“You don’t have to buy me flowers.”
“One, I didn’t buy them because I own the nursery and two, yes the fuck I do.”
Fancy hopped up and headed to the kitchen to unwrap the bouquet. Searching my drawers, she found a utility knife. “I didn’t realize my boyfriend was so romantic.”
My heart paused in my chest.Did she just call me her boyfriend?“Boyfriend?” I was in need of clarification before my head started spinning.
“Yeah, I mean I think that’s the appropriate term when a guy and a gal are spending exclusive time together.” Fancy’s tone was casual as if she was sharing common knowledge.
She was offering everything I wanted, but it was hard to ignore the small voice in the back of my head telling me I was going to end up heartbroken. When the novelty of playing house with me on the farm wore thin, she would return to her real life. A life far more exciting than anything I could offer. All I could provide was a cluttered house and an orphan cat. How could that compete with touring and screaming fans calling her name?
Fancy just claimed me. Maybe she was ready for a change. Or maybe we could swing the long-distance thing. I didn’t care a fuck about the logistics as long as I was with her.
While I filled a bucket with cold water, Fancy dutifully cut each stem. “During dinner, I kind of monopolized the conversation with my plots for revenge.”
“It’s fine. I enjoyed entertaining your murderous imaginings. My favorite was burying them in a shallow grave.”
“Let’s talk about something else, anything else. I know, let’s pull out the yearbook and talk shit about the people we went to high school with.”
“Can we start with Dial?” I took the flowers and submerged them into the bucket of water.
“Uh-oh, what did she do?”
“She’s acting like we’re in a game of Monopoly and is intent on grabbing up all the real estate. Dial suggested we buyout Cyrus’s portion of Figs and Twine.”
“Hmm.” Fancy fluffed her curls while making her way back to the couch.
“What do you mean hum?”
“Cyrus hates the nursery.”
I plopped down next to her. “Hate is a strong word.”
“But it’s one that he’s used in the past. Now I’ve been out of the loop for a minute, so maybe his feelings have changed.”
“You’d be fully okay if Oz iced you out of the ranch?”
“Well … no, because that’s partially my inheritance. But I don’t have any say in the day-to-day operations of Palmer Ranch. I defer to Daddy and when the time comes, I’ll defer to Oz.”
“Right so I’m just supposed to deny Cyrus his inheritance?”
“I thought you said Dial wanted to buy him out. Maybe Cyrus could use the money for his next campaign or to start his own business.”
“So, you’re siding with Dial.”
“Whoa, slow down. I’m not siding with anyone. But if you and Dial are putting in all the work, maybe you should revisit the division of the pie. Instead of thirty percent each, Cyrus gets a little less. I mean I make more than myformer friendbecause I write most of the songs.”
“Something about that doesn’t sit right with me.”
“You need to remember Figs and Twine is a business first. That means doing what’s best for the bottom line.”
“How is me and Dial claiming the lion’s share good for the bottom line?”
“I think you have to at least be open to having these conversations.”
“Like damn, when is enough enough? Materialistically, I have everything I need. I couldn’t really ask for more.”
“You have an entire house to renovate.”
