Page 213 of This Woman Forever
“Shut up,” she hisses, nudging Dan in the back. “You’re keeping quiet. Have you nothing to say?”
“See what I have to deal with?” I mutter, absorbing the impact of her fierce scowl.
“Speak,” she orders, smacking Dan’s shoulder. “What’s going on?”
I don’t know why he’s looking at me. I can’t save him, and after his obnoxious performance out there, I don’t want to. Have at him, baby. “I’m broke,” he grates, jaw rolling, his pride taking another hit. “Jesse’s agreed to help me out.”
“You asked?”
“No, he offered,” he says, eyes still on me. That’s a slight stretch of the truth, but I expect he’d happily share the fact that I told him to fuck off back to Australia and never come back—making this money more of a bribe—so I let him have it. “And there were no strings attached. Until ten minutes ago.”
“You’re bribing my brother?” Ava gasps. “You’ve paid him to keep quiet?”
“No,” I breathe. “I’ve lent him some money and added a little clause to the contract at a later date.”
“What about the surf school?” she asks, making Dan shrink and me laugh under my breath. “And why haven’t you asked Mum and Dad? They would’ve lent you some money.”
I look at my wife, sympathetic. I like Joseph a lot, respect him, but we all know the level of Dan’s fuck-ups are way past his ability to fix.
“We’re not talking a few quid, Ava.” Dan drops his gaze, shame creeping up. “I’m up to my eyeballs. I’ve got myself a massive loan to fund my share of the business and my partner did a runner with it. I’m fucked.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?”
“Why do you think? I was turned over, Ava. I have nothing left.”
She looks at me, her eyes sad and full of concern. Which is exactly why I wanted her away from this mess. “How much?” she asks. Fuck. “Five thousand? Ten thousand?” Jesus fucking Christ. “Tell me.”
“Just a few,” Dan blurts.
He’s fucking hoping. She wants specifics. “Jesse?” she questions.
“I’m sorry, Dan,” I breathe, pushing my fingertips into my temples. He may not believe it, but I truly am. Not for him. Only for Ava. “I’m not lying to her. Two hundred, baby.”
Her head recoils, her body jerks, and she starts to wobble before my eyes. I’m out of my chair like a bullet. “Damn it, Ava,” I hiss, steadying her. “Are you okay? Are you dizzy?” She looks dizzy. “Do you want to sit down?”
“Two hundred thousand?” she gasps. “What sort of bank lends two hundred thousand?” Color rises in her face, and despite knowing it’s rage, I’m glad to see it. Color draining might mean passing out. “I’m fine,” she barks, her cheeks flaming red, her hands fighting me off.
“Don’t push me away, Ava,” I warn, guiding her to a chair and getting her arse on it. She might not look like she’s going to faint, but she’s not heard the whole tale yet. “Don’t be getting your knickers in a twist, lady,” I snap, throwing Dan a dark look. “It’s not healthy.”
“My blood pressure is fine. Two hundred thousand? No bank in their right mind would lend that sort of money for a surf school.”
“No, you’re right,” Dan’s mutters. “A loan shark would, though.”
“Oh my God.” She covers her face with her hands. “What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking, Ava.”
“Is that the only reason you came home?” she asks, a certain edge of hurt in her words. Her older brother, her hero, her friend. He’s let her down.
So it’s a damn good job I’m in her life. And Dan’s for that matter, or he’d be dead.
“They’re looking for me. You don’t get away with non-payment with these types.”
“You said you were doing well,” she says in disbelief. “Just stay here. Don’t go back.”
I knew she’d say that.
Dan’s face softens. It’s a new look on him, and only for his sister. “Ava, if I don’t go back, they will come here. I’ve already been warned, and I believe it. I’m not putting Mum, Dad or you at risk a?—”