Page 25 of Nothing to Beat

“Zairn’s in love.Him and Roxie, it’s what his life’s about, and that wasn’t an easy path.Didn’t matter; he owns his choice, doesn’t doubt for a second it was the right one.”

“You think we’ve chosen an easy path?”

“I think it’s about time we both got our shit together.”

She tossed the water onto the couch too.“Speak for yourself, my shit is fine.”

Before that morning, she’d have said his was better.Showed what she knew, and how quickly things could change.

“You’re right.This is about me.My choices.”

“You don’t suddenly choose to abandon your family.Something else is going on here.”

He twisted the cap from his bottle and took a long slow drink, never breaking eye contact, not even after he lowered it.

“Something that should’ve happened long ago.Coy, this is my decision.It’s one I hope you’ll support.My family are confused too…” He exhaled a snicker and sipped some more water.“Which is funny, because life has never been so clear to me.”

“And this is it, what you choose?To sleep on your brother’s couch, hang out all day alone?This is better than working with your family?With me?”She got a little closer.“If this is about me, do you need me to leave?To quit Breckenridge?If one of us needs to step aside, it has to be me.Why wouldn’t you just—”

“No, I need you at Breckenridge,” he said.“For now anyway.In the future, we can decide—”

“Stat,” she said, taking his hand to reverse to the couch and sit down.This wasn’t working, whatever he was thinking, it wasn’t translating.“Tell me the plan.What’s the plan?”

He sat, putting his bottle on the coffee table to gather her other hand into his too.“First, I have to get a job.”

“You had a job.Breckenridge is your job.More than a job.Why—”

“I need something unconnected to the family.Something unconnected to anyone we care about.”

Which immediately excluded Rouge, Crimson’s parent company, the Grand Hotel chain, and CollCom, all places that would hire him in a heartbeat.Truth was, when the world at large heard Rankin Breckenridge was job hunting, he’d be inundated with offers.Still didn’t explain his actions.

“Why?”she asked again like it was becoming her catchphrase.“Why avoid the people we care about?Is this some deluded notion about making it on your own?Because you earned your spot.It’s not nepotism.”Not only nepotism.“You’re amazing at what you do.”

“No, this isn’t about ego.You know me better than that.”Did she?Because she hadn’t seen this coming, had never even entertained the notion.“I’ll have to take a pay cut; I’ve already relinquished my trust and frozen my bank accounts.”

Though her lips puckered, ready to ask the question again, they stalled.He hadn’t just quit his job and left the family home, he was shunning the fortune too.Money he’d earned in addition to the fortune he’d been bestowed.Rather than enlighten her, everything he said only served to confuse the situation even more.

“I don’t understand.”

Being a man who exhibited infinite patience and care, he’d never taunt her ignorance, she did wish he’d satisfy it though.

“This is what I choose.You are what I choose.”When her head shook, he tightened his hold on her hands.“I promise you I’ll find employment.I will find somewhere for us to live.I will build us a life that no one can take advantage of.”

Ah, and suddenly, all became clear.“This is about my dad.Goddamnit.”Throwing his hands back, she shot to her feet.“The man is a thousand miles away and he still comes between us.”

“I should’ve heard you.From the beginning.We might not have a billion-dollar lifestyle, but we’ll be free.Money means nothing.We can be together.”

“So what?You think this fixes everything?You think this is what I wanted?I love your family; you love your family.”

“We can still love them without working for them.”

“This isn’t right.Don’t you see?This is exactly what I was worried about.You’re giving him power over us.”

“No.I’m taking that power back.Being together is an option.And if, for that to happen, you need me to insulate my family from what yours might do to them, that’s exactly what I’ll do.I’ll have no influence, I’ll have no sway.Regardless of whatever your father asks—”

“I don’t want him to cause a rift.It’s wrong.”

“I won’t work for people we care about.I won’t earn enough to flag on his radar.If we have nothing to offer him, he’ll leave us alone.That’s what you always wanted, for us to have a life together that can’t be infiltrated by him.I’ll give it to you, Coy, just give me a little time.”

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