Max and I talk a little bit about the next steps and paperwork for him buying me out. Then Anna asks me about my new girlfriend. And damn, I hate hearing Britain referred to as my girlfriend. I want people calling her my wife.
She cries happy tears when I tell her I’m going to be a dad, then eventually excuses herself to her cottage for the night. Max is sitting there looking at me like I’m foreign, though.
“What?” I ask.
“I just never thought it’d be you, man. To settle down, wife up, three and a half kids. It’s like that movieInstant Familyor some shit. And you’re giving up the business for it, too?” He shakes his head in disbelief. “Fucking wild, man.”
“Just wait till it’s you,” I tell him.
“Ha!” he laughs, but doesn’t say anymore, which is good because no matter what he would’ve said, my response would have been, ‘That’s what they always say.’
It’s 9:00 PM, when I look down at my phone for the thousandth time. Still nothing from Alex, and nothing from Britain. That’s when I decide I’m done waiting. I throw Alex’s address into Google Maps and get up to leave. When I go to say bye to Max, his phone rings. He answers, so I wait till he’s done.He gets a weird look on his face, though, and drops the phone away from his ear to put it on speaker.
I can tell it’s Gina. “And can you believe Constantine would do that?” My heart rate picks up. If Constantine did something to Britain…
“And now it all makes sense. Matt and Liam were just fighting over who would have more shares of the business. They didn’t actually like her.”The fuck?I look over at Max who looks just as confused as me.
“You said he’s leaving Britain with half of his part of the business?” Max asks for clarification.
“Yeah, 50% to Matt, 50% to Britain. She didn’t even understand until I laid it out for her that they were only interested in her because they want her portion of the business.”
Damnit, Ginaisa bitch. I don’t say anything, though. I just nod at Max and take off, feeling the smallest pang of relief that I actually did the right thing this time. Now I just have to convince Britain of it.
Britain
“Baby,” he says, gently rocking my shoulder to wake me. “Let’s go home.”
I keep my eyes closed and try to push away the pain that’s coursing through me, but it hurts so fucking bad, all over again. If what Gina said is true, I don’t think I can bear to look him in the eyes ever again.
“Go away, Liam,” I say, turning, trying to burrow my way deeper into the pillow, and away from the world.
“I’m not going away, Britain. Never,” he says calm and cool, with all the confidence of a man who knows he’s dating someone well below his league. Like I should just be so grateful he’s given me the time of day.
“You can have it. I don’t even want it. Just leave me alone, okay?”
“I don’t want it either, Britain.” His words give me pause, but I keep my eyes shut, my body can’t stop leaning into the pain all over again.
“You don’t have to keep up the charade anymore. I don’t care about it, have it. You can stop pretending, okay?” He laughs at me and I crack an eye open. He looks so handsome, and I hate him. I hate him even more for making me look like an idiot.
“Why would I want 25% ownership in a company I just sold 51% of yesterday?”
My other eye pops open and I slowly turn to look at him.
He nods his head. “I don’t care what you do with your 25%, if and when you ever get it. Well, I sort of hope you don’t give it to Matt, but otherwise, I don’t care.”
I pull myself up to sit. “You sold your part of the business?” I ask in disbelief. That business was his life. His family’s legacy. The MS Group washislife’s work.
“I did. Max and I agreed on a purchase price yesterday. I wanted to surprise you with the news once I knew it was a sure thing.”
“Seriously?”
“Seriously.”
He can barely finish getting the word out before I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tight. He just wraps his arms around me and nuzzles into my neck, pulling me onto his lap. “I’ve spent enough of my life devoted to work, and now I want to devote the next half to you, and the girls, and this baby, and any others…and the dog.”
I stop him from continuing.“We’re not getting a dog.”
“We’re definitely getting a dog,” he says and I laugh because I know,we’re getting a dog. “Baby, I’m a little hurt you thought that’s whatthiswas about.” He brings my hand to his heart, then places his hand over mine. “What do I need to do to prove to you that it only beats for you?” He nuzzles deeper into my neck until he can kiss me.
