by Jami Wagner
* * *
“You sure ran off in a hurry this morning,” Lance says when I walk through my front door. I head for the kitchen and he follows me.
He didn’t ask me any questions last night. Nothing about Kelsey or the bar. Sometimes I wonder if he really cares what happens or not. He doesn’t seem to concerned about running the BA or being an accomplice to expanding the family feud we have going on between Sara’s dad and ours. Yet he’s still here, just like my father said he would be.
“I didn’t realize I had to inform you of my schedule.”
“Dad seems to think you do.”
“Dad has a control problem.”
Lance glances at me with a shocked expression. I stare back at him, ready for whatever defense he decides to throw my way, but it never comes. Instead, he chuckles as he takes bottled water from the fridge.
“You’re probably the first brother to admit that out loud.” He takes a drink. “And you’re damn lucky you said it to me—Ben might kick your ass.”
“What do you want?” I take a seat at the table. “Uncle Dean doesn’t have anything for me to find. They keep everything clean. There’s no way Dad could pull this off.”
“So tell him that,” Lance says, sitting across from me. “Tell him you can’t find anything and go home.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I made a commitment to Sara. I can’t abandon the bar while she’s gone.”
“Ethan, Dean will be able to handle it just fine.”
I shake my head.
“He’s not here. He’s off searching for a new building so he can make the bar into a chain. That’s why they called Dad in the first place.”
“So there isn’t any reason for you to stay. Not even that girl across the street.”
My teeth grind as I look him in the eyes. “Stay away from Kelsey.”
He laughs. “Okay, so wait a second. Let me see if I have this right. For years, you’ve wanted Dad to know he can depend on you, begging him for the chance to prove it to him, so he sends you here. Then, all of the sudden, an account number is hard to find. You think he’s controlling and now you’re growling at me with an ‘I’ll beat your ass’ look because I mentioned a girl. What happened when you got here?”
I blink a few times as I think about it.
“I guess all I needed was a life without him in it to figure out what kind of person I am.”
Lance nods but doesn’t say anything. A half grin appears on his face as he stands.
“I think I’d better head out. Dad clearly underestimated you, as did I. I thought you’d stay his puppet forever. I’m proud of you.”
He heads for the door and I watch him, still processing the fact he didn’t come here to sabotage me.
“If Dad calls, let’s pretend I’m still here taking over for you. I need some time away myself and you seem to have your shit under control.”
And just like that, he leaves.
One obstacle down and one left to go. All I have to do is build back up Kelsey’s trust and my life will be smooth sailing and secret free.