Billion Dollar Revenge (The Lincoln Brothers #2)

31. Chapter 31

Chapter 31

Evan

It’s Saturday, and I’ve already run ten miles with Harvey, worked for an hour, gone to the gym, eaten, and showered. But when I check my watch, I curse…it’s only nine fifty-five.

What am I going to do now?

I pace my home office, running my hand through my hair, trying to decide how to spend the rest of today. I can’t work, because it just brings back memories of her, and I’m giving her the space she needs.

Needing someone familiar and wise, I grab my keys and head to my car. I know exactly who I need to see.

After the short drive, I arrive at her house, but she’s napping. For a brief moment, I think about leaving, but the smell of fresh bread and the comforting familiarity of her furniture make me want to stay. I take a seat on the sofa and find something to watch.

I must have drifted off to sleep because, in my dreams, Chelsea is there?happy?and we’re together.

“Evan?” a voice calls out.

I blink my eyes open, and reality hits me hard as I remember where I am. Chelsea isn’t here, and we’re no longer together.

I sit up and walk over to Gram, kissing her cheek as she maneuvers her walker to her usual spot to take a seat.

“Can I get you anything, Gram?”

“No, but you’re staying for lunch, right?’

“Yes, I hear today’s the classic chicken noodle soup.”

She nods. “I feel like I’m coming down with something, so I asked for it.”

My stomach drops with worry. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, just a cold.”

“Enough about me. How are you?”

I drop my gaze to my hands clutched in front of me and let out a heavy sigh. “Alright, I guess…”

My gaze lifts back to her assessing one. Her eyebrows lift high to her freshly brushed grey hair. “What does ‘I guess’ mean?”

My eyes shift to the garden, where Chelsea had formally met Gram. I watched from inside, in awe of how effortlessly they chatted. Then, at the next Sunday family dinner, Gram told me how lovely Chelsea was.

I brought Chelsea into my life, so I feel like I owe it to Gram to tell her what’s happened.

“Chelsea asked for space.”

“That’s not good. What happened?” she asks, crossing her ankles and settling back into the sofa.

“She wants marriage and kids.”

Gram smiles.

She actually fucking smiles.

“What’s that look for?” I ask.

“Get over your fear,” she replies simply, but that only has my nerves heightening.

“How do I do that?”

“You try. Do you give up at work if on the first try you fail?”

“No,” I say tentatively.

“Well, relationships are no different.”

I remain silent, mind spinning, so she continues.

“Is she worth fighting for?”

I nod without a second’s hesitation. “Definitely. But I don’t know if I can give her what she needs.”

“Let’s try something. Close your eyes.”

I follow her order, then she continues talking. “Now picture her married to someone else and baring another man’s child.”

My eyes snap open, my temperature rising, turning my nerves to a raging mix of longing and jealousy.

“Close them, Evan,” she warns.

“I don’t want to see it.”

“But if you don’t get over your fear, that’s what will happen. She’s an intelligent, kind, strong, beautiful woman who deserves a man who loves and trusts her.”

I squeeze my neck, tension building there as I wrestle with what to do.

“Is she someone you want to lose and let someone else marry?”

“No, but?”

“There’s no ‘but.’ It’s either you let her in, or you let her go…forever.”

A life without Chelsea. Her married to someone else? Baring someone else's child. No fucking chance. I curl my fingers into a fist, and I swallow the curse that’s sitting on the tip of my tongue.

Gram gives me a knowing smile. “Don’t let that good woman go, E. You’ll regret it for the rest of your life.”

I sit up straighter. “I won’t, Gram.” And as I say it, I feel it in my bones, the truth of it.

“Make sure you do something special for her.”

“Well, I actually have an idea, but I need you, Mom, Dad, Oliver, Jeremy, and Harvey too.

Her eyes light up, her excitement palpable. “What is it?”