Page 66 of Spades

She shakes her head. “The will didn’t say you have to run for office. You just have to get your degree. The money will be handed over to you the second you have the degree in your hand. You can return to the shop, but you’ll be millions richer.”

“And what do I do in the meantime? Just abandon the shop for four years?” I squeeze my eyes shut and run my fingers through my hair. “I’ve put my blood, sweat, and tears into that shop, and now that my father is gone, I don’t have to give him half my profits anymore. I’m finally free, and even from the grave, he’s trying to rip me away from the only thing in my life that has brought me joy.”

“Maddox.” She rolls her eyes. “You can hire someone to run the shop in your absence.”

“No one can run the shop like I do. Plus, Yale is expensive. I’d have to take loans to get a degree that I’ll never use.”

“The money your father left you will cover those easily once you graduate. You can put the rest of the money into your shop. Into our future.” She runs her hand up and down my arm. “You can even give some to your poor mother. Help her out.”

Fuck. Icouldhelp Mom out.

But…

“I just can’t, Laurie. You don’t understand. That shop isme. If I let someone else run it while I’m gone, it’s like handing a baby over to a complete stranger.”

“You could still check in remotely. Fly in every so often if you need to.”

I swallow. “No. I’m sorry, Laurie. It’s not worth the risk. It’s playing right into what my father wants for me.”

Her face reddens. “Maddox, you’re really turning down ten million dollars over fucking pride?”

“I was doing fine yesterday without ten million dollars. I’ll do fine tomorrow.”

Laurie bites her lip. “Fine. Do whatever the hell you want. I’ve been with you the whole way, Maddox. I helped scrub those floors, I went on all those trips to antique stores and men’s outlets. But I can’t stand idly by while you turn down perfectly good money.”

“You can’t mean?—”

She raises a hand to quiet me. “It’s your precious shop or me, Maddox.”

“Laurie, don’t give me a fucking ultimatum. We’re in love. We’re going to build a life together.”

She wiggles her fingers. “I don’t see a ring on my finger.”

“I was going to start looking for rings, but then Dad dropped dead.”

“Maddox. It’s been two years. Your father has been dead for two weeks. You had plenty of time.” She closes her eyes, taking a deep breath in. “I’m sorry, but it’s over. I’ll text you and we can figure out a time I can pick up my belongings from your place.”

“Laurie—”

But she’s already out the door.

* * *

I never saw her again.She came by a week later to pick up her stuff, which I left outside my front door. I was down in the shop, and she grabbed it.

She dumped me at my father’s funeral.

The only woman I ever loved.

At least until now.

I can’t be sure where things are going to go with Alissa, but she’s the first person since Laurie to bring Mad Maddox out of hibernation.

Well, the first besides…

No. Just no. I’m not going back there.

But any woman capable of awakening that side of me is worth fighting for.

---