“Need the caffeine drip this morning. But I’m sure it’s good.”
“Mm, yeah, I’m cutting back a bit. Trying to behealthy.” She rolls her eyes. “Kane says I get on my sugar highs more often than the kids. I don’t want to set a bad example.”
I smile. “Living the dream, lady.”
“You know it.” Her teeth flash, white and perfect. It’s no surprise that when she stumbled into PopPop’s lake house after he left it to her, a former hockey hottie fell madly in love with her. What guy could resist?
“But we’re talking about you.” She flicks a finger at me. “I heard through the grapevine that you’re finally getting around to whatever Gramps left you.”
“The grapevine? Ethan, you mean?” I stare at her.
“The parentals. Your dad called complaining to Mom, I guess, and she told me,” she says promptly. “Apparently, Uncle Gordo thinks it’s all a wild goose chase and you shouldn’t trust anything. Sounds familiar!”
“Yeah, he said as much… But you’ve been through it before. You know I can’t just walk away.”
“Nope. If I’d listened to Mom’s ranting and raving, I never would’ve gotten a cute lake house or a husband. You have to ignore him.”
Good advice, and I’m not surprised she’s so point-blank after everything she went through.
Also, I wish Dad would stop whining about Gramps to everyone else in the family.
Even Margot’s parents might’ve changed their tune, or so I’ve heard.
Maybe because both their kids are happily married thanks to the will. That takes the sting out of whatever drama happened in the past.
“I dunno, Margot. Don’t think I’m going to get a hot husband out of it. You were lucky.” Idly, I swirl my finger over the rim of my cup.
“Don’t I know it! And I’d do it all over again. Creepy locals and AI deranged nutjobs are no match for true love.” She sighs fondly.
“You’re way more chill than I would’ve been.” I smile and shake my head.
I don’t know why that makes me sad. Nobody walked into their little inheritance challenge thinking they’d wind up married.
Especially in her case.
I seriously doubt Gramps ever meant to play matchmaker with her like he did with Ethan and Hattie.
And in my case, it’s not even that. We just tripped and fell into hot, reckless sex and a lot of mistakes.
But staring at Margot, I wonder if her life’s going to my head.
I keep hearing this tiny, nagging voice in my head. The one that insists Holden could be the one, if only he weren’t as stubborn as a bison.
The thought of losing him turns my heart to ash, even if there’s every reason in the world to walk away.
I try to make small talk, asking about her latest wins in the shoe world. Aside from the hot husband and cute kids, that’s another windfall Margot never expected.
Her shoe design career was about as stagnant as my art before it took off.
She never imagined she’d become a goddess to an army of little girls who now have pretty orthopedic shoes to wear thanks to hers.
I’m a little jealous and a lot awestruck at how well she has her shit together.
“You’re quiet today.” She smiles at me. “What did he leave you? If you don’t mind me asking…”
Right.
PopPop.
