Page 87 of Dev Girl

I had no doubt he was talking about Alys and Maddox. “They left first.” I didn’t mean to get defensive, and I definitely didn’t want to reply that way.

“Did they? Because I’ve seen them almost every day for the last three weeks.”

“You know what I mean.”

Deacon nodded. “I do, and I think you’re an idiot.”

I didn’t need this today, or any day, and Deacon was one of the last people I expected it from. We had a lot of friends in common, and we’d both grown up here, but he and I were never super close. Did everyone have an opinion about how I should live my life? “I didn’t ask you.”

“Here’s the deal, and I’m saying this because either no one else has, or you’re still not hearing it. Also, Adam will pout for a month if he loses his new podcast buddy because Maddox stops spending time here. I held out with the people I love. I refused to admit that I cared, and it almost cost me both of them. Stop being an idiot.”

Even if insults were the way to change my mind, “It doesn’t matter. I already bought the place in Arizona, and I’m in the process of selling—”

“About that. How the fuck are you selling to Don? Does Alys know? Why would you do that?”

My blood turned to ice in my veins. “What?”

“Selling to… I should’ve known he was full of shit.”

“Back up.” Was I selling to Don? Fuck fuck fuck.

“He was in my store the other day, trying to buy me out. Part of his pitch was that you were already selling to him, and that everyone else would fall in line soon, too. If you get in early, I’ll make you a better offer.” Deacon finished with a perfectly slimy Don impersonation.

I couldn’t be. “I don’t know who I’m selling to. We’re working through agents, and names weren’t exchanged.” Why didn’t I ask?

Because I never thought--

“You wanna—”

“Look into that right now, yeah.” I talked over Deacon. My phone was already in my hand, and I was pulling up Helen’s number.

“You’ll figure it out. It’s not too late, but it will be soon.” Deacon turned away.

“Thanks. I think.”

I got Helen on the phone immediately, and asked her for the potential buyer information. The entire time I struggled to keep my cool. If it was Don, that might explain the convenient timing on the third party inspector. He still had friends in town, like Travis. And from everything I’d heard about Don’s real estate dealings elsewhere, the attempt to undercut me on the selling price was his MO.

But it wouldn’t be limited to him.

Helen promised to call me back as soon as she had confirmation whether or not the other party was Don Spader. The next couple of hours of waiting for her reply were agonizing. Had I almost sold to that asshole? Alys would never forgive me. I would never forgive me.

No work got done, but I hadn’t been accomplishing anything before the call, either.

When my phone rang with Helen’s name on the screen, I answered immediately. “What did you find out?” I said by way of greeting.

She huffed nervously. “The answer is yes. Don Spader is the buyer.”

Fuck. “The deal is off.”

“It’s not that easy.”

I didn’t care. “Whatever you need me to do. I’ll sign something. I’ll have it notarized. I’ll fax it, email it, or hand deliver it.”

“You should take some time to think about this,” Helen sounded cool and professional, but an edge undercut her words.

“I don’t need to take any time. Cancel the contract. Tell me what I need to do.”

“You want to keep selling, don’t you?” Helen asked.

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