Page 22 of The Broker

Our fairy tale romance became a nightmare. He spent every weekend at the college bars, and I grew tired of going with him. He typically ignored me the whole evening, and... God. Neither of us were college students anymore. Why did he even like this?

It wasn’t exactly fair, but I began to resent him.

He bitched endlessly about not having any money, but he never had a problem buying overpriced beers and greasy food. Sometimes, he’d even splurge and buy drinks for people he’d just met. Kids, really. He craved their attention, wanting to be known as the ‘big man on campus.’ I didn’t understand it at all.

When I started sleeping on the couch, that was the final straw, the end of our relationship.

“Pay rent or move out,” Zach announced at the end of April, his tone cold and indifferent and like he’d never loved me at all.

“I don’t have anywhere to go,” I said.

He looked at me like I was an idiot. “Of course you do. Go home, Charlotte.”

As hard as our breakup had been, I also felt an enormous sense of relief when it was over. Like I’d been released from some kind of spell. As if I’d been given permission to finally make the right choice.

I dreaded calling my dad, but I also longed to hear his voice, and I cried so much during our conversation, he barely understood any of it. He stayed stoic, though, unmoved by my tears. Maybe he thought they were a ploy to soften him up, but they’d been one thousand percent genuine. At the end of it, he told me he’d clear his schedule and where I could meet him for lunch.

Our conversation in person lasted more than two hours, and I shook like a leaf the whole time. At least I came prepared—notjust to face the consequences either. After several apologies and a hell of a lot more tears, I laid out a plan for me to come home.

I’d do whatever my parents asked—without question—and earn back their trust. I’d get a job and put myself on a repayment schedule for the trip to Hawaii. It might take years, but I was committed.

I was determined to show them I understood how badly I had fucked up.

He listened to me with the skepticism of a man who’d been burned before. Then he sighed heavily, said he’d talk it over with my mom and get back to me. I spent a sleepless night on the floor of my friend’s dorm room, and in the morning my father called.

I was allowed to come home.

It would be probationary, he warned. They wouldn’t be giving me back my car or my credit cards any time soon, and if I was caught lying or refused to do something they asked of me, the deal would be off.

I couldn’t agree to it fast enough.

The first few days after I’d moved back into my old room were... awkward. I danced around my folks like the floor was made of eggshells, doing everything in my power to be helpful and perfect.

And now here it was, three weeks after I’d moved in, that we’d encountered our first issue. I sat with my back straight on the couch, dutifully waiting for him to finish his phone call. When it was over, he set his phone down and closed his laptop, giving me his full attention.

My breath stuck awkwardly in my lungs.

“How did your date with Preston go?” His tone was easy, but there was nothing casual about his question.

I pressed my lips together and swallowed hard. I hadn’t told anyone about it, only that I was meeting a friend for a drink. “How did you know?”

“I didn’t. It was a guess. Erika overheard him in the office when he asked for your number.” He settled back into his seat and a slight frown crossed his expression. “Is there a reason you didn’t tell me?”

My shoulders sagged. “I wasn’t trying to keep it from you, I swear. I’m not interested in him like that. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t said yes to him.”

My dad softened a degree. “That bad, huh?”

“It wasn’t great.”

He nodded his understanding. “I’m sorry to hear that. He seems like a good enough kid and he’s your age, but you can’t have a relationship with him.”

“Why’s that?” My heart beat faster. Was this the moment my parents told me I’d need their approval on who I dated?

“Because his company is handling Troy’s release party and you’re going to be working for Warbler. So you’ll need to steer clear of anyone involved with the company.”

I had my hands in my lap and tried not to fidget with my fingers. “Are you putting me back on the receptionist desk full time?”

God, please, no.

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