Page 88 of Romance Languages

“You’ve been paying her back for two years, and you’re barely halfway there. You’re stringing her along.”

“I’m working on it.” Free cash flow wasn’t in the cards for me at the moment.

“Maybe borrow from friends and family? Looks like they can afford to help you out.” Vince gave a chilling glance at Greg and Ethan’s beautiful house.

I’d never told my family about what happened. I couldn’t bear to tell them the truth, and it wasn’t like they had extra money to send my way. Only Greg and Ethan knew the truth, and they’d already helped me so much. Julian also knew, but I wasn’t going to ask him for money. I wanted to do this on my own.

“Lauren and I have an agreement in place. I’ve been sticking to that schedule. I’ve never missed a payment. I’m working two jobs trying to pay her back.”

“She needs that money. She and her fiancé want to plan a nice honeymoon. They’re saving up for a house. The market’s gone crazy, interest rates are up, and they have to come up with more money for a down payment.”

A wave of mixed feelings struck me. Lauren was engaged and househunting. I was happy that she’d been able to move on, but it also reminded me how stuck in place I was.

“She wants to move on with her life, but you’re making it impossible. It’s not fair. You’ve had enough time to get your shit together.” Cold-blooded anger ringed his dark eyes.

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry about what happened. I hope she knows how sorry I am,” I said.

“She doesn’t know I’m here.”

He was in full protective mode for his baby sister. I couldn’t fault him for that, especially when everything he was saying was true.

“I’m working on it. I promise.”

“Are you, though? Lauren’s a good woman. She’s been patient with you, even though you put her through the fucking wringer. That money was important to her. She had to cut back and make sacrifices because of what you did. She’s missed out on girls’ trips and driven around with a busted bumper that she can’t get fixed.” Vince gulped back a hard lump in his throat. “Her fiancé Adrian is a great guy. He told me that he was crazy about her from the start, but it took Lauren three months to agree to go on a date. She was so closed off. You know what she told me? She wasterrifiedof letting someone in and having them hurt her like you did. Everyday, in the back of her mind, she feared that Adrian was lying to her, that the rug would get pulled out. She was upset that you wiped out her bank account, but she hates what you really stole from her.”

His jaw trembled with barely contained hurt for his sister, hurt that I’d caused. I could blame it on my addiction all I wanted, but it was me. I was the one responsible.

“She was in pain, man, a lot of pain. And then you’re out there making your stupid little videos, having a ball…You’re an asshole, Seamus.”

I had no rebuttal. I’d thought when we came up with the payment plan for my debt, things would be fine. I’d ignored the hidden costs of my actions. I’d wanted to believe that paying the money back would be the only thing needed to clear my conscience. But did I make a real effort to pay her back sooner? Did I ever check in with her to see how things were going?

Vince was right. I was an asshole.

“It’s a miracle she was able to trust anyone after what you did.”

“I’m working to make things right.”

“I need you to make things rightnow. Do whatever you can to get that money so she can move on.” Pain infused his demands. I wasn’t the only person feeling guilty about not being able to help Lauren.

“Are you dating anyone?” Vince asked.

Not wanting to open a can of worms about my sexuality, I simply shook my head no.

“Thank fucking God for that.”

“I’m really sorry,” I said, my voice cracking.

“Your apology is worthless to me.” He shoved me against a column, his expression a block of ice. His hand pressed against my neck, making me gasp for air. “I want my little sister made whole by the end of the month. Are we clear?”

I nodded as best I could. He let go and stomped back to his car. Breath flooded back into my lungs.

What the fuck was I going to do?

25

JULIAN

Iwoke up Friday morning determined. I would prove Mom wrong. I would prove our whole society wrong.

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