Page 89 of The Jinglebell War
“It’s gonna happen anyway,” I say. “The council won’t pass anything she’s in favor of and everyone in town sees her as an outsider. It’s not like it’s her dream job .”
“She tell you that?” Mav asks. He’s been a huge help with Evergreen Expeditions. He’s still learning all the trails, but he’s a good guide and great with our clients. Plus, he’s been helping me figure out how we can make this corporate trip happen.
“Not in so many words, but—”
“Sort of like how Mom and Dad didn’t ask you before they invited Avery to Christmas without consulting you first.” He points at me with his fingers in a gun shape like he’s just hit me right between the eyes.
It feels like it. His words knock me back a step. “I’m not trying to manipulate her into doing what I want. I’m pushing for her to do what’s right for her or what I thought was right for her when I thought…” I finally hear myself and the room spins. “Holy shit. I’ve turned into Mom and Dad.”
“Happens to the best of us,” Mav says. “You want to have a relationship with someone, you gotta communicate, not go behind their back.”
“I agree with your brother,” Xavier says. I didn’t even think he was listening. He’s been watching the dart game intensely. “It was a shitty thing to do. And you know it was or you wouldn’t have been hoping so hard she never saw that petition.”
Mav points at Xavier with his beer. “Exactly my point.”
Xavier shrugs. “Blue’s tough, though. And you two are enemies, anyway, right? Why are you stressing about it?”
“Because the big dummy went and fell in love with her,” Mav says.
Xavier spins around on his bar stool and stares at me, mouth agape.
“I’m not in love with her. Why are you here alone anyway, Xavier? You and Cherry have a fight?” Hell, yes, I’m trying to distract him.
He lifts his chin. “That’s my business. What the hell’s going on with you and Blue?”
“Nothing is going on,” I say at the same time my brother turns toward Xavier and says, “she’s his girlfriend or she was until Garrick fucked it up.”
Xavier narrows his eyes at me. “Blue doesn’t date.”
I glance at my brother, in no hurry to admit I was faking the whole thing with her at our parents’s house. “It’s new and not that serious.”
Xavier’s jaw shifts. “You’re the reason my wife is in Las Vegas and not here with me.”
An angry Xavier is a frightening Xavier. He used to be angry a lot more often before he and Cherry got together. I take a reflexive step back. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Blue is in Vegas looking for a new place to live. I thought it was just because of the mayor thing, but now it all makes a lot more sense. You broke her heart.”
That stupid spot in my chest that’s been sore since Blue walked away from me, aches like Xavier’s just shoved a sword in and twisted. Blue’s leaving. “I didn’t break her heart. As you pointed out, Blue doesn’t do relationships.”
“She wouldn’t be leaving town unless you hurt her pretty bad,” Mav says. “Is your business really bad off enough that the only way to save it is to end her career?”
Xavier leans in. They’re way too invested in my answer.
And I don’t love the truth. After Blue left, I looked over the books, determined to prove I was in the right. The numbers didn’t support that theory. I’m doing just fine leading tourists around the mountains. What’s hurting my business is everything I’m doing to bring in the larger corporate clients and buying more equipment so we can take more people out and I can hire more guides.
If I just trucked on with my business as it is, I’d make a fine living. It’ll just never be enough to impress my parents.
It took two sleepless nights for me to realize even if I own a billion dollar business, my parents will still want me back in the fold and they’ll probably never recognize my success.
And, more importantly, I’d rather have Blue back than my parents’ respect or approval.
“I may have overestimated how badly I need those permits,” I mumble.
“What was that?” Xavier cups a hand to his ear, his biceps flexing.
“I said I fucked up, okay? You happy?”
Xavier sits back and grins like he’s thrilled. “Blue’s a good person. You get her back, you’ll be a very lucky man.”
