Luna dissolves into laughter. “Bluebeard!”
The cat sits, smug, like he’s reclaiming his territory. Luna.
“Not now, dude,” I mutter, glaring at him.
Bluebeard responds by kneading the blanket beside Luna, laying his head on her chest and purring like a diesel engine. I sneeze when he flicks his tail in my face. Traitorous little jerk. But I still reach out to stroke a hand down his sleek back.
A sigh slips through my lips as I fall back on the pillow. “You weren’t kidding about the whole house full of cats thing, huh?”
She beams. “Get used to it.”
And for once, that doesn’t sound terrifying.
It sounds like home.
Chapter 39
Choose Your Own Adventure
Beau
Theelevatorridefeelslonger than it should. It’s too quiet. I’m trapped with my thoughts and not quite enough air in here, and it’s hard to breathe past the tangled bundle of nerves crowding my chest.
My reflection in the mirrored walls already distances me from this place and the life I’m about to leave behind. I’m in joggers and my Lakeview hockey hoodie with the sleeves pushed up to my elbows. I’m not trying to piss him off further, but I came straight from practice, so I didn’t have time to change into something less casual.
My hair’s still damp from the shower I took to clean up and try to shake the nerves out of my spine. It didn’t work.
The elevator dings, and I step out into the marble-floored atrium of my dad’s office suite. The neutral gray and rich wood tones give off expensive fuck-you vibes. Even the smooth receptionist is wearing a crisp, fitted gray dress, but she only gives me a cursory glance before buzzing me through. At least I don’t have to wait. I don’t think I could handle that.
He’s waiting in the corner office, flanked by floor-to-ceiling windows and two ridiculous abstract paintings that probably cost more than my tuition. Loose change to him and his company.
He doesn’t even stand when I walk in. Only gives me a cursory glance over his screen before returning to his work.
“Beau,” he says. Not cold, not warm. Just ruthlessly efficient, and neutral. Speaking to his son the same way he’d speak to a new client.
I settle into a chair despite the lack of invitation and wait. He lets the silence hang in the air, wielding it like a weapon. I’m being measured. Scanned for weakness. Like he’s trying to find the thread to pull. He’s good at that.
Finally, he says, “Your little video made an impression.”
My throat tightens.
“That’s not the way we portray this family and this company. I’m disappointed in you.”
It takes everything in me not to clench my fists.
“It wasn’t for you,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady.
He arches a brow. “No? Then what was it for? Is this some sort of rebellion? This is the sort of thing I’d expect from your sister. Not from you.”
Anger rips through me. How dare he talk about Cece like that? Her ability to embrace life and her passions is admirable. But he talks as if it’s detestable.
Why did I do it? For Luna, yes, but also for me. I finally feel like my life is my own, and I can breathe. But I don’t say any of that. He doesn’t care. I just sit up straighter and meet his gaze.
“I’m not coming to work for the firm.”
His expression doesn’t change. “Don’t be hasty. I know tensions have been high, but this is your future we’re talking about.”
“I know.” My voice shakes. Just a little. “That’s why I’m doing this.”
