“I need to convince Mom that times have changed. And I’m not some random employee she hired. I’m her son, for God’s sake!”
“Hey, maybe we should take a breath here,” he said, his voice calm and measured. “Helen’s rule about employee relationships is there to protect the resort and everyone who works here.”
I whirled to him, betrayal burning in my chest. “Seriously? You’re taking her side?”
Chase held up his hands. “I’m not taking sides. I’m just trying to provide some perspective, okay?”
I slumped, all the air going out of me like a balloon. “I need to call Jules and tell her we need to be super careful for a couple of weeks. Let this blow over, then things will be fine.”
He stared at me evenly. “Isn’t that what got you into this mess? And how do you think Jules would feel about that idea?”
My anger flared back up as I resumed pacing. “She’ll agree with me. This isn’t a big deal.”
Chase’s brow smoothed, incredulity washing over his face. “This is a pretty goddamn big deal, Eli.”
“You’re saying I should give up on something good because it scares Mom?”
“No. That’s not what I meant.” Chase grabbed my arm to stop my pacing. “Look, man, I know you. When things get tough, you tend to… well, you sabotage yourself. I’m worried you might be doing that now.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
The tension between us crackled like a live current. Chase knew me too well—knew exactly how to push mybuttons. And right now, he was dangerously close to striking a nerve.
“You always do this,” he said softly. “When something matters, you act like it’s a not big deal. That way you don’t have to take responsibility.”
His words hit me like a slap. The accusation stung because deep down, I knew it was true. But admitting that felt like admitting defeat.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about,” I growled, pulling my arm away. “None of you do.”
Without another word, I stormed down the beach, sand kicking up behind me. The sound of the waves against the shore matched the roaring in my ears. My chest felt tight, panic clawing at my insides as the reality of the situation sank in. I could meet with Mom after we’d both had a chance to cool off.
Jules? I needed to talk to her.
But as I reached for my phone, I had no idea what to say. How could I explain this mess? For the first time in years, I felt completely and utterly lost. My trademark charm and easy humor had deserted me, leaving nothing but raw, aching vulnerability in their wake.
I fumbled with my phone, my hands shaking as I pulled up her number. The first ring felt like an eternity. By the third, my heart was pounding against my ribs.
“Come on, Jules,” I muttered, pacing along the shoreline. “Pick up, pick up…”
Voicemail. Damn it.
I hung up and immediately redialed, desperation clawing at my throat. When it went to voicemail again, I called back. Again.
“Please, baby,” I whispered, squeezing my eyes shut.
On the fourth ring of my third attempt, she answered. My breath caught. “Jules? Thank God, I?—”
“What do you want, Eli?” Her voice was ice, sharp enough to slice through my momentary reprieve.
I faltered, thrown by her tone. “I… I wanted to explain. About what happened with my mom?—”
“There’s nothing to explain,” Jules cut in, her words clipped and professional. “It’s clear where things stand.”
My stomach dropped. “No, listen. We can figure this out. We just need to?—”
“We don’t need to do anything,” she interrupted again. “Your mother made her position quite clear. And after thinking about it, I agree with her.”
I stumbled to a halt. I gripped my phone tighter, a horrible tightness clenching in my gut. “You agree? Jules, please. We don’t have to end anything. We can keep this quiet for a while, only until things settle down. Just for a while longer.”
