He laughs. “Oh boy. Never thought I’d see the day you’d actually want to stop and enjoy the view.”
“Well, I guess I found one that’s finally made me want to.”
“Then tell her how you feel. If you’re right, you’ve got nothing but upside. If you’re wrong, worst-case scenario is you’ll have your Sundays free again.”
The thought makes my stomach sink. Sundays have become the oasis in the desert of my week. Nothing about Sin and mefeelshard. Timing hasn’t been right. But “us”? That’s been easy from that first night at The Salamander.
He sighs. “You know Ihateadding air to your already overly inflated ego…”
“That is pure projection,” I say under my breath..
“But you’re a very attractive guy. In a purely objective way.”
I frown. “This doesn’t sound like the buildup to a compliment.”
He ignores me. “And you’re a good listener. But…” he adds with emphasis.
“Ah, I was right,” I mutter.
He continues to speak over me. “Butyou don’t share as much because I think you’re afraid to lose the people you have so you don’t let them get too close. So, despite how nice the surface is, sometimes what’s beneath isn’t as easy to digest.”
“Wow, please don’t pull your punches.”
“I know why you are the way you are. You grew up with parents who navigated the world by hiding. I mean, maybe they don’t like richpeople? I know we’re used to people wanting to get closebecauseof money but maybe she’s the opposite. Billionaires aren’t the heroes they used to be.”
“She doesn’t know about my money. Or who my dad is.” I think, if I’m honest, that’s what’s stopped me from making a move for the last few weeks.
“Wait. How can these people be your friends and not know who your family is?”
I blow out a breath. “I left when I was eighteen and I haven’t lived as Palmer again until this last year. Why would I just blurt out my father’s name and net worth when it’s literally never come up? They knew my mother by her maiden name. They think it’s my last name, too.”
“So, they’ve never asked whose Rolls that is? Or how you live in one of the biggest houses in Georgetown?”
“They have never been to my place and I ride my bike over.”
“So, outright deception then?”
My hackles rise. “No. Of course not. I ride my bike everywhere I go. I live in that house because my mother left it to me. I have that car becausehebought it for me. They’re notmine.And you know that.”
He sighs. “You’re getting defensive because I’m right. You don’t want them to know. Why? You think they’ll ask you for money?”
“No, come on, T. They’re good people. I just…they treat me like I’m normal,” I admit.
“They don’t know you’ve got a yacht parked in the Indian Ocean. Or that you’re flying around on private planes.”
“Again, not mine.”
“I hate to break it to you but it is. And that’s okay,” he adds when I start to pushback. “I have to go in a minute, but I just want to say this. I know this is how your parents operated, and you see where it got them.”
“Yeah, with everything and nothing.”
“They were extreme, but they had their reasons. Just like you do for not coming clean straight away.”
“I don’t want things to change.”
“You can’t control that. But if her knowing you have money changes things, won’t you be glad you know what she’s really like?”
“You’re right.” I grab my helmet from the hook beside my door and walk out to get on my bike.
