“This isn’t just about Boyce. I don’t want anyone taking advantage of either of you. And I don’t want a culture of drama around here any more than we already have. Just think about it.”
I hated when he was as logical as he was controlling. “Fine. I’ll think about it.”
“Good. But there is one more thing. We do need to know if you talked to Clay about sharing ownership, Lauren.”
My stomach clenched. Back to this. “No. It was just an idea I was throwing out.” I left before I had to lie harder to cover up what I’d done. In my worry about losing my chance to say something, I’d forgotten Clay’s fear that I would—that I would try to micromanage his career. I stumbled to my truck and got in, throwing my bag across the seat. Why hadn’t I asked for more time first instead of immediately mentioning Clay? Now I was clinging to a hope that nobody would talk to him about it unless they planned to bring him into ownership. I had just gambled with Clay’s future, and there wasn’t a thing I could do to fix it. Clay was going to hate me, and for once, it would be justified.
I drove home at a snail’s pace, my mind so caught up in the meeting I passed streets without remembering the drive at all. It was freaky and frustrating, and I drove like a grandma just to be on the safe side. I carefully pulled into my parking spot in the apartment complex and ran upstairs.
Jenny was sitting at the kitchen table eating grapes. I ran to her and hugged her from behind, which made her laugh until she turned and saw my face.
“What’s the matter? You look like someone picked you last for kickball.”
“Never happened. I’m a kickball champion.”
She wrinkled her nose. “Good for you, blondie. But seriously, what’s the matter?”
I plopped into the chair next to her and stole a grape from her bowl only to put it back, earning me a glare. I had very high grape standards. No squishiness whatsoever.
Jenny picked it up and examined it before tossing it into the garbage. “I don’t know what this grape did to offend you, but I’m not eating your cast-offs.”
“I’m really wishing today that I had a punch-the-clock kind of job. One where you go home and think your boss is the worst, and don’t have to feel guilty about it because it’s nothing personal. Like when you’re a kid and you think your teacher lives at school. No life beyond what you see. That’s how I want to see my boss.”
“What did your dad do this time?”
“Tried to pass on his hopes and dreams. Apparently there are a lot of tax implications and rules associated with that.”
“Ah, the ownership thing. What sort of rules does he want you to follow in exchange for the keys to the kingdom?”
“Promising to never date an employee of the company.”
Jenny leaned forward and studied me. “And you want to date somebody there? Who?”
“I don’t want to date anyone there. I just don’t want to be told I can’t.”
“Not even Clay?”
“No, I don’t want to date Clay.”
“Except you’re going over to his house tonight, right?” Jenny looked pleased with herself.
“He’s forcing me to make him cookies. It’s not a date. It’s actually payment for agreeing to go on a date with someone else.”
“A date with someone else, but with you,” Jenny clarified. “A double date.”
I stood up and paced around the kitchen. “I should just call the whole thing off, shouldn’t I? I’ll call Noble right now and tell him never mind.”
Jenny tossed a grape at me, which bounced off my shirt and rolled across the kitchen floor. “Is it rude if I ask you to pick that up for me? I just wanted to get your attention.” She laughed at my deadpan stare and jumped up to get it herself. “Lauren, if you’re not ready for ownership, you don’t have to do this. You’re twenty-three, and you have your whole life ahead of you. Just say you’re not ready.”
“Except my dad wants to plan it all now before Parker or I get married and our future spouses have a say and money ruins everything.”
“Man, your dad is such a downer. And I get it. The business means everything to him. But does it mean everything to you?”
“I used to think it did. Now, I’m not sure.” I got out a frozen dinner and studied the instructions before popping it in the microwave. Jenny was right. I didn’t have to have all the answers today. I didn’t even have to know why I was going over to make cookies for a person I had no intention of dating. Sometimes, people just wanted to make cookies and eat them, without any ulterior motives.
19
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