Page 97 of One Billion Reasons

When my head hits the pillow again, I finally sleep, and I definitely don’t dream of strong hands holding me close, of grey eyes burning into me. And when I wake up, I definitely don’t feel like crying.

42

Miles

It’s too fucking early for someone to be knocking. I’m only halfway through shaving, and I have a towel wrapped around my waist. There’s a persistent ache behind my right temple, and the best I can hope for today is to be numb to the world.

I wrench open the front door to Mallory’s surprised face. Her eyes drop to my torso.

“Well, I see why she’s obsessed with you. If you’re into fit billionaires with grey eyes, I suppose.” She clicks her tongue, and I growl.

“Mallory. It’s early.”

“Put on a shirt, and let’s talk.” She raises a brow, and I step aside.

She settles on one of my kitchen stools. I growl under my breath again before stalking down the hall and into my walk-in closet.

When I come back, she’s helping herself to the espresso machine in the corner. Of course she knows how it works. It’s the exact same one that’s in her apartment. Her and Lane’s apartment. My brain is not helpful today. About as unhelpful as it was last night.

“Thanks for the apartment. I didn’t get a chance to tell you.” She turns, and she looks serious and thoughtful instead of murderous, which I suppose is an improvement. Her braids are twisted up over her head, and it makes her look regal. She even manages to look down her nose at me, despite barely coming up to my chin.

“I’m listening,” I grit out. “And you know why I gave you the apartment.”

“Gave us?” She cocks her head. “Are you giving it to us? She won’t let you, you know.”

“A slip of the tongue.” I scrub a hand over my partially shaven face. Lie. I’ve been talking to my lawyer about how to get the apartment to Lane without her knowing.

“You’re a bad liar,” she says, sipping her espresso coolly. “How long have you been in love with her?”

“Ten years.” The words are gravel in my throat.

Mallory nods, like this is a given. “I’m glad you’re done lying, at least.”

“What do you want, Mallory?” I feel like a rodent being toyed with by a lioness.

“I came to give you some very good advice.” Her eyes narrow. “But I can leave if you don’t want it.”

“No. I want it.”

“You were an idiot last night.”

“I know. Believe me, that became readily apparent as soon as I left.”

“Here’s the thing. Lane has been searching for love for years. She’s been told time and time again that she’s not good enough. No one has ever fought for her. Her last boyfriend told her she was not ‘wife material’ even though he liked her. Do you hear what I’m saying?”

“I need to fight for her?” I shake my head. “I don’t know what to do, Mallory. She wants time apart. She wants to get over me.”

“That’s all you’ve got? That was pathetic. You spent ten years pretending not to have feelings for her. Did you think showing up wasted and telling her you wanted her back was enough? You told her you didn’t want to feel anything for her just a few days ago.”

My shoulders slump. “I know. Believe me, I know. I’ve spent every day hating myself for that.” I scrub a hand over my face. If Mallory came here to lay into me, I won’t argue. I deserve it.

Her eyebrows go up. “Okay.” She nods decisively. “So fight for her. You’d be the first. And I think if you play your cards right, she’ll never let you go.”

Hope flutters in my stomach, takes flight in my throat.

“Thank you,” I manage. A plan is formulating in my mind. An insane plan, but one that might just work, if I can get Catherine on board and George to help me.

But first, I need to call my mother.

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