Page 50 of Spinning Out Of Control

“I’ve already spoken to my legal and financial advisors. I have two offers drawn up. One, where Kira can pay me what she had been ready to offer Jonathan for sole ownership of the company. And the real one, where she receives a gift of ownership free and clear, because there is no way in hell that I’m taking a penny from her. The only reason I haven’t told her yet is because I care about her so deeply. I was waiting until she trusted that I’m not just another piece of shit guy out to ruin her. I’m afraid that she’ll feel betrayed and leave the company altogether if she doesn’t trust that my intentions are sincere.”

I take a breath, having winded myself with my impromptu confession.

“However,” I continue, “I’d already decided before this weekend that I was going to make her the offer first thing on Monday morning. It doesn’t matter what she thinks of me. None of this was ever supposed to be mine. Spin Sync belongs to Kira.”

Mr. McKenna stares at me for a long moment. I stay quiet, allowing him to think over what I’ve said.

Finally, he sighs, and the sound is so eerily familiar, it’s clear to me where Kira gets her dramatic sighing from.

“I really did not want to like you,” he says, offering his hand out for me to shake. I take it happily.

“Neither did your daughter, Mr. McKenna,” I laugh.

“Jay. You can call me Jay.” It sounds like it pains him to say it, but I take his extended olive branch, anyway.

“Jay, then.”

“How old are you?”

“Forty-seven,” I answer, not skipping a beat. I’m surprised it took him this long to bring up the obvious age gap again. I point to the most prominent stripe of silver at the front of my hairline. “I know the hair makes me look older, but I swear this grey streak wasn’t as prominent before I met Kira.”

“Yeah, my baby girl has that effect on a man’s aging process,” he laughs, pointing to his own head of silver hair. “Fuck. You love her, don’t you?”

I clear my throat, coughing as I take in the brunt of what he just asked me. I’d be lying if the thought hadn’t crossed my mind once or twice in the last few weeks, but hell. The McKenna’s don’t fuck around when it comes to asking the big questions.

“Honestly, Jay, she’s only just decided to give me a chance today. Like, within the last few hours. I don’t want to jinx it by putting the cart before the horse but, I’m crazy about her. She has very quickly made herself the center of my universe, and I don’t hate it.”

“In that case…can I give you one piece of advice, Warren?”

“Please do.”

“Wait a little longer before you make the offer. You’re right. Kira deserves the chance to trust you onher own before you make any grand gestures. She’s…punchy. She might take offense to the whole thing, and that won’t do any of us any good.”

I nod and tell Jay that I will wait a bit longer while also assuring him that the offer is coming. With a new mutual understanding–and maybe even a mutual respect–we head back inside, my heart swelling when I see my girlfriend smiling with her family over cracked fortune cookies.

Not long after my talk with Jay, the night begins to wear down. I’m counting my lucky stars that the clan already has rooms booked at a nearby hotel and didn’t take Kira up on her offer of guest rooms. I send Kira text under the table while the McKennas and Camila get ready to leave.

Warren

Should I get ready to leave, too?

Kira

Only if you want to be single mere hours after I’ve claimed you.

That has me cracking a smile. I fucking love being claimed by her.

Warren

Fair enough. Should I at least *pretend* to leave? Out of respect for your parents?

Kira

Fuck that. IronDad might have tried to scare you off earlier, but they know who they raised. My dads harbor no delusions that we are waiting for our wedding night.

Besides, if I don’t get to climb the ladder tonight, I will literally start screaming and never stop.

I look over to her, and she raises an eyebrow as if to say, “try me”. But there’s no need. I’m here for the night, and for the long haul.

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