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“Seriously? You’re crying again?”
She sniffles. “I’m sorry, okay? It’s just so sweet to see you two getting along and being all brotherly.”
I fake heave while Declan glowers, restoring the balance between us once more.
Iris and Declan keep me company during my first night back from rehab. Unlike before, I’m not plagued with heavy loneliness I want to drown with alcohol. Instead, I enjoy my time with them, all while reminding myself that I too can have what they have.
So long as I put in the work.
“Callahan.” Leo claps me on the shoulder. “How are you doing?”
“Better.”
He motions for me to have a seat before doing the same. “How was rehab?”
“You want the polite or honest answer?” I chew on the inside of my cheek.
“Shoot it to me straight, son.”
“It was fucking hell. I can’t believe I paid tens of thousands of dollars to go through that kind of pain.”
The wrinkled skin around his eyes tightens. “Sorry to hear that, but I’m also very proud of you, and I’m sure your grandpa would say the same if he were here with us.”
“I’d like to think so, since this was all part of his master plan.”
Leo’s raspy chuckle makes my lips curve upward. “All he wanted was for you to be happy.”
I blink twice. “Really?” With all the shit he put me through with the inheritance and his will, it’s laughable to hear. He knew what kind of position I would be put in with Lana. The least he could have done was give me a second option, especially if he cared about her as much as he made it seem.
Leo makes his chair creak as he leans back. “Is that so hard to believe?”
“After everything he required of me this summer, yes.”
Leo chuckles. “I know his way of going about things seems… unconventional.”
“That’s because it is.” Everything about my grandfather’s will is far from the status quo. Like he couldn’t bear the thought of being considered anything but unique, so he decided to have his legacy live on long after he did. Rowan’s task to work at Dreamland. Declan’s requirement to get married and have a child. Me having to spend the summer at the lake house before selling it despite my grandpa knowing how much Lana loves it.
“Whatever the case, he only wanted the best for you. That much I can guarantee.”
“Even if it means selling the house despite Lana’s and my wishes?”
He leans forward on his elbows. “Do you mind if I offer a piece of advice?”
My muscles turn to stone beneath my shirt. “What?”
He twirls the tip of his mustache. “There are multiple ways to buy a house.”
My eyebrows inch up my forehead. “Who said anything about me buying a house? Selling one is hard enough as it is.”
“It doesn’t have to be.” His lips curve upward for a second before dropping back into their flat line.
I lean forward. “What do you mean by that?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” His fingers interlock. “What other questions do you have for me?”
My brain can’t keep up with the emotional ping-pong match this man is putting me through.
I pull out the chip I earned and show him. “I plan on returning to the AA group tonight.”
