Page 15 of Broken Dreams
Grady smiles and looks handsome in his button-up shirt, hair pushed back a little and that smirk on his face. The waiter returns, taking the check and card with a look that clearly says he doesn’t approve.
Yeah, me either.
Not only did I get asked out on a date I didn’t want to go on, but then I paid for us both. I would’ve rather gone to Sugarlips Diner, but then the whole town would’ve seen instead of just Grady.
“What are you trying to get him to do?”
“Give me four million dollars.”
If I had a drink, I’d choke on it. “For what?”
“I need to buy a plane that I can fly wealthy businessmen around on. I’m expanding what my company can do.”
I nod, as though I have a clue why he would need four million dollars to start a company just flying planes. “And he’s not budging?”
“He wants me to be married or dating someone serious, God only fucking knows why.”
“Is that legal?”
Grady shrugs. “He’s not my employer and he’s investing. There aren’t really any laws around that.”
A part of me aches for him. “Does he know about Lisa?”
He looks over to where Mr. Jeston is on the phone at the bar. “I explained part of my situation. His wife died a year ago and he’s already remarried. Doesn’t seem to understand my hesitancy to start over.”
Well, that’s dumb. “I’m sorry.”
“Doesn’t bother me. I’m not in any place to be dating. I’m perfectly content being a bachelor and being a good father, that’s what matters. I need to take care of Jett, not date. I want my company up and running, I want out of my sister’s place, and I need this plane so all of those things can happen.”
I was like him a year ago. Life was fine and I was alone, there was no need to date anyone because I wasn’t ready.
It wasn’t until I went back home six months ago to visit Brielle and saw her and Spencer that I realized I ached for what they had. Even then, it took months to get to this point, and now look at me.
“Tell him dating is overrated. Your friend here can attest to it. Because my date, Phil, asked me out at my grief support meeting.”
Grady’s eyes widen and then he chuckles. “You’re kidding.”
“Nope.”
“Wait, he asked and then made you pay?”
I sigh. “And they say chivalry is dead.”
“Maybe I’ll tell the story of your bad date is why I have no desire to deal with it.”
I finish my glass of wine and stand. “You could, but then he’d really think you were a loser.”
Mr. Jeston returns before he can reply and I walk away, leaving my first terrible date behind me, ready to find Mr. Right.
four
GRADY
“What, no chaps? I was ready with my phone,” my asshole brother Asher says as he leans against the barn door.
“Sorry to disappoint.”
He shrugs and walks toward me. “Ahh, I’ll catch you some other time. No one would believe that you, out of all of us, would’ve found a love of horses.”
