Page 120 of Comeback
I sit up and meet her eyes. We were quiet on the drive home. I was spiraling and she was focusing on breathing. I don’t have to hear her say it to know she’s worried about what will happen with the studio.
Her hands fall to cover mine. She squeezes gently. “Stop it. You didn’t do anything.”
“You know that’s not true. If we weren’t together, then he wouldn’t be so hell-bent on owning that building.”
“You can’t know that.”
I do though. In my gut, I know he’s doing this because of me.
When Brogan and London get home, the four of us sit in the living room while Sabrina tells them about Eleanor moving to Florida and selling the building.
My frustrations are a constant companion, but I keep it in check as best I can. Sabrina has enough on her mind without worrying about me. And that’s just who she is, someone who thinks of other people even when she’s at a low point.
Brogan crosses both arms over his chest. “Can’t you talk to Eleanor and tell her what an asshole Graham is?”
“She wants to move closer to family. I can’t ask her to wait because I don’t like the buyer.”
“Fine. Then I’ll buy the building,” Brogan says.
“What?” London and Sabrina say at the same time with matching expressions: eyes wide, brows raised.
Damn. I hadn’t even thought of that, but he’s right. Eleanor just needs another buyer. Surely there are lots of those?
“How much could a building cost?” he asks, then pulls out his phone probably to google the answer.
“Fuck me,” he mutters quietly. Obviously, the answer was more than whatever he thought. He recovers quickly. “I have enough for a down payment, and I’ll take a loan out for the rest.”
“We could pool our money,” I say. I don’t know what half is, but it doesn’t matter. I can’t think of a single thing I’d rather do with my savings.
“No,” Sabrina says. A small smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. “Thank you both, but no.”
“This is what family does,” Brogan tells her. “What good is having money if I can’t use it to help out when it’s needed?”
“He’s right.” As I speak, she meets my gaze. “Let us do this for you. You deserve it. That studio is going to be the best in the city and the neighborhood is great. It’s a good investment.”
Fuck, I hate that I almost sound like Graham right now with his good investment bullshit. But I know that whatever she touches is going to succeed. I’d gamble on her all day long.
“I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you’d offer, but it’s just a building. I can find another.”
“You put so much work into this one.” London says the thing we’re all thinking.
Hours. Weeks. She poured her heart and soul into that place.
“And I’d do it again. Making that space mine was an incredible experience.” Her smile is genuine, and I know she’s ready to lie down and accept this cruel change of fate, but I’m not. Not yet.
“Fucking Graham,” I grumble. “He’s doing this because of me.”
“Maybe.” She shrugs one shoulder like she’s already considered that and doesn’t care.
“We could pretend to break up and see if he loses interest.”
A soft laugh, barely discernable, slips from her lips. “That’s the sweetest way anyone has tried to break up with me.”
Brogan is burning a hole through me. I feel his stare and when I glance at him, he signs,What the fuck?
“Pretendbreak up,” I clarify for both of them. I’m not losing her. Fuck Graham.
“No.” She gives her head one definitive shake. “No way.”
