I frowned as I entered my closet. “I thought you hated romance?”
“I don’t hate romance. I just don’t participate in it.”
That day in the computer lab, she’d said, “I’m aromantic and asexual, just so you know.” I could tell it wasn’t a line to put me off. It was just facts. She was the only person I knew who truly was fully happy without anyone near her, ever.
It was a new thing to hear the affection in her voice now, though.
“I’m happy for you, Mitchell.”
I believed her. I held out a black tie, then tossed it onto the closet island. “Thank you, Sal.”
“Even though it’s temporary, since you’re going to be coming back in two weeks to launch the acquisition.”
My stomach pitched. “I don’t need the reminder.” I was unable to keep the annoyance out of my voice. I didn’t like thinking about two weeks from now. But Sal had told me at the beginning of the call that Zynstar had made it clear there could be no more delays. Research had been halted in their biggest division because of me setting the timeline back for a second time. I couldn’t risk that happening again. Plus, Conrad had called this morning to tell me Mom had been showing signs of agitation. He assured me it wasn’t urgent, but I knew that could change at any moment. I wouldn’t delay getting back again.
Sal listed off items that would be on my schedule the moment I stepped off the plane in Seattle. I’d barely have time to sleep. I wanted off the call. I wanted to only focus on Winona, especially now that the deadline for leaving had become immovable. “Is there anything else?” I asked, squatting down to the shoes.
“There is.”
I pulled out a pair of sneakers. My temple pulsed. “Can it wait?”
“Mitchell, it’s waited long enough. It’s about your father.”
Fuck. I went still, bracing my hand on the floor. “What is it?”
“He had a heart attack.”
“When?”
“Two weeks ago.”
“Twoweeks?Why didn’t?—”
“I tried to tell you. You asked if anyone was dead and he is not.”
Leave it to Sal to be as literal as fuck.
She filled me in on the details. It was a minor heart attack, and he’d been home after a night at the hospital. I thanked her, robotically. Then I told her to connect me to my brothers.
“Were either of you going to tell me?” I snapped. It was a video call, Blake on the top of my phone screen, Conrad the bottom. Sal was off to set up preparations for tonight’s dinner.
Conrad rolled his eyes. Blake pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Did you check your messages, Mitchell?” Blake sounded exhausted. “If you did that, or answered the fucking phone, you might have known.”
“He’s okay now,” Conrad said, more accustomed to my bullshit.
I didn’t know why I cared. I truly didn’t. I hated my father. We all did. But he was still our father.
“He’s being monitored,” Conrad said. “I have a nurse checking in on him.”
I had a fund set up for health things for everyone in my family. I’d never explicitly said it wasn’t to be used on our father. But I was glad now Conrad had taken the initiative.
“Thank you for watching things,” I said, my voice stiff. “I’ll be back in two weeks. I’ll check in on him then.”
“Is that for sure this time, Mitchie?” Conrad asked.
“Yes,” I snapped.
