Page 12 of “Not” Engaged to the Grumpy Billionaire

“I’m sure they do,” Bryan chuckles, but his tone shifts.

“How are you doing though, Liz?”

I pause, the lightness in the conversation fading. Bryan knows me too well.

“I’m good,” I lie, and it’s clear from his silence that he’s not buying it.

“Liz,” he says, his voice more serious now.

“I know you didn’t only come back here for a vacation, did you? This isn’t some random getaway. What’s really going on, Sis?”

I chew on my lip, feeling like a kid caught in a lie. Of course, Bryan would see through me. He always could.

“I just... needed to get away for a while,” I murmur, not offering much.

Bryan isn’t satisfied.

“It’s him, isn’t it? Matt, right?” The mention of is name sends a sharp pang through my chest.

“Don’t,” I snap, louder than I intended. My heart races, and my hand tightens around the phone.

“Don’t bring him up.”

Bryan falls silent for a moment, but I know he won’t let it go.

“Liz, I know he wasn’t good for you. I never liked that guy. What the heck happened?”

I can feel the familiar sting of tears threatening behind my eyes, but I blink them away.

“You were right about him, Bryan,” I finally admit, my voice quieter now.Matt Jarvis is a jerk. I don’t want to waste one more minute thinking about the scum.

“He wasn’t who I thought he was, and I don’t want to talk about it.”

The silence on the other end is thick. I can picture my brother’s face - furrowed brow and clenched jaw, wanting tomarch over here and fix everything. That’s Bryan. Always the protective big brother.

“Liz... I’m sorry." He speaks to me with his typical big brother tenderness. “You know I have your back, right? Always. If you ever want to talk—”

“I know,” I cut him off, swallowing the lump in my throat.

“I appreciate it, Bryan. Honest. But I’m okay. I’m getting there.”

He lets out a long sigh.

“Alright. But know that I’m always a call away. Ever since Mom and Dad, it’s been the two of us, you know?”

“I know,” I say softly.

“When are you coming back to town?”

“In a few weeks. Work’s been a nightmare, but I’ll be there soon, at least for a few weeks”

We talk a little longer, and the conversation shifts to lighter things: work, his life in the city, and how he misses Ocean Bay’s slower pace.

When we finally end the call, I'm a bit more settled. But lingering thoughts of Nate still gnaw at the back of my mind.

I glance toward the kitchen and an idea strikes me. Nate’s been giving me a place to stay, even if he’s been his usual grumpy self. I should at least try to thank him for that.

The smell of sizzling bacon fills the kitchen as I scramble to get everything together. Pancakes, eggs, and fruit, which I hope are enough to show my gratitude. I’m flipping the last of the pancakes when I hear footsteps approaching.

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