Page 38 of Tell Me When It's Over

If I had any respect, I’d wait until they were done instead of barging in. Mia doesn’t seem that surprised, Garrick smirks at me, and the two suits just kind of blink. I think Ralphie may have been speaking because his lips are still parted.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I lie, looking between the two people who are responsible for this meeting. Specifically, Garrick. “Except not really. I should probably tell you before your people do that I turned down the offer.”

Mia looks confused. “What offer?”

Garrick rests his elbow on the back of the chair he’s in. “I want him on the album.”

My sister must really not have known because her eyes widen. She knows where I stand on music right now. I’m happier writing it over performing.

“Figured as much,” the douche adds.

“Why ask then?”

“Besides getting on your nerves?” He chuckles and bobs his head. “I genuinely thought it’d be a good mashup. We have quite a few artists on it.”

I’m not sure what game he’s playing, so I don’t bite the hook dangling in front of me. I opt to turn to my sister for my next question. “Care to explain the play date going on downstairs?”

“Play date,” she scoffs, glaring at me.

“Isn’t it great? Our little siblings are growing up,” Garrick coos. “Pretty sure your sister here is already planning their wedding. What do you think? Purple or blue for the color scheme? I think I look fucking fantastic in violet.”

I don’t have time for this. “Shut it.”

Mia sighs. “He’s messing with you. I already told you what the deal is.”

“You’re setting her up.”

“I am no—”

“Remember Brian?”

The room gets quiet. A lot of people remember the Brian Hillman situation. He’s an entitled pompous ass, more so than Garrick and that says something coming from me. His reputation wasn’t so bad when my sister had the brilliant idea to set Leighton and him up on a blind date. Except, it never ended up happening and Mia got Lenny’s hopes up. The douche hole was caught on camera with a busty blonde in the backseat of his Mercedes. When the paparazzi questioned him about the alleged date with Leighton circling the media, he said the last thing he wanted was to be tied down to anybody, least of all a “wannabe” Bishop.

Even though Leighton didn’t seem thrilled about being set up, I could tell what he said had hurt her. She pretended it didn’t every time some asshole with a camera would shout questions at her when we went somewhere, but I could tell the smile she donned was tight and fake. I still want to hit the fucking kid.

“That’s not fair,” she whispers.

“You’re right,” I agree, “it wasn’t fair to Leighton at all when she kept telling you she didn’t want to date anyone. Do you really think a repeat is in order? I don’t.”

“Watch it,” Garrick warns. “That’s my little brother you’re talking about.

Don’t think I won’t lay you out if I need to. He’s nothing like that fucker.”

I ignore him. “I’m just saying that she should pick and choose her own friends. She did the first time she came here, and she’ll do it again. Forcing your hand in it won’t help anyone.”

“She had trouble last time,” she says softly. I know she’s worried. I am too. But we don’t have to be.

“She’s lost her mother, her dream college, and all the plans for the future that she’s been thinking about since she was little, sis. Give her some time to adjust to this new life.”

I wish I could ignore the sympathetic frown that Garrick shows. Leighton said she didn’t tell him much the last time they talked. Not wanting to hand him any additional information than I already have, I turn back to Mia. “We both know she can handle things on her own because she’s had to her whole life. If she and…” I sigh. “If she and Chase become friends, great. I’m not saying she doesn’t need some. I just think we need to let her get to that point by herself, so she doesn’t think we’re pawning her off.”

And so we don’t give her ideas.

She goes pale. “You don’t think she feels that way, do you?”

I shake my head. I honestly don’t. “No.”

Her hand goes to her stomach as she leans back in the seat. “Fine, I’ll back off. But I do think hanging out with Chase will be good for her. Please don’t scare him off.”

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