeah, well…” A lot had happened since then. “We’re not having daily chats or anything. I think we’re a long way off from that.” I wasn’t sure how our relationship would evolve from this point forward, but I’d agreed not to push her away at the very least. “Wehavebeen talking, though. It’s been…good.”
“I’m glad you’re working toward forgiving her,” Connor said, relieved.
I frowned. “Iwasupset about the ruined footage, but I think we’ve moved past that now. The distance makes it easier in some ways. Having her underfoot on set was…difficult. And that was before I found out about her and X.”
My brothers both looked uncomfortable at the mention of X, especially Connor. I’d had the most time to get used to the idea of Mom dating again. For Liam and Connor, it was still relatively new information they were processing—our mother was officially putting herself back out there.
“I wasn’t just talking about forgiveness for the footage,” Connor said. “But thank you for reminding me that Mom was hooking up with your director without any of us knowing.”
Liam grimaced. “In my house.”
I smirked. “Sounds like Mom was getting more action around here than you and Mia.”
Liam massaged his eyes. “Christ, stop. I don’t need that mental image.”
“Anyway,” Connor said, swiftly moving on. “We know your issues with Mom go back a lot further than just what happened during filming. Maybe it’s not my place to bring it up…” He sighed. “But we all know you’ve never really forgiven Mom for how much she’d struggled while we were growing up. I think that’s why your relationship has always been so rocky.”
