too well.
“I thought she would come back to my room, but she didn’t. Probably got off shift early. I’m sure she’d be interested in giving me a checkup.” He chuckles to himself at his crude joke.
“Mila Burns?” I ask.
Cole stops laughing. “She was your nurse too?”
I nod.
His eyes light up. “We haven’t competed for a woman in a long time. Not since high school. This could be fun.”
“You already lost. I kissed her.” And got her fired. Most likely, ended her college career. But I don’t tell him that.
He smiles like I just said the greatest thing in the world. “I don’t believe you.”
I walk over to the expansive window and look out at the city below. So many people are walking, going through their regular, ordinary days. Hoping they make enough money to make it through the next day. I would give anything to be them.
“It doesn’t matter if you believe me, it’s true.”
Cole studies me closely. “Are you saying she’s off limits then?”
“No, I don’t care. Fuck her. I got what I wanted from her.”
He shakes his head, muttering under his breath.
“But I do want to pay you back,” I say.
“There is nothing you can do to pay me back.”
“I could sell you my company.”
He sighs. “I don’t have enough money to buy your company even if I wanted to, which I don’t. How is that paying me back?”
I down the rest of my drink. Not because I need encouragement to say my next words, but because I need the alcohol just to breathe.
“The favor is I’m selling it to you for twenty dollars.”
Cole laughs hysterically. Like it’s the most absurd, ridiculous thing he’s ever heard. It probably is.
“You’re not serious.”
“I am.”
“I don’t want your boring company. I’m into much more risky endeavors.”
“Liar.”
Cole takes his feet off my desk for the second time since I’ve entered the office. He looks at me like I’m insane and he’s considering having me admitted. He studies me, but I don’t give anything away. I don’t have any emotions to feel.
Cole curses under his breath. He knows me too well. He knows what I’m doing.
“I’m not helping you hide your money from Abri.”
“That’s not what I’m doing.”
“You fucking asshole. It’s exactly what you are doing. You’d rather sell your company and get nothing, then let her have a penny of it.”
I shrug. He’s not wrong. My bitch of an ex-wife doesn’t deserve any of my money. Well, almost ex-wife.
“Abri would take both of our asses to court if I bought your company for so little and cut her out.”
“She won’t.”
“She will. And it will be deserved. She deserves to have half of the company. Or half of the money when you sell it.”
“Fine, I’ll give her ten bucks when I sell it to you.”
Cole shakes his head. “What happened to you, man? You were so in love. Abri was your partner in crime. She gave up everything for your company. For you.”
I don’t answer.
“Fine, I get it. You were way too young when you got married. You grew apart. Love didn’t last. Just sign the divorce papers and give her half of everything she helped you build, then go your separate ways. Move on.”
I’ve tried moving on. But he has no idea what I’ve been through. No idea how badly I need to cut her out of my life permanently. Giving her half of my money won’t stop her. Giving her all of my money won’t slow her down.
If I told him the truth, he wouldn’t believe me. If he did, he’d try to talk me out of my plan. It’s my burden to bare.
Cole studies me. He’s my best friend. He’s been with me through everything. My highest and lowest. He’s like a brother. He would do anything for me. And the look in his eyes tells me as much.
He stands up and walks to me until he’s inches in front of me.
“I’ll buy your company for twenty dollars. If that’s what you really want. I’ll help you make sure Abri doesn’t get anything from you.”
I sigh in relief.
“But you have to do something first.”
I narrow my eyes, not liking the tone of his voice. I don’t like making deals.
“Prove to me you’ve moved on. Prove to me you will get past Abri. That you will date again. Prove to me that selling your company isn’t just about Abri, that it’s about starting over.”
Mila pops into my head. Beautiful, sexy, flawless Mila. Her voice so sultry I could listen to her