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In the end, we’d be okay. We all were able-bodied individuals. The twins were done with college. Alec would get a job in graphic design. Addison could work for an accounting firm. I assumed my sisters and I would end up at another ad agency.
“Maybe I’m just not cut out for this job.” Her voice was so soft that I strained to hear her. “To lead this company. Maybe all your faith in me was misplaced. Maybe it should have been you … or Lyria … or—”
“That’s a lie,” I said firmly.
She excelled at her job. She had helped Mom during high school and college and even interned at Loverly Ad Agency. She loved the small-town feel of the ad firm. She loved the family business. She had been the proponent of wanting to push forward and take this company to the next level. So, I knew it was her heart that would break the worst out of all of us. But I would not for one second let her believe that any of us could’ve done it better.
She huffed, and the frustration in her tone was evident. “I’ve tried absolutely everything. I’m out of ideas. I just hate that I’ve failed this family, failed Mom.”
“Stop. This is not your fault.”
She shook her head, her forehead heavily resting against the steering wheel. And then I heard it; a soft sob escaped her lips, and her shoulders shook.
My heart broke for her, for our family. I wondered why everything had to come raining down on us at the same time. The problems with Alec, the end of our agency. Didn’t the universe understand we’d experienced enough tragedy for a lifetime?
CHAPTER13
AUSTIN
I couldn’t sleepbecause I couldn’t get comfortable. My arm hurt, my side hurt, and my hand was pulsing like I’d just knocked James in the jaw a minute ago.
When Noah called me in the morning, it took a few missed calls to get me up.
“Hey.” My voice was groggy and irritated from lack of sleep.
“Austin. Bad news or good news first?”
I groaned. Of course Noah would wake me up this way. He had no tact, but it was one of the reasons I valued working with him. He was always honest and to the point.
I scrubbed my hand down my tired face. “Good news because I can’t take any more bad news.”
“I’ve secured you two weeks of rehab with Dr. Carringtime.”
I pushed up against the headboard. “No shit?”
“Yes. I’ve booked your flight from Chicago to LA. We have to work around his schedule. He’s seeing another patient for a couple of days in those two weeks; otherwise, you’ll be his main focus.”
I lifted my gaze to my ceiling, smiling. Thank God. I needed to hear that.
“You’re going to have to make that flight, Austin. He’s leaving for Spain after those two weeks are up. Every hour is going to matter. If you want to play next season, you can’t miss that flight.”
I scoffed. “I don’t know why you’re telling me this. You know me. I won’t miss the flight. Good job in getting the doctor. Okay, now to the bad news.” I braced myself.
“I have to fly out this morning, so I can’t pick you up to take you to surgery.”
“What?” I growled. “Why?”
He spoke record fast, like he didn’t want me to catch all of it. “Jimmy’s contract …” He stopped mid-sentence. “Anyway, Jimmy has stuff going on. Stuff I can’t discuss with anyone, but I have to fly to New York and help him out right now.”
Jimmy fucking Brason—Noah’s other big client—was a star quarterback for the NFL. And much needier than I was.
“I’m the one with a torn rotator cuff,” I said, almost yelling through the phone.
“I got you. I called a car service to bring you to the hospital. And interviewed some nurses to help you with the dressing and—”
My nostrils were flaring now. “No. Fucking. Way. No random car service. No nurses.”
“They are highly vetted. And we don’t have a choice. I won’t be here.”
