She hummed, considering.“She’s tough, but anyone who has spent more than a minute with her can tell she’ll do anything for the people she cares about.”
“Yes, I’ve learned that.”
“What has Tiffany done for you?”Quinn watched me carefully as she returned my earlier question.
A good question with a difficult answer.Because what hadn’t she done for me?Every memory of the last few months were colored with her presence.Every moment was an integral step to where we were now, to how I felt about her.
I loved her.I knew that without question.
Tiffany brought both the challenge of thought that I chased, as well as a sense of mindfulness, of being completely in the moment.It was gut instinct and empowerment versus my tendency for careful contemplation.
More than any one action, there were the small, subtle ways that Tiffany had done things for me.Cups of coffee and words of encouragement.Hell, even when we’d been at each other’s throats at the beginning, she’d always made sure it never affected how the staff treated me, never let it interfere with her work.No matter how much she debated an idea or fought me on something, she would concede.Usually with a wave or a shrug, saying, “It’s your bar.”
Like a key finally clicking into place, I knew what I had to do.What I needed to do.
“Anyway,” Quinn said, standing, and I realized I hadn’t answered her, too lost in thought.The knowing look on her face said she hadn’t minded.“I’m sure you have a lot of work to do, but I’m glad to have you on board.Tiffany was right about you.You’re not like the rest.She’s a pretty good judge of character, that one.”
I smiled.“Yes, she is.”
Quinn shook my hand,promised to be in contact with more information, and left me alone with my mind racing.
It was clear that the bar would be alright.Despite my recent efforts, it had the support of the people around me, and now that Pierce had used his trump card, we’d faced the worst and come out relatively unscathed.One call to my lawyer had confirmed it—we could re-open next week, and there would be no further issues with the permit.
All that was left was to move forward with the re-opening.And for the first time since I’d started, I could work free from distraction.Just me and the bar.
It felt bleak.
What was wrong with me?How had I failed so spectacularly at this again?
Flashes of it all came at me at once.Tiffany, agreeing to help me, hands locked in her shirt, voluntarily conceding.Over and over.Giving me control.She’d been upfront, challenging but never asking for more than what she wanted.
And I had reacted like a preschooler.Don’t touch my stuff.
I’d acted as badly as Pierce.Selfish.Stubborn.I palmed my eyes until spots appeared.Fuck.
I wasn’t an idiot.I was an asshole.
My fingers dialed the familiar number before I contemplated what I was going to say.Just that I needed to do this.I couldn’t move on without talking to her.
“Sam?”Piper’s surprise was evident.
“Hi, Piper.”
“Is … Was there something wrong with the paperwork?”
“No.That should already have been it back to your lawyers.”She would already know that, but it made sense that that was where her mind had gone.“I wanted to …” This was harder than I expected.Not that long ago, we had shared a life together, and now, I’d forgotten how to speak to her.“Are you happy?”
Her sharp intake of breath cut through the phone, and there was another stretch of silence while I wondered if I’d pissed her off.When she spoke next, it was sadness that I heard instead.“I am.Is that horrible?”
I’d thought hearing that would hurt.And perhaps it would have months ago.Now?Nothing.
“No, it’s not.”And it was the truth.No matter how much I wished that things had gone differently, I didn’t want her to be miserable.“I’m sorry for how things ended with us.For not telling you sooner what I wanted.”
“Thank you, Sam.I think I needed to hear that.”It was then that she nervously admitted she was seeing someone new.“We had the kids conversation upfront.I learned that much from what happened with us.”
Afterward, I was struck by that thought.What had I learned?Underneath the bitterness and guilt, which were fading faster now, I’d told myself that I’d learned not to risk my livelihood with love.But that felt hollow.
“How are the bars going?”
“It’s not the same without you, but profits are holding steady, and we’ve been approached for a local partnership.I’m exploring options right now.I want to make sure it’s a safe bet before I make any decisions.”
The statement was so cold and calculated that I was transported to how different our relationship had been.How different Tiffany was.It was unnecessary and yet grounding—Tiffany wasn’t Piper.And perhaps, more importantly, I wasn’t the same man I’d been.
Yes, I’d changed since I had arrived, but it was clear that I still had a lot to learn.I needed to be better.
