Page 73 of Rough

“On my land,” I said, dropping the bombshell.

Garret didn’t know anything about my inherited land, until now. He knew that my uncle had left me his estate, but that was it.

Garret firmed his jaw and his bottom lip twitched. He looked like he was going to lash out at me.

“I wanted to tell you; I just didn’t have the perfect opportunity yet—”

Garret didn’t speak.

“I wanted to make sure I had everything ready for you before I came to you with the proposal. I swear that this was the first meeting I’ve had with them. They just made it so easy and seamless.”

“How so?” Garret pitched a cynical eyebrow.

“Everyone is willing to be speedy with complying about getting the permits,” I said. “If you decide that building a new club is the best option for you.”

Garret stared at the blueprints for the new building, then lifted his gaze to stare at me skeptically.

“I don’t want you to rush into it,” I said. “Just think about it. There is no pressure.” I chuckled at the irony of my statement. “Well, there is pressure, because who knows what tricks Nelson has up his sleeve next, but I don’t want you to jump into something you aren’t comfortable with.”

Garret pondered. He swayed back and forth in his swivel chair and it made a squeaky noise that sliced through the otherwise quiet room.

“I guess… I could think about it.”

I breathed out a deep sigh of relief. My tactic to approach the subject gently had worked. It was clear that as long as Garret didn’t feel backed into a corner and patronized, he was willing to yield. As long as he bent a little bit, I was grateful for the progress.

“Thank you. That’s all I’m asking for.” I gave him a heartfelt smile and squeezed his hand from across the desk.

He didn’t pull away, but he did flinch slightly, bruising my ego.

“You had this land… you got it from your uncle?”

“Yes.” I nodded.

“And you’re willing to give it… to me?” He cast me a doubtful glance. “No strings attached?”

“I want to do everything in my power to help you get yourself out of this mess,” I said. It was the open and honest truth.

Garret smirked. “It sounds like you pity me.”

My heart plummeted into my stomach and sat there like a heavy rock. I vigorously shook my head. My cheeks felt hot.

“No, that’s not it at all—”

“I don’t need to be anyone’s charity case,” Garret said. His eyes were red when he looked away.

“Garret,” I whispered, feeling compelled to tell him exactly how I felt, whether he was ready to hear it or not. The time had come, and I couldn’t keep my emotions contained another second.

“What?” His eyes were bloodshot with unshed tears.

I knew he was fuming that I had offered him my land. Garret was a proud person. He didn’t want to take any handouts. It was something in his character that I admired but now wasn’t the time for him to prove a point.

“I offered you the land because I want to be your equal partner, not just in this, but in all things. I want to do life with you.” I locked eyes with him and refused to look away.

As determined as he was to save face and stand up to bullies, I was equally determined to get through to him about how important he was to me.

“Garret, don’t you get it?” My eyes stung with tears and my nose burned. “I am doing all these things to help you because I’m in love with you.”

There, I had said it. I had laid it all out on the line and the relief was tremendous.