Page 108 of Someday You Learn

When Seth leaves my office, I stand there, realizing that my fists are clenched so tight at my sides that my knuckles have turned white. I release my hands and turn my back to the door, pushing a hand through my hair as I debate what to do.

Just a few moments ago, I was set on keeping the truth about our arrangement to myself and waiting to tell Robert together like we planned. But now?

Do I tell Robert before Seth does? Will Seth tell him or is he just hanging this over my head to make me back out of the running for the practice?

Didn’t I already kind of do that when I told Robert that I’d choose Cashlynn over the practice anyway?

My mind is racing, my heart is pounding, but there’s one thing for certain: Robert will find out the truth, one way or another. The question isn’t if he’ll find out—it’s when, and how. And that will determine the rest of my future, especially the one I hope to build with Cashlynn.

Chapter twenty

Parker

“I’m trying to run a restaurant, and you call an emergency meeting?” Dallas walks into the back room of Catch & Release, hands on his hips. Penn and Grady are already seated, waiting for me expectantly.

“You know I wouldn’t if it wasn’t important. Cashlynn has enough to deal with right now and Seth’s my mess to clean up.”

My oldest brother sighs and sits on the edge of a table, crossing his arms over his chest. “All right. What’s going on?”

The second I left work, I texted my brothers and Grady, knowing I needed some advice before I went home to Cashlynn. I let her know I was going to be late, and then headed to the restaurant, hoping that hearing some different perspectives on the matter would help me decide what to do because I’m fucking torn.

“Seth knows that Cashlynn quit her job,” I say, getting straight to the point. “He’s threatening me with the information, basically saying he’s going to tell Dr. O’Neil and use it as a way to get the practice.”

Penn growls. “Do we know his address? I have quite a few power tools on me that could do a lot of structural damage.”

“Fucking up his house isn’t going to solve anything,” Grady says. “But I could have Chase throw a baseball through his window accidentally.”

“Focus, please,” I say.

“So, what if he does tell Robert?” Dallas asks. “Do you think it’d be enough reason not to give you the practice?”

“I don’t give a fuck about the animal hospital anymore. I’m worried about Cashlynn.”

My oldest brother smiles proudly at me. “Looks like you’ve finally figured some shit out.”

I stare down at my hands clasped between my legs. “Yeah, therapy will do that to you.”

Penn slaps me on the shoulder. “Proud of you, little brother.”

“It was time,” I say, not wanting to focus on that revelation right now. “Back to the problem, please.”

“What ifyoutold Dr. O’Neil first?” Grady asks.

“That’s my dilemma. I feel like if I do, I can give him the real story, not the one that Seth is going to fabricate. But Cashlynn wanted me to wait. She’s been adamant that her dad was not to know anything until the gallery is open.”

Grady shrugs. “That’s this Saturday though, right? What’s a couple of days?”

Dallas clears his throat. “Sorry to say this, but you have to look out for everyone’s best interest here, Parker, and I think telling him before the opening could be the best option.”

“Even if it means breaking Cashlynn’s trust?”

“She might thank you in the long run,” Penn says.

I bury my head in my hands. “I just don’t want to fuck this up. Do you know what it feels like to fail at love?”

Dallas’s brows pinch together. “A failure in love? Is that what you think you are?”

I peer back up at my oldest brother. “It’s the one thing I’ve never been able to get right. Everything else in my life is a piece of cake, but loving Sasha was the one thing I failed at. I don’t want to fail Cashlynn too.”

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