She snorted. “This belongs to my parents, but if you’re patient, I’ll probably inherit it someday.”
The playfulness fell from his face, and he sagged like she’d shot him in the gut. “Don’t be so sure about that.”
Oh, she recognized that mixture of fear and anger in his voice. Once upon a time she too went from having everything to having nothing. It wasn’t her business, and she should just thank him and head inside. But instead, she turned so her back was against the car door and she could see his profile as he leaned against the headrest. His mouth was pulled taut, his eyes shut.
“You don’t have to tell me the details, but is this is a money thing? As in you suddenly don’t have what you used to?” She glanced at the house where she’d grown up, with its rows of windows and four sets of columns and the fountain in the center of the circular drive. She didn’t know a single other person in Beaucoeur whose house had a fountain. “It sucks, but you’ll be okay in the end. You’ve still gotyou, after all.”
His eyes snapped open, and his fingers tightened around the steering wheel.
“I’m not sure that’s much to work with.” Then his nostrils flared, and he released his grip, turning something almost like his usual self-assured smile her way. “I appreciate it though. Good luck with your boyfriend.”
“Thanks.” She popped the door open and climbed out, holding her skirt against her thigh so she wouldn’t flash her vajean as she climbed out of the low vehicle. “Good luck with your life.”
Before she could shut the door, he leaned across the seat. “Hey, if things don’t work out with you two, track me down. I’m sure I’ll be back in the saddle in a few weeks.”
She rolled her eyes and slammed the door, and he peeled out, leaving her on her parents’ doorstep. All the lights were off, which meant they were out for the night.
An unexpected swell of sorrow hit her. Had she actually been hoping to tell them what had happened? Let her mom hug her and her dad promise everything would be okay? God, nothing in her life made sense anymore. The only thing she could think to do was change into her pajamas, crawl into bed, and hope that she’d eventually wake up in Leo’s bed to discover that the past few hours had all been a bad dream.
TWENTY-NINE
Leo had been staring at the laptop screen for so long that the words had started to blur. Conflict of interest. Violation of policies. Recusal. Termination.
The Digham Foundation bylaws made it clear: he was fucked. Everything good in his life was going to slip away because no matter what he chose, he had to give up something he loved.
The slam of the door to the garage and the stampeding of multiple feet pulled him away from his doomscrolling. William found him in the dining room, took one look at his expression, and said, “Jesus, who died?”
“Oh my God, is Mom okay? Dad?”
Thatgot his attention. He blinked. Blinked again. Yep, that was his middle sister Cece standing in the kitchen while their nephews shrieked and ran laps around the island, shouting “Bendición, Uncle Leo!” Because why not? Why not make this shitty day even more chaotic?
“Dios te bendiga,” he called back, still trying to make sense of this invasion of family.
“Oye! Muñeco!” Cece got in his face, snapping her fingers at him. “I asked if our parents are okay. And Abuela?”
“They’re fine,” he said hastily. “Everybody’s fine.”
Cece let out a breath, while William sucked one in. “It’s Faith, isn’t it?”
He nodded miserably, his stomach sinking even more when his sister’s eyes narrowed.
She turned to William. “You guys have video games, right?”
“Nintendo Switch.”
“Sammy! Carlos! Mateo!” The boys stopped shrieking and gathered around their aunt. “William’s going to get you set up to playSuper Smash Brothers. Go. Play. Be quiet. Your uncle and I need to have a talk.”
They whooped and followed William the TV room. Once the decibel level had dropped, Leo was able to think straight enough to ask, “What’s happening right now?”
Cece slumped into a dining room chair with a groan. “Ranger Rick wanted to do a make-up hike after your trip got rained out. Vani had to work, so I volunteered to pick up the boys and be the second adult.”
“Bet you hated that.” His world might be ending, but he could still give his sister shit for her obvious crush on William.
She swished her hair over her shoulder. “It was a sacrifice.” Her face lit up when the man in question reentered the room, and she artfully positioned herself on the edge of the seat with another toss of her hair.
“What happened?” William sat down in the chair opposite Cece, not wasting time on niceties.
His sister’s flirty face dropped, and she folded her arms over her chest with a fierce scowl. “What did the blanquita rica do now?”
