Page 69 of From Our First

“Phone call.”

She sighed. “It was my parents’ lawyer. I think they’re going to contest the will completely. They were giving me one last chance or something like that. It’s ridiculous.”

Rage spiraled through me, and I took a deep breath so I didn’t take it out on Myra. “What do they think you did? Conspired with your grandmother to steal money that wasn’t even theirs to begin with?”

“I have no idea. And it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a lot of work to deal with this entire estate. I’m starting to think my grandma didn’t even like me if she forced me to deal with all this on my own.”

I shook my head and took her hand in mine. “She knew you could handle it. And you have people to lean on if you need to.”

“I should be able to do it myself.”

“Myra, we both know you don’t have to.”

“I’m just used to doing things that way. I always have. Even before I met you, Nate. I’ve always been alone when it comes to my family.”

I didn’t know what to say to that. I wanted to tell her that I would always be here for her, that her friends and I would be here. But I couldn’t promise that. Not when I was afraid she would push me away if I got too close, too quickly.

“What can I do?” I asked.

“Nothing yet. I don’t think my grandmother trusted anybody else to take care of all of this. She gave Lacey a lot for her children, and there’s responsibility in that, but there are so many other things. My lawyer’s helping me with it, but we’re at a standstill at the moment while we wait to see what my family’s going to do.”

“I hate this for you.”

“It’s not my favorite thing. And it completely derailed me this morning. So, when I finally got in the mood to paint and work on the project for the commission I need to be paid for, I skipped lunch. That’s why I’m starving now. But the food is good. Even if you got me all sticky.”

She winked, and I laughed like she likely intended.

“I’m not the greatest with investments and estates and things like that, but you know Arden’s husband, Liam, is. He deals with a bunch.”

“Because he’s a multi-millionaire, former famous model, and now a bestselling author?” she asked.

“I don’t know if you have to sound so excited about all those things.”

She snorted. “I had such a crush on him when I was younger. Liam is very handsome.”

“So I hear. Too bad he’s already married to my baby sister.”

“To your twin. I was only ribbing you. He may be handsome, but he’s taken.”

“And?”

“And I guess I have you. So, yeah, I can’t have him.”

“You know, I’m about to throw this rice in your face,” I growled.

“You wouldn’t dare.”

I looked at the rice, and then at her, and shook my head. “No, because I’m hungry. You’re lucky I didn’t eat enough for lunch either. Hence, the headache.”

“Okay, I guess I should feed you.” She pressed the fork full of bulgogi to my lips, and I slid it off the tines with my tongue, my gaze on her.

“Who knew bulgogi could be so sexy?” she purred.

I laughed and nearly choked on my beer as I took a sip. “Thank you for that,” I said.

“Should you be having a beer with a headache?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Probably not, but here we are.”

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