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Gone? I can’t even wrap my head around so much history being scooped up and carried away in an industrial dumpster.
I hate that he’s the first person I think of when I need help, and it isn’t just now. There were times before he knew the truth that I was tempted to try and hunt him down. After my dad died was one time, when my mom got sick another.
I didn’t want to be alone.
But after losing Dad I had Mom, and I should have Cooper in my corner, but my brother has never cared about family, blood, or obligations.
He wants his half of the money and that’s it. Just like Mr. Morgan, the memories this house holds aren’t important to him. His nephew isn’t a concern, and I should’ve accepted all of this by now, but I just can’t seem to.
I turn back around, heading into the house and locking the world away at my back.
Ignacio has been gone over a week, calling to speak with Alex every day since he left, but never to me. He talks to me, but it consists of asking how his son is doing and if I need anything. When I tell him everything is fine, he wants Alex.
I should be happy, should be grateful he’s maintaining the relationship with him, but I feel all alone again.
I should be used to being lonely by now, right?
Chapter 27
Ignacio
“How did it go?” I ask Brooks the second he gets back to my grandfather’s house. “Did she give you much grief?”
“I know why you like her so much. That woman is smoking hot even in her pajama pants and slouchy sweater.”
I grind my teeth together. “Did you see the holes in the living room wall? Her brother did that shit the last time he was there. I’m thinking we’ll need at least a month for repairs.
“Didn’t even go in the house,” he says right before taking a big bite off the bagel I’d just toasted. “Told her I was going to bulldoze the entire thing to the ground.”
“You what?”
He shrugs, taking a look around the room. “Should probably bulldoze this fucking place, too.”
“So, you left her there not only thinking she was going to have to move but also that the house was going to be destroyed.”
“You said the house is already destroyed.”
“But repairable, you fucking prick!” I begin to pace. This isn’t what I wanted when I went through Brooks to buy the fucking property. Her thinking her family home will be gone in a matter of weeks doesn’t play into my plan. “This isn’t what we talked about.”
“I improvised. You’re the one who said you wanted them to move to St. Louis.”
“I said I wanted her to choose me. It’s not the same thing.”
“Well now her choice is simple.”
“Jesus, you dick. You don’t know a damn thing about women.”
“I can call references,” he says with a smirk. “There’s a slew of women that would beg to differ.”
“You fucked up everything.”
“You can easily solve this by going over there and telling her the truth.”
I don’t even consider it. “Now isn’t the right time.”
“The longer she stays here, the worse it’s going to get. Every day your son goes to that shithole school, you risk him getting into something a simple suspension won’t get him out of.”
“I know,” I agree.
“No time like the present.” He slaps me on the back after tossing my half-eaten bagel back onto the paper plate. “I’ve got to head to the airport. Let me know if you need anything else.”
“Because you’ve been such a huge help so far,” I mutter as I follow him to the door.
He leaves with a chuckle, his shiny rental out of place in this neighborhood. I’m surprised the wheels are still on it just from the few minutes he was in the house.
He’s right about talking to Tinley, but fear of her rejecting the offer to come live with me keeps me in the house, mulling over what needs to happen for it to be up to par for sale. I can’t stay here even if I stay in Texas, but selling as-is doesn’t seem right either.
The conversation with Mike Branford keeps playing over in my head. There aren’t many people around that are so willing to give back to a community that did nothing but drain them, but being part of the solution rather than just walking away from all of the problems doesn’t feel right either.
I figure fixing up the house and selling it incredibly cheap will help one family out. If Tinley decides she and Alex will come live with me or even if she agrees to move closer, I hope I can convince her to do the same with her house.
Antsy to see her since I’ve been gone over a week, I can no longer stay away.
