Page 55 of There's No Us Without You
If it wasn’t for him, I probably would have given up on this place years ago. He knew my dad for five years before he died, and sometimes just seeing his face helps me remember my reasons for doing what I’m doing.
“I’m fine,” I say, hugging him tightly. “Is Tony in yet?”
With a groan, Smith releases me and steps back to hold me by my shoulders. “Speaking of arseholes.”
Great.
I scrunch my nose up. “That bad, huh?”
“Times it by a million.” Smith reaches back and grabs the large paring knife he was just using and holds it out to me, a sly grin on his face. “You might need this.”
I shake my head with a laugh. “You have problems.”
“And Tony is my biggest one right now. Do your favourite person a favour and put him out of his misery. I swear, ever since your mother turned up two weeks ago, he’s been in a mood—worse than usual.”
Wait. What?
“My mother? What was she doing here?”
Smith waves a hand dismissively and goes back to cutting the broccoli. “Don’t ask me. That woman is from the depths of hell. You know she scares the shit out of me. I hide when I see her.”
If only he knew she was the reason Kent and I didn’t exchange nuptials.
“Great. That’s all I need. Pray for me,” I say over my shoulder as I head for the exit.
All I get is Smith’s deep, throaty laugh taunting me while I make my way to Tony’s office.
I stare at the Manager sign on the peeling red door, while rubbing my sweaty hands on my black pants.
I’m not prepared for this conversation. How could one ever be when something they love so dearly is at the mercy of some heartless ogre with bad breath? I swear Tony chews garlic like he would chewing gum.
Knocking, I suck in a deep breath and square my shoulders.
“Come in.” Tony’s nasally voice sends a shiver down my spine, but I open the door and pop my head in first.
“Have you got a minute?” I say, plastering on the biggestI secretly hate yousmile.
He glances up from his paperwork, his eyes widening for a moment before he sniffs and sets the papers down. “Oh... Eden, you’re back. I’m sorry to hear about you and Kent.”
Goddamn my mother. I bet she forgot to mention her involvement in the reason I failed to walk down the aisle. God forbid she looks like an arsehole.
“Thanks,” I say, stepping into the room and closing the door behind me. My leg bounces, the rest of my body wanting to follow.
The way he runs his intrusive eyes down my body before dragging them back up like he wasn’t just imagining god knows what has my skin crawling.
I resist the urge to shiver and instead keep my composure as Tony continues to stare at me like I’m not an actual human being, but something for him to ogle every time it pleases him.
My dad would cut his eyeballs out if he were here to witness it. One thing I loved most about my dad was his protectivenessover me—the likes of which I haven’t seen again until Emerson and Will decided to take me in like the stray I am.
I clear my throat, the silence now unbearable.
“Right,” Tony says, snapping out of whatever trance he was in. “I’m sure your mother told you then?”
“She did,” I say, tucking a hair behind my ear. “I... I don’t understand. We had a deal—you promised my dad this place would be mine.”
“And sometimes plans change, Eden.” With a sigh, Tony leans back in his chair, linking his hands behind his head. His protruding beer belly peeks out from his white button-up, a carpet of dark hair now something I can’t un-see.
I force my gaze upwards. “So that’s it then? You’re not even going to give me a chance to get the money?” I blink back my tears and stand up straighter, even though every inch of me wants to crumble to the floor.
