Page 42 of Fifty-Fifty

“I’m not going to become a partner with someone who doesn’t have all the cash up front. You sell the place, or I’m out. Understand?”

“But in the long run––”

“No.” His cold voice stops me. “That’s the deal. Take it or leave it. Do you understand?”

My jaw clenches. “Yeah. I understand.”

Slater stays silent, assessing me all over again. I don’t waiver under his scrutiny. I thrive off it.

“All right then. You better figure out your exit strategy by the end of the week, or I give it to Ricky. Enough of this stalling shit. I want to move forward.”

And with that, he turns around, making his way back to the inn that’s slowly become my home. The same one he’s asked me to give up.

The problem is, I don’t know if I can.

By the time we get back to the bed and breakfast, I find Beau sitting on the front porch with a steaming cup of coffee in her hand and a bundled up Mac playing in the front yard. The moment is so picturesque, it makes my chest squeeze.

“Noah!” Mac screams before running over to me and wrapping her arms around my thigh in the sweetest greeting I’ve ever received.

I bend at the waist and rub her back while trying to keep my emotions in check.

“Hey, Mac. Are you having fun?”

“Yes! Dinosaur, rawr!” She motions to her T-Rex toy only a few feet away that she’d dropped when she came to hug me.

I release her hold on my leg then pick up her toy before handing it back to her.

“Yup. Dinosaur, rawr!” I repeat. “Why don’t you go feed your dinosaur some leaves, okay? I’ll come play with you in a little bit.”

She runs over to the fallen leaves beneath the giant maple tree in the front yard. I watch her for a few seconds with a soft smile on my face before I catch Slater observing me. Watching the entire interaction and making me feel guilty for loving the kid, when all I’m going to do is leave her and her mom to pursue my dreams. My selfish dreams.

After a few tense seconds, he breaks his stare and walks toward the porch without uttering a word. I think he knows how far he’s already pushed me and doesn’t want to press his luck.

Slater nods politely at Beau before heading inside, quietly closing the door behind him.

I follow after in hopes of escaping Beau’s interrogation. I’m not ready to talk. Grasping for the door handle, Beau’s soft, Southern voice stops me. “Everythin’ okay, Noah?”

No. It’s not.

“Yeah.”

She reaches for me, wrapping her dainty fingers around my inked forearm. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you they were comin’. I didn’t know you knew them. I swear I woulda told you. I thought they were just another reservation, that’s all.”

My gruff exterior softens when I see the concern in her gaze. It’s obvious she’s terrified that I’m pissed at her. Little does she know, it’s the opposite. I wrap my arm around her waist, placing a gentle kiss against her forehead. “I know, babe. It’s not your fault, okay?”

She releases a soft sigh, as if my kiss can cure even the deepest of aches.

If only they could.

“Okay.”

“I’m going to go inside and shower.” It’s a shitty excuse since I already showered earlier today, but it is the only one I can come up with. Thankfully, she doesn’t question me, though we both know I’m freaking out inside. I drop my arm from her waist and head toward the front door.

“Hey, Noah?”

I stop, turning to her.

“Are we okay?” she whispers, her eyes shining with vulnerability. She looks so small in her oversized jacket. I know it’s not mine, but it definitely doesn’t belong to her, either.

---