Page 7 of Forever Only Once
My sister seemed to know exactly what I was sometimes feeling. Considering that it had always been my job to make sure I knew what she felt when she needed to go to the hospital, or when she just needed an extra pair of hands, it was nice that it worked both ways.
I answered the phone and smiled. “Hey there.”
“Hi, big brother. I’m just checking in on you because I know you said you had a massive project due and wouldn’t be able to come over for dinner later.”
“I was just taking my break. It’s as if you’re watching me.” I paused, looking around. “You’re not like actually watching me right now, are you? Like creepily?”
“Shush. You’re the overprotective creeper.”
“Ouch. Anyway, I know you and Liam have a project coming up, too.” Liam was Arden’s former-model husband, an author and therefore one of my sister’s clients, and a decent guy. If he weren’t, I’d have already beaten his ass. However, he worshiped the ground that Arden walked on, and was a protective asshole just like I was. We got along.
“Yes, Liam’s on deadline, and so am I. Thankfully, on different books. He’s leaving on tour tomorrow, though.”
“I remember. I’ll be there to help you move those few things we talked about. Things get rough in the house when you’re both working on the same series, then?” I asked.
Arden was a virtual assistant and book researcher. I wasn’t exactly sure how it all worked. All I knew was that she made sure she got the history and research right for her authors. That way, there was always someone double-checking and keeping timelines and facts straight. I hadn’t known it was a real job until she started making good money and could finally afford her health insurance. And the fact that my baby sister had lupus meant that she needed some fucking good health insurance.
“We tend to snipe at each other if we’re working on the same project. But I’m working on a legal thriller, while he’s working on the first book in a new series.”
“A new series? That’s a big thing,” I said, actually interested. Liam was a New York Times bestselling author of a series that put out one book a year, each taking about that long to write. It took a shit ton of research and traveling to get it all done, and I honestly loved the books. Not that I let Liam know that all the time.
“We mentioned that, didn’t we?” Arden asked.
“I just didn’t realize it was this book.”
“This isn’t even a spinoff. It’s a whole new start. It’s a little daunting, and I know Liam’s worried. But I’m sure he’ll do great. His readers will follow him. Maybe he’ll even get some new ones.”
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” I said, being truthful. “I should probably pre-order.”
“You should. Because you’re not getting anything free.” She paused. “You know I’m kidding, right? Because you can get anything you want from us. Liam said you’re welcome to shop his closet for any book you need.”
“I’m not taking advantage of my baby sister.”
“You’re never taking advantage. We’re family. And family that I like. So, you’re welcome to have a book. Now, I called to check on you, but it seems we’re just talking about Liam and me. I love that you constantly do that,” she said. I didn’t think she actually loved it.
“Doing fine, just on a break.”
“Is your table giving you trouble?” she asked, no hint of irony in her voice. I was grateful for that. My family got my job, but not everyone else did.
“Not really. Mostly, it’s Chris.” I whispered the words, knowing that my partner likely wouldn’t be able to hear, but I was still careful. I didn’t want to start another fight.
“What are you going to do? You guys are fighting more than ever lately, and I don’t even really like him anymore. I mean, he used to be a good guy. I don’t know…he just gives me the creeps now.”
I scowled. “What?”
“It’s nothing. He and I don’t talk, which is a good thing because he rubs me the wrong way. Not physically. I don’t know. He just seems like an asshole, I guess. Which isn’t the nicest thing to say about your business partner, but here we are.”
“I feel you.” I pinched the bridge of my nose. “I don’t know what I’m going to do. But something needs to change soon. I mean, I wonder if I’m going to have to figure out a way to either get out of this business entirely, buy him out, or start a new one on my own. I don’t know, it all sounds like a fucking hassle, and a shit ton of money I don’t have.”
“We’ll find a way to help you if you need it,” Arden said, and I scowled.
“I’m not taking money from my baby sister and her husband.”
It didn’t matter that Liam was a fucking millionaire, I wasn’t going to take money from them.
“You have given up so much to help me throughout the years. So, don’t even. And Liam and I were already talking about it, so it’s not like I’m just throwing money at you without talking to my husband first.”
Somehow, I scowled even harder. “You and Liam talked about this?”