Page 112 of Don't Bet On It
We hadn’t seen Sharon since that day at her trailer. We’d heard through the grapevine that she’d taken her ten grand and headed east, opting for a stint in Atlantic City, where nobody knew her. That money wouldn’t last long even if she found a new sugar daddy to entertain her for a few months. Eventually, she would be back. Tallulah and I would deal with her together if she decided to show up and rock her daughter’s world.
As for Tallulah and me, things were going amazingly well. Three months after weofficiallystarted dating, we’d moved in together. It wasn’t a big shift. We’d spent every night together for months at that point. We chose my place because I owned it and it was spacious, but I’d told her we could pick a new place to buy together whenever she wanted. She didn’t seem interested. She loved the views of the mountains from my condo. So we stayed, and she’d helped redecorate to reflect both of us. I loved her choices.
After Cora had offered us the gallery, we left the lounge. Kyla was so excited to see us go that her sister started her first shift as a server in less than twenty-four hours. My understanding was that things were running smoothly without us. That was likely for the best.
Tallulah and I had thrown ourselves into planning for the gallery. We actually made less money during the planning stages, but we were having so much fun, it didn’t matter. We ateon the job and slept wrapped around one another. We’d spent almost every waking moment together.
I had never been happier.
And here we were, the night before the gallery officially opened. We were having a private party with the shareholders, complete with themed drinks and food, to kick off the new endeavor. I’d even managed to get fried macaroni and cheese bites added to the menu as an appetizer.
“I told you it looks great,” Zach said. He made a face for his sleepy daughter. She didn’t look impressed. “Take it down a notch, Ronan. Why are you so worked up?”
I fingered the velvet jewelry box in my pocket. My parents—both of them—had helped me pick out the engagement ring inside. My father had treated me better over the last six months. When he reminded me that I could be rich beyond my wildest dreams if I took over the casino, I smiled and shook my head. He and my mother were coming to the opening tonight, and I took that as a good sign. Eventually, he would stop asking. For now, I could forgive him for not being able to let it go just yet. He was getting there.
“Who said I was worked up?” I forced myself to focus on Zach. “I’m not worked up. Who is saying that?”
“Yeah, I was kind of joking at first.” Zach shook his head. “Now, I know you’re worked up. Spill.”
“I can’t tell you.” I averted my gaze.
“You can’t tell me?”
“That’s what I said.” I jutted out my chin to let him know I meant business.
He was quiet for a beat. I could feel him looking at me. Finally, he sighed. “Fine. Don’t tell me.”
“I can’t. You have a big mouth.”
“I do not have a big mouth.”
“You do with Olivia.”
“So you’re worried I might say something to Olivia.”
I was determined to change the subject, but before I could, realization dawned in his eyes.
“Let me see the ring,” he ordered.
I balked. “What makes you think I have a ring?”
“Because you’re acting squirrelly and the only thing you would be worried about me telling Olivia is your plans for an engagement. By the way, I had this month in the pool. I wholeheartedly agree with this plan of action.”
I scowled at him and removed the box from my pocket. I’d already talked about the idea of marriage with our therapist, but this was a big step. Tallulah and I had been having regular sessions with Robin since we started officially dating. We agreed that therapy could be helpful for both of us when it came to overcoming our issues. So, once a month, we sat down with Tallulah’s childhood therapist and talked everything out. Rarely did we struggle.
Tallulah’s anger issues hadn’t cropped up in all that time. Sure, she got irritated, but she didn’t let things build to an explosion point. The key was to air her grievances as they were happening.
My anxiety was still present, but it never knocked me out. When I felt the world was getting too overwhelming, I took a step back and got some air.
Both of us were thriving—when we were together and when we were apart.
Zach snatched the box and looked inside, his smile spreading when he saw the ring. “This is nice. You must have saved up for a long time to afford this.”
I yanked it back. “I have a trust fund.”
“You do?”
“Don’t you?”
