Page 41 of The Summer I Destroyed You

It’s funny, the way my successes are ours and my failures are mine alone.

“So the question,” he continues, “is why you hired him and how much money I lost.”

We lost a tiny fraction of what I’m making for us, asshole. You lost a single drop in the ocean of millions that will come in through my hard work.

“You lost very little, as I already stated,” I reply between my teeth, turning my face to the camera.

Charles’s mouth pinches. “And you hired him because…”

“I hired him because I live in New York, Charles, and as always, I’m working with the information we have on hand.”

“We have a lot of money invested in this, Emerson,” he says. “And without that apartment complex, it’s entirely lost. Don’t think for a moment that it’s my head that will roll if that happens.”

He hangs up, no doubt satisfied that he’s put me in my place and threatened me sufficiently for the day.

“Inspired Building cares,” Liam says behind me. “Small-town values. Quietly working in the background to preserve Elliott Springs’ past.’”

He’s reciting my speech to the town council verbatim.

“We can care and be ruthless assholes at the same time,” I reply, too wearied by the call to even fight with him. Dealing with Charles’ bullshit always zaps my energy.

He frowns. “Have you had lunch?”

“I don’t eat—”

“I’m going to spend an entire day with you sometime just to see what meals you will admit to eating. Come on. You’re cranky and clearly need food.”

“I’m not cranky.”

His mouth opens, and I hold up a hand.

“I’m no crankier than normal, which I suspect you still believe is excessively cranky, but I’m comfortable with it.”

He smiles at that. It’s the smile that does it.

“Fine, I’ll eat,” I tell him. “But don’t expect miracles. I’ll still be cranky.”

He’s still smiling. “I wouldn’t want you any other way.”

* * *

He steers me north of Main Street to Beck’s.

“We’re not eating at the diner?” I ask.

He glances at me, his mouth drawing into a flat line. “No, because if Paul Bellamy starts any shit with you, it’s going to get ugly, and Jeannie has enough problems.”

“It’s not like I’m going to hit him if he starts shit,” I argue. “It would just be a war of words.”

“I wasn’t worried about you turning it physical,” he replies.

I fight a smile as we enter the restaurant. I knew he’d defend me.

He leads me to a deck with a spectacular view of the mountains. “I always assumed this place was a dive,” I tell him. “I had no idea there was a deck in back.”

His eyes hold mine. “You know, you might find that a lot of things here aren’t as bad as you assumed.”

So far, you’re the only thing here that isn’t as bad as I assumed.

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