Page 33 of When It Rains He Pours

Frowning, his chin crooked to the side. “Look, all I'm trying to to say is that this would breath life back into this town and life back into your shop. You could have a line out the door with people who want to buy your stuff.”

If only it was that easy. If only I had all the time in the world to sit around in limbo waiting for his apartments to come to alive.

I had problems that were happening right now. What he was talking about could take months, years, maybe longer. That wasn't going to fix shit.

“So this is what you were talking about before? This is the business opportunity?”

Rocking his head on his shoulders, he sucked in a gulp of air. “No, not originally.”

Walking between the windows, I watched the street below. “Look, I think you have a great idea, I really do, but this isn't going to help me. All of this will take time, it wouldn't be up and running for months or longer. I can't wait that long.”

“What do you mean?”

I wanted to spill my guts and tell him the truth. I wanted to tell him that the loss of my art could mean the end of my business. That I didn't have to worry just about me, but that I had my mother to take care of too. That I had not only one, but two mortgages to pay. That I had made a promise I could never break.

But I didn't, because he couldn't fix my broken world with big dreams and wild ideas.

“Nothing, it's not your problem, don't worry about it.”

“What's going on, Glory? Tell me so I can help, I want to help.”

“Liam, I appreciate what you've done already, but you don't need to worry about me. I'll figure it out, I always do.”

I should just sell the fucking place. I'll never be able to get out of this shit if I don't.

No, that's not the answer.

“Why are you so afraid to get help?”

My eyes grew big and large as my ribs tightened and strangled my lungs. “I'm not afraid.”

How the fuck does he do that?

“Yes you are, I can see it all over your face.”

“I don't know what you think you see, but it's not fear.”

“Yes it is. You've been afraid of me since I walked in that door. I want to help, you should let me.”

“Liam, your idea of help is a fictional building that may or may not bring me business. There's nothing there that says it will help, not a fucking thing. I don't want to sound like an asshole, but there's nothing in what you're saying that is a fact. All I hear are wishes and thoughts, dreams and theories. Everything you're saying is built off an idea, not truth. I can't live off dreams, that's even worse than the nothing I have now.”

Liam's vision was just that; a vision. I needed my place right now, not his creation later. I needed my customers, not imaginary people that may exist if he builds that place up. And even if it did work, if he brought new people who wanted my art, time was against me.

Veering his stare, he tucked his hands into his pockets and turned on his heels. “I think you'd be surprised with what I can do. I can tell you to trust me—” Snapping his head to look at me over his shoulder, he arched a brow. “But you wouldn't listen to that, would you?”

“I don't even know you. How could you expect me to just believe what you say? Besides, it's more than just trusting you, I don't have the time to wait.” Pinching the bridge of my nose, I closed my eyes. “You don't understand.”

“You're right, I don't understand,” he said, stalking further away. “And I can't understand if you don't tell me. Come on, I'll take you back. Like you said, you have work to do.” His feet pounded away, anger and frustration filling every step.

I couldn't understand why he would be angry with me. I hadn't meant to upset him. I just needed him to realize that I didn't work on dreams, I didn't live my life on false hope and wishes. And I couldn't just sit back and wait.

I loved my gallery, I loved what I did. That place was more than just a building I painted in, it was another connection to my father who was no longer here. And the thought of losing it was horrible.

Maybe he isn't used to people doubting him? Maybe he's used to people pecking at his heels and giving him the answers he wants.

I didn't bother asking him about his reaction. I didn't really have the time to coddle his feelings, I had bigger shit to focus on.

I liked Liam, I really did. But my career was on the line, my mother needed me to succeed. That was what I needed to worry about, not about hurting his feelings.

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