Page 108 of Win Big

I’m not the only one wondering that. “What the hell?” Riley snaps. “Why would she do that? Is she trying to get more money?”

I turn and level her with a narrow-eyed look. “Excuse me?”

JP waves his hands. “Stop. We aren’t going to solve things if we keep acting like our parents.” He focuses on Riley. “That was kind of uncalled for, Ri.”

She purses her lips. “I’m sorry.”

I inhale a fortifying breath as I check my notes from our last meeting. “Harrison and Asher... what happened when you talked to Dad?”

They exchange a loaded look. Asher sighs. “I don’t think it was a good day for Dad.”

My stomach clenches. I don’t even need to know what he means. “Oh.” I meet his eyes. “Mom’s trying to get him to go to the doctor.”

The air in the room thickens.

“He won’t go,” I continue, trying to keep my voice from trembling.

“I’ll talk to him,” Théo says quietly.

“No, I will,” JP speaks up. “I know you two are close because you work together, but he and I talk... quite a bit.”

“Have you noticed problems?” I ask him.

“Yeah.” He purses his lips. “Sometimes. But other times he’s totally fine.”

“He either didn’t know what we were talking about,” Harrison says, “or he was pretending not to know. I’m not sure which is worse.”

“Shit.” I rub my forehead, feeling the tension gathering in my shoulders. “JP? Théo? Did you learn anything fromyourdad?”

JP grimaces. “Dad is still super pissed about it. I get it. It’s a lot of money. I think he’s worried they’ll never see it again. And apparently he needs the money. Purchasing the Golden Eagles was a huge risk for him.”

“Well, he didn’t need to buy a hockey team,” Asher says. “He only did that because he was pissed at Dad.”

The air snaps with tension, but JP answers calmly. “He always thought he’d have that trust fund there if he needed it, and now it’s gone.” He and Asher have a stare down.

Asher nods. “Fair point.”

“My dad doesn’t need the money,” Riley adds, looking around. “I asked him about it. He’s okay financially. I think he’s more worried about Grandpa than angry. But heispissed about it.”

“He has a right to be,” JP adds. “Does he think Chelsea was involved?”

“No.” She makes a face. “He says he doesn’t totally trust her, but apparently she talked to him about it and... he wouldn’t tell me what exactly was said, but I got the impression she was trying to fix things.”

“That’s the impression I got too,” I put in. “My poor mom. She’s dealing with Dad and his... health issues.” Wow, that’s a euphemism for my worst fears. “And the money issues.”

“I think that’s why she sits in on meetings,” Théo says quietly. “I suspect she wants to know what’s going on in the business so she can, er, remind Grandpa. Or help him understand.”

“Oh my God.” I bury my face in my hands. “Oh my God.”

Lacey gets up and moves around the table. She rubs my back. “I’m sorry, Ev.”

My dad. This can’t be happening to my dad. I know he’s not young, but come on, seventy-two isn’t old either. And he’s still so fit and agile. Physically.Oh my God.

I’ve been so worried about this, hoping and hoping it’s not really happening. With so many others confirming my own fears, it’s hard not to feel devastated. But we still don’t know for sure. He hasn’t gone to the doctor and gotten a diagnosis. There’s still room for a tiny bit of hope.

But Mom wouldn’t be involved in the hockey team if she didn’t think there was good reason. She knows how that could be perceived by Mark and Matthew... that she’s taking over or interfering, trying to get money. She wouldn’t do that unless she had to.

Oh my God.

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