Page 85 of Dare to be Different

“You’re fucking relentless,” I answer, turning the truck on.

“Fuck. Finally.” He laughs as he complains. “I feel like a needy boyfriend, but I also have no shame about calling you thirty times in a row. Get used to it.”

I kind of love that. “Are you calling for a reason or just looking for more phone sex? Because if you wait twenty minutes, I can be there and we can have real—”

“Don’t you fucking dare offer that right now, Remy. That’s not why I’m calling, but now my dick is hard at the worst time.”

“Worst time? What’s happening?” I ask.

“Gen’s dad is at my parents’ place. Wants to come to some sort of settlement, and we need to figure out how to play this to protect Gen.”

Fuck.

Chapter 34

Mom, Dad, Four, and Gen are sitting around the table with Remy and I. Gen’s dad, Gregory, is at the far end, flanked by two goons in suits. Like, get the fucking memo, assholes. Suits aren’t the norm here. They look like a bunch of henchmen, and I’m honestly wondering if they have guns in holsters under all that expensive fabric. Sitting next to Gregory is some expensive executive lawyer he flew in all the way from Georgia, and yeah, he’s a bit fucking intimidating. We only have a local lawyer.

And we’re all just sitting around my parents’ kitchen table like this isn’t a formal thing, even though tensions are high. And Gen is trying not to cry. Her goddamn livelihood is on the line.

Gregory’s lawyer runs his pen down the page, ticking off our list of demands. “So, the cost of repairs, the cost of income due to loss of work, compensation for your hardships, Mr. Rivers, as well as a settled upon monetary amount.” He looks up at us. “Anything missing?”

They want to settle fast without going to court. Honestly, I just want this whole thing over with, but there’s something else on Remy’s mind.

“How much was your med school, Gen?” Remy asks.

Fuck, I love him. Gen blushes, looking on the brink of more tears.

“Wait just a minute!” Gregory snaps. “She shouldn’t even be here! This incident has nothing to do with her.”

“It has everything to do with her since you made her financial situation a part of it. I want however much her med school costs to be added to the monetary agreement, and I’ll be the one paying it back myself. Don’t trust you to do it.” Remy looks at Gregory with a steely expression and coldness in his eyes. “You won’t hold this over her head anymore.”

“But—”

“Then you leave here. You can’t threaten her job or interfere with her life unless she wants you to, and you can’t hold that loan over her head. You can’t threaten Four or the Dare family, and you agree to leave them alone to live their lives how they want. I’ll leave it up to her to determine her involvement in your life. But as far as debts and lording money go, you’re done. I want it written up as part of the agreement or we’ll take this thing to court. Yes?”

Four’s eyes get watery, and I grip Remy’s hand under the table. Mom and Dad watch Remy to make sure he’s okay, and Gen straight up sobs. She reaches across the table to grab his other hand, but she’s too worked up to verbalize her gratitude.

The lawyer looks at Gregory for confirmation. He’s smart enough to know this is a good deal. Gregory, being high and mighty, obviously doesn’t like it, and his red face and narrow eyes prove it.

“Fine. Genevieve, you are no longer welcome in our home. I hope you’re happy here with this—”

“Enough,” Dad cuts him off. “She will have a home here for as long as she wants it. Nothing else needs to be said about it.”

“Draw it up,” Remy says, standing. “You’ll look it over and let us know?” he asks our lawyer. When she nods, he steps back from the table. “Good. Now get out.” He points at the door, waiting for Gregory and his entourage to leave. But something is up with him because he doesn’t wait for them to go. He heads out to the back deck while the rest of us watch Gen’s dad button his jacket and sneer on his way out.

“Zahn.” Four pulls me in for a bear hug. “I don’t even know… just… thank you.”

“Thank Remy.” I hug him back before pushing him away. “But thank him tomorrow. I… I need him right now.”

Four smirks. “You two are…” He lets that trail off with a nod of approval.

“Zahnder,” Gen says, wrapping her arms around my middle and resting her cheek against my chest. “I love you.”

“Love ya too, babe.” I kiss the top of her head and let her hug me tight. She wants to go thank Remy, but I need to steer her away. Stall her, at the very least. I push her back and hold her shoulders. “Tomorrow, okay? I gotta check on him right now.”

Mom and Dad watch me submit and openly welcome my feelings of need. Yeah, I need Remy because he just did something so incredible for my family that I just want to hug him. Touch him. Make sure he knows how fucking much I love him, even if I’m not sure what kind of love it is anymore.

“You know Remy’s always got a home here too, right?” Dad asks as I walk by. “Always has, always will.”

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