Page 33 of Crave
“Or do you not have the resources to make some real change around here? You say that you’re part of CFI, but you seem mom-and-pop to me.”
I was speechless. He was attacking my credibility. For some reason, tears pooled in my eyes.
“Enough already,” Jamison boomed with authority.
Dale sneered at Jamison. “Aren’t you the fucking help?”
Eden gasped and shoved her hands on her hips. “Dale, what’s wrong with you?”
I rolled my eyes, disappointed that it had taken her boyfriend insulting my… boyfriend, or whatever Jamison was to me, for her to address Dale’s behavior.
“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just asking a question,” Dale said.
She crossed her arms. “Well, the wall is staying, so get over it.”
“But you don’t even like the wall. You told me that. You said it needs to go, and we can make it all glass. I agreed.”
“Well, I changed my mind, Dale.”
“Why?”
I frowned at Jamison and shook my head. Dale had finally melted down, and it was only day two. I wasn’t surprised. The presence of my hunkier sidekick seemed to have set him off.
“Babe,” Jamison said.
“Babe?” Dale and Eden said at the same time.
Her finger shifted between Jamison and me. “The two of you are a couple?”
Dale laughed with an edge.
Jamison maintained laser focus on me. His shoulders were back, posture steady. “Does she know?” he asked me.
I knew what he was asking me. I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”
He nodded sharply. “Tell her.”
I chewed on my lower lip, contemplating what he was advising me to do.
Jamison glared at Dale as if he wanted to rip his head off. “Because this guy is milking the fucking moment. And he’s not going to stop until she knows. That’s my expert advice, babe. Tell her.”
“Until I know what?” Eden looked genuinely confused.
Dale’s mouth fell open as he stared at me like a lost puppy. I wished he’d said something to her the night before. I wished he weren’t so duplicitous. But I had tomorrow and then the next day and so on to come back and finish my job. The longer I waited to tell Eden the truth, the more I would be at Dale’s mercy.
“Eden, we need to talk,” I said.
“Okay,” Dale said, shaking his hands with frustration. “I’ll go. I’m leaving. Okay?”
I focused on Jamison, and he nodded, encouraging me to continue. I inhaled deeply and then slowly let it out.You can do this, Bryn.Jamison was right to lead me up the path to exposing the truth. It had to be done.
“Dale and I were in a long relationship together.”
Eden’s frown intensified. It was as though she were trying to process every syllable I had spoken. “Relationship?”
“I’ve known Dale since high school, and I was shocked to find him here. I’m sorry I didn’t say something yesterday. It was just awkward, and him being here took me by surprise.”
“Dale?” Eden said, pointing out of the room, and stomped off.
