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“So we got this new client today. I think he has this vendetta against women. It’s like he thought I was incompetent or something, Callum. Every suggestion I made, he wasn’t happy with it. He spoke over me, refused to make eye contact with me, and wouldn’t even shake my hand. He only agreed to sign a contract because my male coworker stepped in and finished the pitch. The pitch I worked so hard on. He said the exact same thing I did, but it was accepted because it came from a man.”
I frowned. My sister was highly competent at her job. She was the youngest partner at her firm, and that, in itself, spoke to her abilities.
“I’m sorry you had to encounter an asshole today, Bells. You know you’re a beast with numbers. You could easily start your own firm. I guarantee your clients would follow you.”
“I wouldn’t want there to be bad blood. That company has done a lot for me, Callum. Days like today, I just wished they’d had my back. I understand not wanting to lose out on a major moneymaking account, but it shouldn’t be at my expense. For the first time, I felt undervalued and underappreciated. He made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to sit with the big boys at the table.”
“You are good enough. You’re more than good. Don’t ever let anybody make you feel less than. Look at where we were and where we are. The odds were against us after Mama and Daddy died. All we had in this world was ourselves. We could have fallen by the wayside or run with the wrong crowd because we didn’t have parental guidance. We didn’t do any of that. You made it through school and college at the top of your class. You climbed the corporate ladder quickly, doing what it took some of those people years to accomplish. You earned and deserved that title as a partner. You wouldn’t have been presented with the opportunity if you weren’t competent. I’m so proud of you. If nobody else ever tells you that, you’ll always hear it from me.”
She swiped a tear from her eye. I hated to see her cry. In my eyes, she would always be that little red baby our parents brought home from the hospital. I’d spent my life protecting her and making sure that she was happy, and I would die doing the same thing. Getting up from my seat, I rounded the counter and pulled her into my arms, wrapping her up in a hug.
“I’m glad we’ve always had each other,” she said softly. “You always know how to get my mind right.”
“That’s what big brothers are for.” I kissed her forehead, then released her. “What are you cooking? Your daughter ran me ragged, and now I’m hungry.”
She giggled and shook her head as she turned back to the stove. “I’m making gumbo and rice. I already set a place for you at the table.”
I looked back at the dining room; sure enough, there were four place settings.
“Can I help with anything?” I asked.
“Nope. Just keep me company since you let my child fall asleep. I would fuss if it weren’t a Friday night, and we’re going away for the weekend. You’re still invited to come.”
“As I told you, I don’t want to intrude on family time.”
“And as I’ve told you, you are my family. You know, if you’d just get married and have a kid or two, we wouldn’t need to have these conversations when I invite you to go on vacation with us. I have a friend or two I could hook you up with.”
“Negative. Why would you want me to date your friends?”
She looked over her shoulder at me and smirked. “Because at least I know I like them and won’t have to fight anybody. You know I don’t play about you.”
“I will pass on your friends. Chris tried to slide Eva’s friends on me too.”
“I like Eva; her friends are cute, but I don’t see them as your type.”
“That’s what I said. I’m good, though. Eventually, my rib will be placed in my path.”
“Well, don’t go hungry while you’re waiting. I’m not saying be a man whore, but you should date. She’s not just gonna fall out of the sky, Callum. I want some nieces and nephews to love on, so you need to hop on it.”
“I hear you. We’ll see what happens.”
“Don’t just ‘see’ about it, ‘be’ about it. Don’t play with me like I won’t set you up on a blind date.”
I shook my head. It wouldn’t be the first time she’d done that.
We continued to talk while she cooked. Precious was awake when my brother-in-law came home and wanted to play again. I obliged her while we waited for the food and then ate dinner with them. I returned to my house around eight that evening, and the difference was so noticeable. The silence was deafening, and the house felt too big for me. For the first time in a long time, I truly felt lonely.
But what could I do but wash my body and climb my lonely ass into bed?
Chapter Nine
Four Months Later
Pasha
I looked around the empty space that was to be my little studio apartment. I’d been working, doing overtime, and picked up a second job to save enough money to move into my own place. Living with Avyn had been wonderful. She was encouraging; she was my shoulder to cry on and my voice of reason. There were so many times when I wanted to give up, but she pushed me to keep moving forward.
As great as it had been living with my best friend and rebuilding our friendship every day, I most certainly felt like I was a burden to her. She always assured me she loved having me there, and I was welcomed for as long as I needed to stay. Again, I appreciated that, but I needed to go.
