Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115683 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 578(@200wpm)___ 463(@250wpm)___ 386(@300wpm)
Her eyelashes flutter. I expect a witty reply, but instead she reaches for her Shiner and takes one of those long, thirsty sips that has my dick perking up.
“I’ve been telling myself that I can be creative in any marketing position.” She speaks slowly, choosing her words with care. “There’s a lot of prestige that comes with working in a field like private equity. I want to build a nice life, you know? Make my own money. Make good money. Seeing what happened with my mom…”
Knew it.
“What happened?” I wipe my mouth on my napkin. “If you’re uncomfortable talking about it—”
“No, no. It’s okay. Just, my mom stayed home to raise us, so she’s never really had a career. Now she’s completely dependent on my dad, and…yeah, I’m not sure how happy they are. We actually got into a fight right before you and I—”
“Right.” I feel a hot flush working its way up my neck. “Sounds like we both were going through some stuff that day. What did y’all fight about?”
“She thinks I need to grow up and get a, quote unquote, real job. One where I go into a real office every day. It’s like she totally discounts all the work I put into this.” She motions to the room around us. “Not your house, obviously. But into the work I’m already doing. The time I spend researching, the hours on social media seeing what’s on-trend, all the classes I took on this stuff, the networking I’ve done… It’s like none of it matters.”
My heart twists. “She doesn’t understand it.”
“It’s like she doesn’t understand me, and that’s frustrating. I’m trying to find a big girl job—”
“You know I’m only opposed to you doing your job here on my family’s property.”
She sighs. “Not helpful.”
“But I do see how hard you work, Lainey.” My heart throbs as the words leave my mouth. “Far as I’m concerned, you work just as hard as we do. You care, and that counts.”
She looks like she’s about to either laugh or burst into tears. “Awful rich, coming from the guy who wants me gone.”
“Both things can be true at once,” I say softly.
“Since when are you one to embrace subtlety?”
I grin. “Since I met you. So what’s your mom’s story?”
She meets my eyes, a puzzled look on her face. Like she’s wondering who the hell I am. Where I came from.
Why I’ve changed my tune all of a sudden.
We’re more alike than I thought, Dallas. And that makes me feel so much less lonely.
“My mom is stuck,” Lainey replies. “She’s unhappy, but she doesn’t have many options. It’s interesting to see how different the dynamic is between your parents, though. Your mom stayed home with y’all, right?”
I nod. “She did.”
“And she and your dad seem happy.”
My chest feels tight all of a sudden. “They are happy, yeah. They got a lot of respect for each other.”
“From what I can see, they downright adore each other. It’s cute.”
Grinning, I tilt my head. “It is. Sometimes.”
“But then I’m wondering, why do some couples end up happy and others don’t? I’m not sure there’s one answer to that. Whatever the case, I’ve always wanted to work—to be independent—so I’ll have options.”
This surprises me. I guess I’d assumed she had this bullshit branding job because she was some kinda trust fund baby and didn’t need to get a real job, that she was being supported somehow by someone.
Turns out she’s just trying real hard to support herself. Also partly explains why she’s so damn dedicated to being put together all the time. She can’t afford to make a mistake.
“That’s a lot of pressure to put on yourself.” I keep my voice as gentle as I can.
Lainey glances at Dean. “Something tells me you know all about pressure.”
I laugh, if only in an attempt to ignore the flutter of my pulse. “Yeah. But Billie Jean King is always saying that pressure is a privilege, so…”
Lainey drops her fork. Stares at me.
That flush of heat in my neck moves to my face. “What?”
“You’re just…jeez, Colton.” She shakes her head. “Full of surprises tonight.”
Can say the same about you, honey.
“She’s right, though,” I continue. “Pressure exists in my life because I’m living out my dream. Well, some of my dreams. I’m doing what I’ve always wanted to do with the people I’ve always wanted to be around. Including this little rascal.” I muss Dean’s hair, and he ducks out of my reach to go hang on the couch with his football.
Lainey is sucking down her beer again. “I get that. I mean, I don’t get it get it because I feel like I’m just starting my life, but I see what you’re saying.” Another gulp. “I’m jealous.”
Jealous?
“You guys have such a great relationship,” she explains, nodding at Dean and me. “And your family is awesome. Your parents are happy. And it sounds like you’ve always known what your path was going to be. You always knew who you are, I guess.”