I sigh, knowing there wasn’t a chance in hell.
“See?” he says, spreading his arms wide as if proving a point.
“No, I don’t see. What in the hell are you talking about?”
“Just that there are different kinds of love. And I guess not all of us can be lucky enough to find what you and Kenna have.”He tilts his head. “Assuming it’s reciprocal. You think she feels the same way about you?”
My eyes close briefly. “Brother, I’ve been asking myself that all week. She says she loves me. And she claims she doesn’t want me changing my life for her. But…shit… now that you said what you did, my head is all over the place.”
He grips my shoulder. “I’m sure she does. If she didn’t jump at the chance to have you sacrifice everything for her, it can only mean one of two things: she’s head-over-heels, or she thinks it’s just a casual fling.”
“It’s not a casual fling. No fucking way does she believe that.”
“Well then, I guess you have your answer.” He scrubs a hand across his jaw. “Damn… you think what Tiffany and I have is nothing more than an extended casual fling? Since I’m not willing to go to the lengths you have?”
“I don’t know, man. Onlyyoucan answer that.”
“Maybe we should get hitched.”
I guffaw loudly. “You think getting married will make you fall more deeply in love?”
He shrugs. “It was just a thought.”
Now I’m the one gripping his shoulder. “Linc, when you get married, it should be more than ‘just a thought.’ If you aren’t willing to throw yourself in front of a bus for her, maybe she’s not the right girl.”
“Eh. I’d probably throw myself in front of a bus for her. You’ve seen her rack, right? And, damn, she’s good in bed.”
“How about you don’t go doinganythingrash. Like stepping in front of busesorbuying rings?”
He laughs. “I guess I’ll leave all that stupid love shit to you, big brother.”
The alarm on my phone goes off. “I’ve got to go clean up. I have a meeting at the bank.”
“Jesus, you’re really doing this?”
“I promised Kenna I wouldn’t do anything yet. But that doesn’t mean I can’t have all my ducks in a row for when the time comes.”
“And when might the time come?”
“Soon.” I stand and push the stool away. “Very soon.”
~ ~ ~
Twenty minutes later, I’m sitting across from John Walker, my jaw in my lap as I try to process what he just told me.
“What do you mean the loan has been satisfied?”
John looks confused. “You aren’t aware?”
“Does this look like the face of someone who knows he just paid off a quarter-million-dollar loan? I’m not crazy, John.”
“Wow. Okay. So, I can honestly say, in my thirty years in the business, this has never happened before.”
I cross my arms. “Who in the hell paid it?”
“Let me check the records.” He clicks around on his computer for a few minutes, hemming and hawing the entire time. “It was paid by cashier’s check.” His brow furrows. “Huh. This is strange.”
“What’s strange?”
