Page 106 of She Likes It, Hey Micah
“It’s all over the internet.” Glancing at our clasped hands, Grant pulls out his phone and unlocks it before handing it to me.
It’s open to a Buzzfeed article that starts with a picture of Derek and Bonnie laughing in the middle of a crowd of people. I recognize the stonework on the fireplace in the background, which means it’s a picture from last night.
“Buzzfeed?” Micah gasps, grabbing both my hand and the phone and scrolling down.
I only catch bits and pieces from the article, but it’s all about the lodge and what a great place to stay it is.
Grant clears his throat, and it seems to take a lot of effort to say what he says next. “We’re booked out, Fischer. Through April.”
I raise my eyebrows. “That’s—”
“A year and a half from now.”
Micah and I both drop the phone. “What?” I gasp.
Grant nods, and genuine tears fill his eyes as he stands there in the growing sunlight and looks around at the remnants of the party. “Why?” he croaks.
I don’t know what he’s asking.
Shaking his head, he can barely get his question out. “Why would you still make the event happen after the way I’ve treated you?”
Oh. A part of me wants to tell him that it’s because I’m such a great brother and a better person than him, but I stick with the truth. “Because of Micah.” She squeezes my hand, tears filling her eyes, and I smile at her. “Because even though she’s spent the last few years being mistreated and belittled, she believed in the Greenwood and what it could bring to people’s lives. And even when no one else did, she believed in me.” My voice breaks on that last word, and I don’t even care.
Grant sniffs, and he seems to be seeing me for the first time. I can’t fully read the expression on his face, but he looks miserable. “I’m sorry, Fischer. For a lot of things. I’m sorry for getting caught up in trying to change a memory when it came to Lila, and I’m sorry for not recognizing what you’ve been doing for me the last few months.”
Grant and I have never been close, and this apology reminds me of that with painful awkwardness filling the space between us. But I love that he’s finally trying to be a brother. Maybe he’s not as hopeless as I thought.
“Thank you,” I say. Not sure what else I can add to that.
“Come back.” He clenches his jaw, and this is clearly difficult for him to say. “Come back to Bradley Properties. I need a CEO while I deal with some things, and I don’t trust anyone else.”
A month ago, I would have taken him up on that offer in a heartbeat. “I can’t,” I tell him, fighting a smile. “I’ve already got a new boss.”
Micah tugs on my arm. “What are you doing? You absolutely need to take that offer, Fischer.”
“But I’m working for you.”
“I don’t even have a company!”
“Yet.”
“Fischer.”
“Micah.” I turn to face her, cradling her cheeks in my hands. “I believe in you and what you can build, and it’s time you start living out your dreams. If I can help you get there, I want to do it. You did this all on your own, without a fancy company behind you. Imagine what you could do if you did this for real.”
“But…” She swallows, tears running down her cheeks. “But what if I fail?”
“Then we’ll fail together.”
“You’ve already been through—”
“That just means I know I can survive it,” I argue, shaking my head. “I know you’re scared, but you can do this.”
She grimaces, but I know I’m wearing her down. There’s a bit of hope glimmering in her eyes. “I don’t have enough money to start a business, Fischer, and I know you don’t either.”
“Ahem.”
We both turn to find her dad at the edge of the lobby, watching us with an inscrutable expression. How much of this conversation has he heard? I’m terrified of the man, but at least he doesn’t look angry.
