Chapter 1
Talon
Pushover. People Pleaser.Soft.
These words get thrown at me often, and I absolutely hate them. Is it such a crime to have an empathetic heart? Tobethe change you want to see in the world?
“How many more chances are you going to give her, Tal?” my sister Eloise asks as she refills her water glass from the dispenser in my fridge, while our brother Lukas crosses his arms over his chest, waiting for my answer.
Eloise, Lukas, and I all live in penthouse apartments close to Central Park. We actually wanted to live in the same building, but our parents vetoed our request for the safety of our company, stating all their eggs couldn’t literally be placed in the same basket.
But the three of us are usually together anyway.
“I don’t know. She’s not so bad,” I reply.
Eloise props a hand on her hip and gives me a ‘yeah, right’look.
“Not so bad?” our brother chimes in. “Tal, she literallybought herselfan engagement ring so the rumors would start.”
Okay, I wasn’t a huge fan of that.
“I know, butfuck,” I whine, running a hand through my hair while waving my other at my brother. “You have Annie, and you,” I motion toward Eloise, “are happier alone. I’m just lonely. Neither of you has any idea how hard it is to find someone who loves you foryouand not for your net worth.”
It’s harsh, but true.
Eloise doesn’t know because she isn’t looking for love, and Annie and Lukas were best friends, totally inseparable as kids, way before trust funds and social expectations were impressed upon them. They’ve just genuinely enjoyed each other’s company their entire lives. None of us were shocked when they said they were dating, nor when they announced their engagement. Thankfully, Annie’s parents are good friends of ours, and they run in the same social and financial circles, meaning there was no objection to the relationship.
Eloise, on the other hand, well, we don’t go into details, but my delightful sister is more of the hit-it-and-quit-it type. She enjoys passionate flings. She also likes going home alone and doing whatever the fuck she pleases without answering to anyone.
There’s still pressure for marriage and children, but with the birth of Annie and Lukas’s third child, our parents have backed off slightly. Plus, they’re still counting onmyfuture children to carry on our name and our company alongside Luke’s.
“Youwillfind someone, Tal. You’re still young,” Lukas answers.
“I’mthirty-two,” I grumble.
It’s not old, but it’s not exactly young, either.
Eloise laughs. “You may be thirty-two, but you look twenty-two,” she says, playfully slapping my clean-shaven face.
“Great. So, I’ll just pick up a sorority girl for the nextcharity gala. I’m sure Mom and Dad would really appreciate that.”
Lukas lets out a bark of laughter. “Ohmygod, please do it. But when that backfires, Annie has a great group of friends. A couple of them are single. I could see if any of them are interested?” Lukas offers. “At least you’d know they weren’t just after a payday.”
“Could we get back on track here?” Eloise says.
“I’ve forgotten what track that is,” I admit.
“You need to break up with Dahlia. I know you want to find forever, but trust me, Tal, she isn’t it.”
I can’t even argue. I know Eloise is right, but Dahlia checks so many boxes. She’s local, comes from a high-society family, has a decent amount of her own money, and she’s hot. Of course, shedoesdip more than one toe into the tabloid scene, and she thrives on drama, which is not my thingat all.She falls asleep at the theater, can’t name a single original actor fromHamilton, and would rather hit the spa than the slopes, but relationships are about compromise, right?
Unfortunately, even the sex is run-of-the-mill, and ever since she pulled that stunt with the ring, I’m concerned she may take it even farther by trying to get pregnant, which has me pulling out, despite wearing a condom the occasional times we actually end up being intimate.
I can’t tell you the last time I actually finishedwith,in, or evenonmy partner, for fear of getting slapped with a paternity test nine months later.
Money makes people crazy.
“Dahlia,” I sigh, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Right.”
