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Lexie propped her hip against the chair Zegas had just vacated. She balled the hem of her sweatshirt in her fist. Lines of worry creased her forehead. “I should leave you two alone.”
“No,” I snapped before I plowed a hand through my hair. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have spoken like that.”
She blinked as if she hadn’t expected me to repent. “It’s okay. You’re under a lot of stress.”
I nodded, though it wasn’t an excuse to take that tone with either of them. Unable to sit any longer, I pushed to my feet. The bar was tempting, but I bypassed a drink for the view from the windows.
I kept my back to them, unable to face them with the truth.
“It’s becoming likely I may lose my apartment.” And I have no idea where I’d go.Or what I’ll have left.
Chapter Sixteen
Lexie
He could lose his apartment?
Lincoln’s broad shoulders were set in a tense line. He refused to turn around, didn’t even snap at Muffy when he pawed at his leg.
I couldn’t imagine him ever being in any financial danger. His credit card was declined at the dinner he missed, but that happened to everyone at some point because of fraud detection measures.
To think he’d been shouldering that burden all on his own. How heavy his load must be.
And he’s put all his focus on your problems the past twenty-four hours.
He’d stayed with me in the hospital and made sure my business didn’t suffer today. Lincoln Hollingsworth was nothing like I’d initially assumed. He was the most selfless man I’d ever met.
“You didn’t think Teague and I should know this?” Beau bolted from the sofa. “Did you refinance the apartment? If you’re behind, I’ll pay the note. All of it.”
Anger was her primary tone, but all that was a cover-up for her hurt.
I understood where both of them came from. If I were in Lincoln’s position, I’d keep it from Eric until I absolutely had to tell him, not because he couldn’t handle it, but because I wouldn’t want him to worry.
If I were Beau, I’d want to know so I could help.
While I wanted to be irritated Lincoln hadn’t confided in me, I didn’t have the right. We were still practically strangers. I certainly hadn’t unloaded all my problems on him. He just happened to witness my latest one. I would’ve never contacted him to get me out of jail . . . except for Eric.
Lincoln hadn’t reached his desperation point. If he had, he would’ve shared about the apartment with his brother and sister because there was no other option.
Muffy nosed Lincoln’s hand. He opened his fist to show the dog he had no treat. Muffy sat on his foot. Did he know Lincoln needed a friend, even if it was the furry kind?
I watched helplessly as he struggled. How could I help? If he was behind on the mortgage, there was no way I could pay to catch him up. I didn’t know for sure but was pretty certain one month cost more than what we made in a year.
Money wasn’t the only way to support someone, but I wanted todosomething to help him solve the problems the way he’d done for me.
Beau crossed the distance between them and shook his shoulders, trying to make him turn around. “Answer me, damn it.”
I leaned farther into the chair, tempted to back out of the room and let them sort this out among themselves. Not only was I curious, but Lincoln hadn’t left me in my time of trouble.
And he was most definitely in more trouble than he let on.
No matter how she tugged, he was unmovable.
“There’s nothing else to say on the matter.” He sounded as closed up and far away as I’d ever heard him. I hated that tone.
“Oh no, you don’t,” she said. “If we have to stand here until kingdom come, you will tell me everything that is going on. Every. Single. Detail.”
The angrier she became, the more he closed off. I felt it. Was it because he couldn’t stand to hurt her? Not that long ago, I would’ve said it was because he was an ass.
