The fact of the matter is, I realize I can’t come first in every single situation. I just want to feel like I have no chance of losing him.
“So, what exactly is it that you want me to do?” Rex says, speaking up, sounding like a petulant kid.
“I need you to step down,” Luke says, running his fingers through his hair and staring at his brother. “I need you to check your ego. I need you to stop acting like you’re the fucking boss of everything and that you know everything because you obviously don’t. This is our family company. Our parents rely on the income that we make. Grandma and Granddad rely upon the pension they receive. You rely upon it. Your family will rely upon it.”
Andi looks nervous. “Is there a possibility that you’re going to have no money, Rex?”
“It’s fine, Andi,” he says in a tense tone.
“Because I didn’t sign up for no money and I certainly didn’t sign up for you …” She pauses as Rex gives her a deafening glare. She presses her lips together and stares at me.
I frown slightly because she looks miserable. She looks absolutely miserable, which is not the way a new bride should be looking. I don’t say anything though because it’s not my place, and she and I aren’t really friends. But I’m curious as to what is going on between her and Rex and what the conversation about being pregnant meant.
“You just had to come in and save the day,” Rex says. “You just had to be Batman or Superman or whoever the fuck.”
Luke shakes his head and looks over at me. I blow him a kiss, and he gives me a warm smile. I smile back at him.
I look up and notice that his grandma is staring at me, and there’s a pleading expression on her face, which I find surprising, given the fact that she may have to sell her house and leave the island with no money.
“Look, I can take care of everything,” Luke says. “I can pay off the outstanding loans, and I can help turn the company around, but”—he pauses—“I’m just really exhausted right now. Physically, mentally, emotionally. I want to help everyone, but I do not trust Rex to still be in charge of the company.”
“You just want to be CEO!” Rex screams. “That’s all you’ve ever wanted. You’ve wanted to take my place. You’re probably happy that this has happened.”
“Do not talk to your brother like that,” Mr. Haverbrook says, and I’m shocked because I’ve barely heard the man speak ten words in the time I’ve known him. But I’m not interested in football, so we never really had much to chat about. It’s a pity though.
“What?” even Rex and Luke both say in shocked tones. Neither one of them has ever heard him speaking up for Luke. I think the world is about to end because this is something that I’d never expected to see.
“What are you saying, Dad?” Rex sounds like an unsure kid. He looks confused and defeated and for a moment, I almost feel sorry for him. But then I think back to how he’s treated Luke their entire lives. And how he’s spoken to me. And how he’s treated Andi. He’s a jerk and he doesn’t deserve my pity.
“I made a mistake. You don’t have a head for business like your brother. I’m sorry, son.”
He looks over at Luke. “I’ve been unfair to you, and I regret it. I’ve noticed that Rex has not been handling this well, and I would love your help turning this around.”
“So, what, you’re just giving him the company now?” Rex says. “Thanks, Dad.”
“No,” Luke says. “We can be co-CEOs. I can help you. I can maybe mentor you, teach you, give you some?—”
“You’re going to mentor me?” Rex laughs. “Are you fucking kidding? I would listen to you for advice? You loser.”
“I don’t think he’s the loser, Rex,” I say loudly, then press my lips together because this is maybe not the time and the place for me to get involved.
“It’s up to you, but if you continue running the company the way you have been, there will be no company. You have to see that.”
Rex looks stunned for a couple of moments, but he nods. “I can’t do this anymore.” He jumps up and storms to the side of the room. He looks around the room and starts laughing like a hyena. I wonder if he’s lost it and is finally cracking. It wouldn’t surprise me. “I’m sorry, but I can’t do this shit.” He stands there like he’s waiting for someone to console him, but everyone in the room is too shocked to say anything.
“You can’t do what?” Andi jumps up and she’s looking more enraged than I’ve ever seen her in my life. I almost wish I could take myphone out and livestream. This is DRAMA and the girls in my friend group would salivate to watch this live. The thought immediately makes me feel guilty. I shouldn’t want to share this with anyone. But man, the room feels like the set of a daytime soap right now. “What can’t you do, Rex?” She screams and I look over at Luke, who’s expression is as equally shocked as mine is. His lip twists up at the side and I press my lips together.
“What do you think, Andi?” His sarcastic voice would make me slap him, but she resists. She’s stronger than me, that’s for sure.
“Don’t talk to me like that.”
“Like what?” He sneers.
“It’s off.” She looks over at me and I freeze. Had I caused this? Holy cow, batman, was she going to blame me for this?
“What’s off?”
“The engagement is over, Rex. The wedding is off.” There’s dead silence in the room. You could hear a pin drop if someone happened to be sewing. My jaw drops as she walks over to him and presses her finger into his chest. “You and me are done.”
