It hits me that I’ve been living and striving for something for such a stupid, obstinate reason, and I am about to lose the love of my life for it.
“Fuck, Mia?—”
“No, I’m not going to fuck you again right now, Luke. That’s not what I’m saying.”
“I know.”
She gives me a small smile. “You don’t have to say anything, Luke. It’s okay. We just kind of want two different things from relationships.”
“We don’t?—”
My phone starts ringing, and I want to ignore it.
“You should answer that.”
“I can get it later.”
“It could be your job. It could be something important.”
“Mia, we’re literally in the middle of a conversation where you said you want me to put you first. I’m not going to answer the phone.”
“Please answer it.”
I take a deep breath and grab the phone. I’m surprised when I see it’s my grandmother’s name on the screen.
“Hey, Grandma. Is everything okay?”
“No,” she says. “It’s not.”
“Wait, what’s wrong?”
“Everything is going to shit. I knew this was going to happen. I just knew it, and we need you. I need you to come right now.”
“What’s going on?”
“It’s Rex.”
“Oh shit. What has he done now?”
“He’s run the business into the ground. He’s overleveraged the company. We owe hundreds of thousands to different creditors. We’ve lost several contracts. We need your help.”
“What?” I frown. “What are you talking about, Grandma?”
I can see Mia looking at me with a curious expression in her eyes.
“Please, you need to come now, Luke.”
“Grandma, I can’t. I’m in the middle of something.”
“We just got notice that we have forty-eight hours to come up with six hundred seventy-five thousand dollars, or we’re going to lose one of the stores, and your great-grandfather started that store. You’re the only one who can help.”
“Why can’t Rex take care of it? He’s the CEO. Dad put him in charge.”
“Please, Luke. I need you to come now.”
“Okay,” I say. “I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Thank you. I love you, grandson.”
