Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80892 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 404(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
“Um… my truck?”
Even as I said the words, I was pretty sure what Will’s response was going to be, and I felt a sinking sensation in my stomach as one more door seemed to be closing in front of me.
“No, that’s not going to work, unfortunately.” Will’s voice sounded almost as grim as I was feeling. Whether it was because of my dwindling options or because of everything else that was going on in his life, I wasn’t sure. But it definitely wasn’t reassuring.
“I don’t think I could offer you a loan of any amount that would actually be useful.”
Fuck.
This wasn’t how I had imagined our conversation going.
I tried to stay calm, though. Maybe there was something else, something I just hadn’t thought of yet. Will was the expert, so if anything could be done, he would make it happen.
“What do I do?” I asked, not caring at all if I sounded desperate. “The debt my dad left me with—the hospital bills, the credit cards—all of it is crushing me, man. I feel like I’m suffocating here, and I need some help.”
“I know, and I’m sorry.” Will sounded sincere, even though he wasn’t saying the words I had hoped to hear. “If you had a couple more quarters—six months, or better, a year—of healthy profit, I might have a little more wiggle room. But right now? The numbers just don’t add up, Brady. Do you want my honest opinion?”
“Yes, please,” I answered without hesitating. That was all I wanted, all I could hope for at this point.
“Take the offer. Get as much money as you can—ideally enough to pay off everything you owe and still have a little left over—and get the hell out of this shitty town. I always envied you for getting out while you were young enough to do something with your life. Once you sell that shop, you won’t have any ties to Castle Falls anymore. Nothing will be holding you back. You’ll be free.”
If I had heard those words six weeks ago, they would have been music to my ears. Now, though? Hearing that I didn’t have any ties to Castle Falls, hearing that I didn’t have a reason to stay anymore felt like a knife to the heart.
And knowing it was true made it hurt even more.
“You should never be jealous of me,” I said, meaning it. “All those years I spent running, and look where it got me. I’m damn near thirty years old and it’s all I know how to do.” I sucked in a ragged breath. “But thank you for talking to me. I can’t pretend I’m happy with what you’ve said, but I guess I needed to hear it.”
“I’m sorry to have to be so blunt, Brady. You know I’d help if I could.”
“No need to apologize,” I said, regretting that I’d bothered Will just to confirm what I had already suspected—that I was completely and totally fucked. “I’m sorry for bothering you… and about Jamie. You’re a good guy and a good friend, and you don’t deserve that shit.”
“You’re right. I don’t. Thanks, Brady. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up the phone and closed my eyes as I leaned back in the creaky chair. That conversation hadn’t gone nearly as well as I had hoped.
There really was just one option—one sensible thing to do. I hated it, but… what fucking choice did I have?
I opened my eyes and dialed the number that was on the top of the paper in front of him, grimacing when that too-nice, too-eager voice answered on the first ring.
“Brady? I didn’t think I’d hear from you so soon. I hope you’ve got good news for me.”
I grimaced. Yeah, it would be good news for Mike, but for me? It was ripping my heart out.
Joanne had already ended what we had, though, and I was out of options. Ten years in the NFL had taught me how to take on the opposition—but fighting for love?
I’d tried, and I’d failed. I just didn’t know how.
Maybe it would hurt less after it was done. Then I could walk—no, run—away as quickly as possible. Just like I had the last time Castle Falls had broken my heart.
I took a deep breath, then said the words I’d been fighting since the moment I’d arrived in Castle Falls… the ones that hadn’t felt right since the moment I’d met Joanne.
But, unfortunately, the only words I had left.
“I’m ready to sell, Mike. Now.”
Chapter Thirty-Six - Brady
I had barely eaten, had barely slept in the twenty-four hours since Joanne had stormed out of the office, since I’d spoken with Will, and then with Mike.
Since I’d tried and failed to find an alternative to selling the shop.
I’d spent the whole afternoon, then the whole night trying to convince myself that it was the right decision, that it was for the best. That it was what I had to do.