That didn’t make any sense to me. People didn’t just do stuff like this and rich people definitely didn’t. It sounded more like a gift than an acquisition to me, but what’d I know?
“I’ve actually just started a venture of my own,” I said instead of asking any questions about this so-called deal. I actuallycouldn’t believe anyone could use words like that with a straight face and think of it as normal, but I supposed this was what Theo had meant when he’d said we were from different worlds. “As it stands, I have no interest in going into business with my brother.”
Colin didn’t really react, just nodding like I’d told him something only mildly more interesting than the score of a ballgame he’d already watched, played by teams he didn’t support.
“That’s fine. We were prepared for it as an eventuality. Theo still wants you involved, though.”
“You were prepared for this?”
“Yes,” he said easily, leaning back on the couch and looking around the room again. “He was very specific about it.”
“Why?” I asked, sweeping my gaze across his face, but I didn’t see anything other than mild interest in the wallpaper on the far wall. The wallpaper Theo had helped me choose. “Avery is more than capable of running the shop by himself. Just ask him. He’ll tell you all about it.”
Colin shrugged, slowly bringing his gaze back to mine. Everything about him seemed painfully earnest, like he’d never met a lie he could tell, and yet, given what he did for a living, I suspected it had to be a front. I was completely sure there was a lot more to this guy than met the eye.
“I’m not sure,” he said. “All I know is what Theo told me, and what he told me was to keep the shop in your name.”
“And Avery’s.”
“If you want, sure, but yours has to be included.”
Frustration rolled through me and I clicked my tongue, knowing he probably didn’t have more answers. I wished I could just speak to Theo instead. “Alright. Can you give me a few days? I’ll have to talk to Avery first.”
Colin nodded and drummed out a beat with his fingers on his thighs. “Well, then. I think that’s it for today. Could you possibly point me in the direction of the actual motel, since this isn’t it and I still need someplace to stay tonight?”
“Of course.” I walked him back out to the SUV, then explained the directions as he climbed in. “Just head back to the main road, take a right, and keep going until you see Quartz Pass coming up ahead. Take the first left and you’ll see the Blossom Ville. You can’t miss it. Theo did a lot of good work around there.”
“Thank you,” he said, but he looked utterly confused about something.
As he started opening the door, I grabbed it, needing him to know how serious I was about this. “Don’t mention Theo around Avery.”
Every time I said his name out loud, my heart cracked a little further, and I’d said it so many times since Colin had arrived that it felt a little brittle. Maybe more than brittle. Maybe broken was the more accurate terminology.
“Don’t worry. I’m not planning a suicide mission,” Colin said cheerfully, blissfully unaware of how close I was to tears. “I’ll talk to you soon, Raquel. Thanks for not shooting me on sight.”
I inclined my chin, but just when he reached for the door again, I found myself speaking up without even really meaning to. “Hey, how is he? How is Theo?”
Colin hesitated, swiping his tongue across his lips and shifting in his seat. “He’s been better, if I’m being honest.”
“Is everything okay with his family?” I asked, my heart suddenly pounding. “They’re not, uh, giving him a hard time about any of this?”
“Oh. No. It’s not that.” He paused for a beat, then gave his head a quick, firm shake. “I don’t think it’s that, anyway. He’sjust had a rough go of it, but he won’t tell anyone what’s really going on, and of course, Alex is still trying to get him married.”
My hands went cold instantly, the thought of Theo getting married gutting me in ways I couldn’t even begin to describe. “Right. Yeah. Of course.”
Colin shrugged. “It’ll work itself out, though. Whatever it is. Don’t worry about him. I promise you this deal is in good hands. I’ll be at the motel if you have any questions.”
I nodded, but long after he was gone, I was still standing on my porch, just staring at the sun as it sank slowly closer to the horizon. Even after I went inside, I just kept pacing. Every time I tried to sit, the scratchy, itchy, burning pain in my chest just got worse, so I stood right back up and went back to pacing.
Hours passed while I tried to work out why the pain inside was suddenly so much worse, but it was like Colin’s visit had inadvertently shaken something loose that I’d been shoving down for way too long. All the time Theo and I had spent together was rushing through my mind on a loop, more vivid even than it’d been on the day he’d left.
Maybe it was because I’d now had a taste of life without him, only to learn he’d been thinking about me all along. Trying to take care of me from afar. He hadn’t moved on or simply fallen back into his life in Chicago.
Colin had said that Theo was having a rough go of it. Or maybe Colin’s presence had simply made me realize that Quartz Pass wasn’t home anymore if Theo wasn’t in it. I knew that would sound crazy if I said it out loud, but it didn’t feel crazy at all.
In fact, it was the first thing all month that felt right. Honestly, I had no idea what came over me, but the next thing I knew, I made a snap decision and pulled out my phone, terrified and excited all at once.
CHAPTER 41
