Page 33 of Tell Me When It's Over

“Can you…” I look into the mirror to see Garrick glancing back at me for a moment before returning his eyes on the road. “Can you maybe not tell Mia about what I said? It’s nothing against her or Kyler.”

It’s silent for a beat too long. “Give me one good reason why.”

His brother is curious as to what’s happening because he studies his sibling’s profile before looking over his shoulder at me.

I don’t want to hurt Mia’s feelings, so I go with the truth. “It’s my boss.” Their lack of response tells me I need to offer more than that, so I explain what happened today. It may be nothing to them because their world is all about connections, but they aren’t the kind I want.

After I’m finished, Chase blurts, “That’s bullshit. He can’t really do that, can he?”

I shrug.

Garrick nods in agreement, grumbling under his breath about dickish Americans. “The guy sounds like a Drongo.” I have no idea what that is and don’t ask. I make a mental note to look it up later. “But you can’t let people like that make you feel bad about who cares about you.”

Chase stares at Garrick before sliding his headphones off his head and draping them around his neck. “He’s right. People are going to say and think whatever they want once they know who you’re tied to. Doesn’t stop me.”

I nibble my bottom lip. “It wouldn’t bother me so much if he didn’t hold back hours just because he thinks I have easy access to money.”

“You do,” the man in the driver seat says to me pointedly. The casual statement doesn’t sit well with me.

“It’s not my money.”

“Doesn’t matter, kid.” I blanch at the new namesake from him, which reminds me of Kyler. It’s better than sweetheart, though, since that makes me the stupid kind of speechless. “They would give you anything you needed if you asked. Mia cares about you. Kyler, too.”

Chase turns his body toward me. “Why don’t you get a new job? Who wants to serve coffee to pretentious assholes anyway?”

Garrick smacks his brother’s shoulder. “Hey, now. One of those pretentious assholes is in control of this vehicle.”

His threat doesn’t seem to bother Chase because he simply grins. “Like you’d kick me out of the car. Mom would never forgive you. I’m her favorite.”

A surprised laugh bubbles out of me. Their banter seems so…normal. It reminds me of Kyler and Mia.

“She can’t possibly mean that,” Garrick counters, looking in the side mirror before merging onto the exit lane that leads us toward Mia’s neighborhood. “You’re still living at home, mate. Cramping her style.”

Chase snorts. “Whatever.” He smiles at me and shoots me a wink, something very Garrick-like, except more playful. “My brother thinks he’s the favorite because he makes the big bucks, but he’ll be singing a different tune—” The pun makes said brother groan. “—when I start showing him what programmers bring home.”

Programmers? “Like computers?”

Chase’s smile widens. “I dabble in all programming needs. Know my way around most technology. The basement I’m currently taking residence in doubles as my office. Garrick thinks because he has like four houses, which I still think is excessive, that he can mess with me for living with our mom still.”

My brows lift. Wow. “How, um, old are you exactly?” He seems kind of young to be running his own business, which sounds like what he’s insinuating.

“Nineteen years young.” His prideful answer makes Garrick chuckle, but he doesn’t say anything. “Before you ask, I was homeschooled and graduated two years ahead of schedule. I’ve been doing my own thing since.”

“Since you were sixteen?” I gape.

He nods.

I blink at him. “That’s…impressive.”

He beams.

Garrick slows down when we near a group of homes that all start blending together. They’re practically identical, minus a few features that differ based solely on décor. A flower bush here, a small tree there. All the same big, splendid houses that a lot of people would envy to have. It’s a full on Pretty in Pink moment, except I’m nothing like Andie in her desire to live in one of these.

When we pull into Mia’s driveway, Garrick shuts off the car and says, “I won’t tell her. But in her mind, you’ll always be a Bishop. Embrace it.”

With that, he gets out.

Chase unbuckles and smirks at me. “He’s right, you know. Plus, Mia is cool. I wouldn’t mind considering her the big sister I never wanted.”

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