Page 77 of Better Luck Next Time

Tears stung her eyes. “You didn’t agree to pay him, did you?”

“Addy, what the hell happened? I’ve done a quick search online, and there’s no mention of you doing anything of the sort, but he insisted it was true, and if I don’t pay him for the damages, the gallery will sue Buchanan Luxury. That lowlife actually threatened our family business.”

Hadn’t she wondered about the damage to the gallery? She’d been so furious, so distraught…surely she’d hit the floor and walls with paint. They would have had some say in whether charges were brought against her. Alan must have convinced them not to go the criminal route, for fear she’d release her side of the story, but that didn’t mean they weren’t interested in some sort of restitution. She closed her eyes. Why wouldn’t this just go away?

“Addy,” Lee said insistently, “just tell me what happened.”

So she told him everything, from how Georgie and River had paid her bail and arranged for her to fly to Asheville the day after the incident to how Georgie had gotten Alan to back down. Several times, her brother looked like he wanted to interrupt, but he remained silent.

“I thought that was the end of it,” she said when she finished. “But he’s been sending texts.”

“What kind of texts?” he asked in a deep voice.

“The first ones were flattering, like he was trying to get back into my good graces, but they’ve gotten more threatening over the last few days. I tried blocking him, but he texted from an unknown number.”

“Have you responded to any of them?”

“No. Georgie thought he’d quit it if I didn’t respond.”

“Even after he started to threaten you?” he asked in disbelief.

“She doesn’t know about that part,” she admitted.

He was silent for several seconds. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he asked, sounding hurt. “After all of our conversations before…” He swallowed thickly. “Addy, I hate that you didn’t feel like you could call me.” He paused, his eyes tearing up. “I hate that you were in trouble and you didn’t feel safe asking me for help.”

She didn’t know what to say. She knew he needed to hear that he was wrong, that shedidtrust him, but they both knew it would be a lie.

“I understand why you didn’t call me from jail,” he continued. “And I understand why you didn’t tell me you were going to Asheville until well after the fact, but I don’t get why I’m just now hearing all of this, months later and under duress at that.”

“Because,” she said, “if I told you, it would be the same as telling Dad. And Victoria.” Then a new thought hit her. “Oh, my God. Is she listening to all of this?”

He made a face. “No. She’s with her mom and sister getting mani-pedis.” His jaw set. “And telling me isn’t the same as telling Dad.”

“Oh come on, Lee. We all know you’d do anything to stay in his good graces. I figured you’d tell him the first chance you got.” Which meant this very conversation could get back to him. But what could he do? Her father had no power over her…except that wasn’t true. It still hurt her when he lashed out, when he treated her like she was nothing more than a minor inconvenience or disappointment, like a latte being delivered with the wrong milk.

“Addy…” Lee started, then stopped. “Okay, we’ll address the stuff about Dad later. And wewilladdress it. But right now, we need to figure out what’s going on with the gallery. With your permission, I’d like to call them and hear their side of the story, because this reeks of a scam. If they’d wanted you to pay for damages, they would have soughtyouout. Stansworth’s threat to go public is empty. He got the charges dropped because he doesn’t want anyone to find out what he did, but he’s obviously still looking for a payday. My guess is he’s broke. Who knows what he told the gallery.”

She nodded, tears stinging her eyes again. “Okay.”

“I wish I were with you right now,” he said, his voice rough. “I wish…” He cleared his throat and swiped at his eyes. “I’m here, Addy. I’ll help you through this. Thank you for telling me the truth.”

“What about Dad?”

His jaw twitched. “He won’t be hearing about it from me.”

“And Victoria?”

He took longer to respond. “This is between you and me. And I guess Georgie.” Then he made a face. “And her new boyfriend.”

So his attitude toward River still needed a little work, but that was a conversation for another day. “I don’t feel right having you call the gallery,” she said. “I’m a grown woman. I feel like I should handle this myself. Be a grown-up, like Dad is fond of saying.”

“Dad’s wrong. Youarea grown-up, Addy,” he said. “And sometimes, you need to let other people help. I’ll call the gallery and let you know what they say, but I might not be able to get a hold of anyone until tomorrow.”

“Thanks, Lee,” she said with a soft smile.

“That’s what big brothers are for. Let me do my job.” He cocked his head. “Is that a dog I see next to you?”

She lowered the phone to give him a full view of the quiet husky. “This is Tyrion. He’s a foster dog from the animal shelter that will benefit from the charity art show Finn Hamilton and I are putting together. We’re hosting it at Buchanan Brewery.”

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