Should’ve Known It’s You (Not You Again #7)

Chapter 53

CHAPTER 53

AUSTIN

I shouldn’t have been angry, but I was. As I had slammed the front door shut behind me, I’d heard the Uber pulling out of the drive and my blood heated as it pulsed through my veins.

After an incredible weekend at Merrick Meadows with the girl I was falling in love with, I didn’t expect to be let down so hard. I hadn’t thought she would be so opposed to allowing me to invest if we were together and I definitely hadn’t expected her to be so freaked out by the amount.

If I could’ve offered her less, I would’ve tried to mitigate the damage by telling her we could start smaller and see how it went, but realistically, that was around where we were going to end anyway. That was how much she needed to turn that place into everything she dreamed of it being and do it without cutting corners or compromising on quality.

Aggravation flowed through me as I stood in the foyer, my fingers rolling into fists and releasing at my sides before doing it all over again. I need to get out of here.

After all that, I couldn’t just get in bed and fall asleep. There was no way I would be able to relax, and I wasn’t interested in tossing and turning for half the night, obsessing about a woman who didn’t know if she wanted me.

It hurt like hell, and I hated not having a shred of control over what was going to happen, but it really was her choice. There was no way I could make this decision for her, which meant my hands were tied.

I was going to go crazy if I just kept standing there, so I grabbed my keys and my jacket, spun around, and headed back out. There was a bar nearby where I could drink my sorrows away, and that sounded like exactly what I needed right then.

It was a tiny little hole-in-the-wall kind of place, with a couple of rickety pool tables in the corner and dim lighting. I strode in and headed directly for the bartender, inclining my chin at a bottle of top shelf whiskey.

“I’ll have a double,” I said. “On the rocks.”

The guy nodded, grabbing a tumbler before turning and sliding the bottle off the shelf to fill my glass. When he pushed it across the counter, I nodded my thanks. “A shot of tequila too, please.”

As I said it, someone sat on the stool beside mine. When I glanced over, I was surprised to see a familiar face. My eyebrows swept up, but I sighed and motioned at the bartender to make that two.

“Tate Donovan,” I said as I wrapped my fingers around my tumbler. “Fancy meeting you here.”

He chuckled. “I’ve been a regular for years. Haven’t seen you around before, though.”

“Yeah, well, I don’t get out much.” I passed one of the tequila shots to him when the bartender brought them over, not even bothering to wait for him to accept it before I brought mine to my lips and tossed it down. “Cheers.”

Tate arched an eyebrow at me, curiosity mingling with concern when I signaled the bartender for another shot. “Is there a reason you’re about to be three drinks deep in a matter of ten minutes?”

“I think I’m about to lose the girl of my dreams.” My chest squeezed when I said the words out loud. I didn’t even know why I’d told Tate, but the words had been right there at the tip of my tongue and I’d needed to say them to someone.

He frowned. “What did you do?”

I laughed dryly. “Typical of you to think that I’m the one who’s done something wrong.”

“In my personal experience, relationships fall apart when you’re an ass,” he said. “At least, that’s what happened with all of mine.”

I sighed. “It doesn’t matter what I did or didn’t do. Surprisingly, this isn’t really about me at all. It’s about Kennedy.”

Tate’s frown deepened, confusion clouding his eyes as he watched me toss back the next shot. “Maybe I’m missing something, but relationships also tend to have two people in them. Something has to have happened if you really think you’re going to lose her.”

“Something did happen,” I grumbled. “I offered her the money she needs to open her hotel and now she feels caught between our relationship and accepting my help to realize her dream. Apparently, we can’t have it both ways.”

“I’m not sure I understand,” he said, his voice hushed before he shook his head. “Why can’t those things exist at the same time? What does your relationship have to do with her hotel?”

“Fuck knows.” I took a long drink of my whiskey, swirling the smooth liquid around in my mouth before I swallowed. “I’m pretty sure we can be together while she’s getting her business up and running, but she doesn’t feel the same way.”

“Aren’t there a lot of people out there who are trying to get businesses up and running while they’re with someone?” His eyes narrowed. “There has to be more to this story, bro. Did you fart during sex? Chicks hate that shit, dude. Trust me.”

I shook my head. “It was nothing like that. I wish I could explain it better, but I really can’t. She’s scared of taking my money while we’re in a relationship. I think she’s afraid that if something goes wrong between us romantically, her business would wind up being collateral damage.”

He was silent for a beat. “Actually, that makes more sense now. If you’re her investor and her boyfriend, things could get pretty messy. Think about it. As much as you try to keep business and pleasure separate, it’s just not going to happen.”

“I know.” The words burned my throat as I forced them out, but obviously, I knew that there could be complications with my plan.

Everything could go completely smoothly and we’d have a happily ever after on every front, which was obviously what I was hoping for, but realistically, there were bound to be bumps in the road. Maybe I was just being impulsive while she was being smart.

I scrubbed a hand across my face. “She’s had this dream since she was a child,” I said, acknowledging it out loud because it felt like something I had to say in order to get my thoughts wrapped around it all. “It’s also got a special place in her heart because it’s something she shared with her late aunt. In that sense, I get why it’s more to her than just a business venture she’s trying to get on its feet.”

“But?” Tate prompted when I stopped talking. “It feels like you’re not quite done with that thought yet.”

“That’s because I’m not,” I said finally. “The thing is that Kennedy is more to me than just another girl, too. I want her to be my future. I want her as my wife and the mother of my children, but I don’t want her to have to give up on her dreams to do that.”

“You should probably tell her that,” he said. “Have you?”

I took another swig of my whiskey. “Have I what?”

He let out an exasperated groan. “Have you told her that you’re all in with her? It might change things if she knows you want your relationship to be long term. There’s a big difference between allowing someone you’re sleeping with to invest in a business you’ve wanted since you were a child, and allowing the same with someone you’re serious about.”

“She knows this is more to me than just a physical thing,” I said.

Tate sighed loudly. “But have you told her? Have you sat her down and said it in so many words that your ultimate aim is to marry her? Who gives a shit if she knows it’s more than just a physical thing? There are a ton of steps between casual fucking on occasion and making her your wife, bro.”

“I can’t find a flaw in your logic.” I drained the rest of my drink, glancing at Tate and wondering if I was just drunk or if he was actually making sense for once in his life. Maybe his new therapist was a miracle worker. “No, I haven’t sat her down and straight up told her any of that. Our relationship has been about more than just casual fucking on occasion for quite a while now, though.”

“Yeah, but again, telling her that in no uncertain terms and just letting her wonder what it is are two very different things. I know you didn’t ask for my advice, but I’m going to give it to you anyway.”

“Advise away, Tate.”

He laughed. “Look, maybe I’m wrong, but knowing that you’re serious about her and that you see a future for you guys might reassure her. She might not be so scared anymore if she knows exactly where you stand. Certainty seems to bring clarity, and if you ask me, both of you desperately need some of that right now.”

“You may not be wrong,” I said, concluding that he was, in fact, very right. Will wonders never cease? I grabbed the shot of tequila that he still hadn’t drank and sucked it down. Then I stood up. “I need to go talk to her.”

“You should probably sober up first,” he said, watching as I pushed the stool back and reached for my wallet to drop a few bills on the bar. “I’m not sure how well she’ll receive it if you tell her these things while you’re drunk. She’ll think it’s Jack Daniels talking.”

“I’m tipsy at best,” I replied, closing my wallet and sliding it back into my pocket. “The sooner I make things right, the better. I’m doing it tonight. Don’t worry, though. I won’t drive. I’ll just order a ride.”

“No, I’ll take you,” he said, motioning at his empty bottle of light beer. “That’s all I had, so I’m good to drive. Let’s go, man. We’ll get you a coffee on the way.”

I sighed but nodded, following him out of the bar and to his car. “Coffee might not be the worst idea you’ve ever had either. But only a quick stop. I need to make this right, Tate. I can’t let her go to sleep thinking that I’ve just given up on us. She needs to know that I’m absolutely not planning on ever letting her go.”