Page 82 of Holding You
“Yes!” Both kids cheer and then rush to Colt, talking a mile a minute.
I glance back down the stairs, waiting for Declan to follow, but he doesn't.
I take it as a clear sign that he wants to be alone right now.
But as I cook dinner and set the table, my mind is only on one thing.
Declan.
Declan isa different person by the time he returns upstairs for dinner.
His parents got a late start to their drive, so they aren’t here yet. Like Colt, they are staying at the lodge for the weekend.
Part of me thought I’d meet his parents, but now I don’t think I will. I’m not so sure I’m up for meeting the parents of another wealthy son.
“So, wait,” Colt says and holds his hand up. Dinner is long over, and the kids are inside playing games while Declan, Colt, and I sit out back with a drink. “You'retheDeclan Young. As in Young Technologies Software?" Colt leans forward in his chair. “The CEO.”
Declan nods and part of me is proud that Colt is impressed, which feels unfamiliar. It shouldn't matter for so many reasons.
“Guilty,” Declan answers.
“You do know who I am, right?”
“Colt,” I scold.
“I don’t mean it in alook how rich I amway, Ruby. I mean it as in, is it not insane that the man you’re living with is the owner of my dad’s biggest rival company? I mean, if you thought my dad didn’t care for you, you should hear him talk about Declan. Hehateshim. Sorry about him, by the way. The way he does business is wild to me.”
I ignore the part about his dad not caring for me and go to the next part.
“Rivals? Really? Did you know who Max’s dad was before you moved in?” I cast my question to Declan.
I knew both were part of the tech world, but that could mean anything. I didn’t realize they were so similar.
“I was aware, but I didn’t think it affected anything, so I never brought it up.”
“It doesn’t, but is that weird?” This time my question is directed to Colt.
“Yeah, but not in a bad way. Declan, or his assistant anyway, deals with my dad directly and not me, which is probably why I never put two and two together. I wonder if my dad has though.”
I grunt.
Oh, I’m sure he has.
“Are there rules against this?” I ask, and both of them laugh.
“No,” Colt says. “There are no rules on this.”
“I wouldn’t even know how to draft that.” Declan chuckles. “Owner agrees to never become roommates with the mother and son of the competing company.”
They both laugh again, but this isn’t funny.
“I don’t think I’m into this.”
“What?” Colt asks.
“You two getting along.”
They are alike in a lot of ways, but also not.
