dumbest bullshit I’ve ever heard.”
“In the end, when she finds the right man for her, she will.”
“In the end, where will you be? Alone, in your self-pity hell? You’ll regret turning your back on a woman who’d fight any battle for you, who dealt with your demons as if they were her own, who was willing to walk down the darkest roads to be with you … all while you were still playing games with her head. If you don’t get your dumbass up and go to the hospital, it’ll be the biggest mistake of your life.”
I do what I do best—stay quiet.
He stands. “You coming?”
“Nah.”
He blows out a stressed breath and nods. “Whatever, but keep in touch with me. Even if it’s a simple emoji or I’m still alive text, I want it.”
45
Georgia
One Week Later
“Georgia,” Lincoln says when he walks into the bar.
I stare at him with the dirtiest look I can muster. “Unless you’re here to tell me where the hell your bastard of a brother is, I’m not speaking to you.”
He knows where Archer is but won’t tell anyone.
There’s been no word from him.
The first few days, I called and texted.
No response.
So, I stopped.
What I want to say to him needs to be said in person.
Lincoln has covered his shifts.
I told Cohen to fire his ass—even though I knew Cohen wouldn’t go through it.
It’s not Lincoln’s fault his brother is a spineless jerk, but all I need is an address. An address to march my butt over to, so I can deliver the hardest kick in the balls my little body can muster.
Provide him temporary pain to ease my eternal hurt.
“Archer asked me to give you this.” He holds out an envelope to me.
I stare at the envelope as if it’s filled with anthrax. “What Archer needs to do is grow some balls, face me, and tell me why he left me.”
Lincoln thrusts the envelope closer. “Archer doesn’t always do what he needs to do. You know this.”
“What’s his plan then?” Cassidy asks, sitting back in her chair and crossing her arms. “He’s just never coming back?”
“I think that’s his plan,” Lincoln mutters.
Cassidy’s eyes widen. “What about you? Are you leaving too?”
Lincoln shrugs. “I have no idea. Now, take the envelope.”
“What’s in it?” I glare at it.
“He didn’t say. Only asked me to give it to you.” He holds up his hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger.”
I snatch it from his hand, and their eyes are on me as I rip it open. Papers are folded inside. I jerk them out as if they’d stolen today’s coffee and unfold them, and then my mouth turns dry as I read his bullshit letter.
Georgia,
I’m sorry.
Fifty percent of the bar is yours.
Do what you want with it. Sell it to Cohen or be a partner but make yourself happy.
Archer
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” I hiss, glaring at Lincoln. “Tell me where he is.”
Lincoln shakes his head. “No can do, babe.”
“Goddamn it, Lincoln!” I shriek, tossing the letter onto the table. “Forget your stupid loyalty for one damn minute and tell me where he is.” I flick the letter away. “He’s trying to sign over the bar to me.”
“What?” he sputters out.
I jerk my head toward the letter. “Read it.”
He does, slamming it down when he’s finished, and exhales a frustrated breath. “He’s at our grandparents’ lake house.”
Okay, I know where that is.
Kinda.
Not really.
I could pick it out of a line of houses, but no way can I just drive there.
I played passenger when I went with Archer and was too busy introducing him to every TLC song to pay attention to where exactly we were going.
“Address, please,” I say.
He gives me a good one look.
“Directions.”
“Fine, fine, but don’t say I’m the one who gave it to you.”
Cassidy chuckles. “There’s no way you’re getting out of this one.” She slaps his arm. “Think of it as your good deed of the day.”
He peers over at Cassidy, fighting back a smile. “Listen, youngster, don’t you have some frat boy’s heart to break or Barbies to play with?”
She flips him off. “Don’t you need to go find your vitamins to keep your bones strong and pick up your Viagra from the pharmacy?”
Lincoln stares at me. “Georgia, since you might be the new part owner, fire her ass.”
Cassidy throws her head back. “Lincoln, dear, the chances of you being fired are much higher than mine since you’re related to the devilish heartbreaker.”
Cassidy has made it her mission to get under Lincoln’s skin, and as