Page 84 of Seeing You

She didn’t look convinced, and he wasn’t in the mood to try to change her mind.

“I’m going to get some coffee,” he muttered as he walked away.

He walked past at least a dozen different coworkers and none of them even acknowledged him on his way to and from the break room. When he got back to his office, he picked up his phone and noticed even more texts from his brother.

Max: Okay, you and Billie broke up again.

Max: You got back together once. It can happen again.

Max: Don’t let this keep you from coming home again.

Max: LOL! Can I say the word again a few more times?

Max: Seriously, dude, call me. I’m sure you’re in a mood, but…I’m a good listener.

That was true. Max was probably the only person Marcus ever felt comfortable opening up to, but was he ready to open up to him about Billie?

Max: Marcus? Hello? I know you’re reading this!

Max: Talk to me!

“Oh, for crying out loud.” Huffing with annoyance, he hit the call button.

“Hey, there’s my big, cranky brother!”

And for some reason, that made Marcus laugh. “What is wrong with you? Why are you like this?”

“You mean caring? Charming? Lovable?”

“Yeah, speaking of charming, that’s the word my assistant just used to describe Dad.”

“Seriously? Why would she even say that? Dad doesn’t know her.”

“Apparently he called the office when he couldn’t reach me on my cell phone and got chatty with her.” Leaning back in his chair, he scrubbed a hand over his face. “Then he went and told her about me and Billie. I mean…why? Why would he do that?”

“No idea, but I don’t think there was anything malicious about it. They were probably just talking and got on the subject of how you are.” He paused. “So, do you want to talk about it?”

“Honestly? I don’t know. If I don’t talk about it, I can pretend that it doesn’t bother me and just go about my life as usual. But if I do…”

“Then you’ll have to come clean and say the words out loud that you’re upset.”

“It’s more than upset. I’m freaking miserable. Like…I didn’t even realize this level of sadness was possible.” Staring up at the ceiling, he groaned. “When we broke up back in…well, the first time, I was angry. Furious. I felt betrayed and completely justified in my fury. The few times we ran into each other when I went back to Sweetbriar, it was an annoyance when things didn’t go the way I thought they should. But this? I swear she ripped out my heart. I don’t even know how I’m breathing because I just feel so damn numb and empty.”

“Wow, I had no idea. I don’t even know what to say to that. I thought you were just bummed. I wasn’t expecting this level of…”

“Yeah. Me either.” He sighed. “It’s all my fault too. She didn’t do anything wrong. Ever. This is all on me. Again.”

“I’m sure that’s not true. You’re just being dramatic.”

So, he shared the story of him looking at her bank statement.

“Dude! What is wrong with you? That seriously violated her privacy!”

“I know that now, Max! At the time, all I could see were all those zeroes and then it pissed me off—briefly, but still pissed me off—that she has like ten times as much money as I do! I’mworking my damn ass off, chasing the freaking dream, and she’s working in a small-town bakery when she’s a millionaire.” Now his hand raked through his hair. “It made me feel inferior and then that made me mad.”

“Yeah, but you get mad at everything. That’s kind of your thing. We all know it.”

“Not helpful…”

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