Page 59 of The Love Wager

“Either way, at least my backup plan sounds like it worked!” she squeals, the joy in her voice radiating through the phone. She’s basking in her triumph, and I can’t even be mad about it.

“You’re absolutely diabolical, you know that?”

“I just wish things hadn’t ended so badly between you and Brooks.” Tay’s tone softens, the playful edge gone. “I really think there was something there between you two.”

A loud sigh bursts past my lips before I can stop it. “Yeah, me too. But if it were meant to be, it wouldn’t be this hard, Tay. My life’s already hard enough. I don’t need to stack anything else on it.”

“I understand. If it makes you feel any better. He’s miserable too from what Spence has told me.”

“It doesn’t, but I love you for trying to make me feel better anyway.”

There’s a brief pause before she says, “I just wish you’d take care of yourself more. The business, Brooks, all of it. It’s a lot for one person. But you’re strong. You’ll get everything back on track.” My day one, supportive best friend, reminds me.

I try to smile, even though she can’t see it. “Thanks, Tay. But listen, there’s one thing I still need your help with.”

“Of course, anything, you know that,” she says without hesitation. “Oh wait, Spencer’s on his way back. Can we talk about this later?”

“No,” I cut in before she can hang up. “Actually, put me on speaker. Spence can help with this, too!”

TWENTY-TWO

Brooks

“Run that past me one more time.” Rubbing my hands over my face as Walter sighs, I try to pull myself together.

“I don’t know how much more plainly I can say it, Brooks. You’re paid in full. Up to date. You owe me nothing.”

I growl as I lean forward and stare at him, waiting for the joke to be over.

A confused laugh slips free. “Yeah, right? Any minute now, someone named Sue from accounting is going to burst through that door and tell you she gave you the wrong account information, and my bar is in foreclosure.”

Walter looks appalled. “I don’t know anyone named Sue.”

“That’s not what?—"

“And second, I’ve known you all your life. When have you ever known me to lie?”

“Well, never, but I?—"

“I gave you the information I have. I think you’d best leave.”

I can see in the reddened way Walter’s cheeks flare that he’s probably right, so I stand and push my chair back to make my way back to the door.

“Can I at least know who paid the balance?”

Nick’s angry face comes to my mind, and I hope this wasn’t him, but where would he have gotten the funds?

Walter looks even more exasperated as he pushes his glasses up and hits a few buttons on his keyboard. “I know you won’t like this, but it says anonymous donor.”

I open my mouth to argue with him that nothing is anonymous, but Walter gives me a curt look and points toward the door that I’m still holding onto.

“I’m going, I’m going.”

When I’m outside, truck cranked, and mind whirling, I realize just who might be responsible for an act such as this. Pulling my phone out, I dial her number twice, both times locking my phone as I talk myself out of it.Finally, I gain the nerve, and I hit call.

The phone rings nearly to the voicemail before a perky Taylor answers.

“Brooksie! Didn’t expect to hear from you anytime soon. Got your head out of your ass yet?”

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