BRANDON
I leave Kate unstrapping her heels on the loveseat and stride toward the service elevator.
Rick, Val, and I will be responsible for removing the cocktail tables after guests leave, although the exhibition will stay open for six more weeks. I figure I might as well get a head start on retrieving the industrial carts from the basement storage rooms.
I take one last peek at Kate on the other side of the hall, still curled up on the couch. Hot pride fills my veins at the fact that she ismine. For real, this time. Lucky doesn’t begin to describe how I feel at this moment.
A grin claims my mouth as the elevator doors pull open. I step inside as a text vibrates my phone.
TUCK: Come up to the third floor, will ya? I just got the craziest call.
I cock my head, pressing the button for level three instead of the basement. A few minutes later, I stroll toward where Tuck loiters outside the Vanderbilt wing.
“What’s up, Tuck?” I ask.
Tuck swivels as if in slow motion, eyes huge. “Bro. You’re never going to believe this.”
“What?”
“EcoSphere just called,” he says blankly. “They want to buy my manifold tech.”
I whoop and clap him on the shoulder, shaking him out of his stupor.
“That’s insane, man! Congrats!”
He stutters a laugh, still processing.
“Now you can finally backpay me for your half of rent,” I say.
“Bro.” He blinks. “I could buy thebuilding.”
I turn to stone. “What?”
“They don’t want tojustbuy the manifold, they want the aftermarket catalytic converter I designed to pair with it. They’re going to purchase the technology, pay royalties for both,andthey want me on their team.”
I’m dumbstruck. “So…you’re like…rich, now?”
“Stupidrich. If I say yes.”
“Why the hell wouldn’t you say yes?!”
“EcoSphere is based in London,” he says, face tight.
“So? You’ve always wanted to live abroad!”
“I know.” He blows out a thin breath, glancing toward where The Spiral descends to the lobby. “Just don’t know if I have it in me to leave everyone.”
“There you two are!” A robust voice calls from the top of The Spiral.
Tuck and I turn to see Dallas, Julia’s boyfriend.
Dallas swaggers toward us, ill-fitting suit straining against his chemically-enhanced muscles. He’s the kind of guy that inhales protein powder and spends more time counting macronutrients than with his girlfriend.
But I refrain from inserting myself into their business: one—because Julia has made it clear that who she dates isn’t up for debate, and two—because Dallas isn’t exactly the buddy type. Even throughout high school, I swear he only had a few other meathead friends. Pair that with his on-again-off-again tendencies with Julia, and I have a severely diminished amount of respect for the guy.
“Listen, you two.” A broad smile stretches across his somewhat-flattened bone structure. I’ve always wondered if his family also has gently-sloped features, or if he rammed his face into a tree at some point. “I’ve got news, but I need you to keep it on the down low.” He withdraws a velvet ring box from his tight khaki suit, popping it open with a flourish.
Tuck and I blink at the somewhat small diamond set inside a shining gold band. Not that I’m judging, though. He probably makes close to what I do with his personal training business.
