going to take me seriously. Let it go to my dad or charity.”
“You can’t let your dad win,” Eric insisted.
“He’s already won,” I said. “I lost Grace.”
“You need soup and bourbon,” Eric said, patting me on the back.
“And a shower,” his brother added.
All I wanted to do when we arrived at the front door of my penthouse was to crawl into bed. Or actually no. I couldn’t because it would make me want Grace back.
I’d sleep on the living room couch.
But I couldn’t even do that because Addison and my father were in the living room, arguing loudly with my mother.
“Out! Now!” I roared at him. “You especially, Dad. You cost me everything.”
“I saved you from a scheming gold digger,” he complained.
“No,” I said, clenching my fists. “You cost me the greatest love of my life because you wanted that inheritance for yourself.”
“I never!” He pressed a hand to his chest.
“Save your bullshit,” I snapped. “I found out all about it from Grace, no less, because for some ungodly reason she is one of the most connected women in Manhattan and had just had a lovely wedding planning session with a Ms. Frankel.”
My father blanched.
“Did you think I wasn’t going to find out?”
“Of course he didn’t!” my mother cackled. “He thinks you’re stupid, but you’re smart like me.”
I closed my eyes for a second, trying not to completely lose my shit.
“It’s ironic,” I continued, “that Grace was the person to save me. I should have seen it. Because unlike all of you, Grace actually loves me.”
“Baby!” Addison exclaimed, running over to fling herself at me. “You’re all worked up and not thinking clearly. We were so worried about you! Here, let me make you a drink. Then maybe I’ll do that thing with my tongue that you like so much…”
I shoved her off.
“You are engaged,” I said through gritted teeth. “You have a fiancé.”
“Not anymore!” my mother crowed. “Traitorous bitch! He dumped her because of the article Grace wrote. I always liked that girl, Grace.” My mom reclined back on the couch. “You need to make a grand gesture and win her back! Of course, tell her that you cut these two out of your life.” She waved a limp hand in my father’s direction.
“You’re the lying bitch,” my father spat at her. He pointed a finger at her and turned to me. “She was just here demanding part of the payout for helping break you and Grace up.”
“I wasn’t,” my mother said, hoisting herself up, glass in hand. “They’re trying to take me down with them.”
“I have text messages,” Addison said, “suggesting that I come over and giving me information about Grace’s pain points.”
My mother started sobbing. “I was just trying to protect you! My baby boy!”
Fuck my parents. I was done with them.
“Get out of my house and out of my life,” I said coldly. The Svenssons hovered at my flanks. “None of you ever cared about me. I don’t want you in my life anymore. Try me, and I’m calling the police.”
“We’ll have restraining orders on you faster than you can blink,” Eric Svensson promised, “if you come anywhere near Chris again.”
“But I don’t have anywhere to go,” my mother protested.
“Not my problem,” I growled at her. “Start packing.”
They were all gone when I got out of the shower and had changed into a fresh suit.
Eric silently handed me a scotch when I walked into the living room.
“I heated up the lasagna that was in the fridge,” he told me sympathetically. “You don’t want an ulcer.”
I stared down at the plate of lasagna.
“This was Grace’s lasagna.”
“Really?” Josh asked. “I’m pretty sure it’s Stouffers.”
I took a bite. “It’s pretty good actually.”
“Nothing says love and care like lasagna,” Eric quipped. “That’s what my older brother Remy used to say.”
I huffed out a rueful laugh and took another bite.
“So,” Eric said, sitting across from me. “We need to plan out your grand gesture.”
“For what?” I said, miserably eating the food.
“To win Grace back.”
“She doesn’t want anything to do with me,” I reminded him.
“She’s not stupid,” Josh insisted. “Once you beg and grovel and show up with a super-duper apology present, she’ll take you back.”
“I took the liberty of putting in an offer for you on present number one,” Eric said, showing me his tablet.
“And I have found present number two,” Josh said, handing me a small box with a flourish. “Just tell her when you see her that you made a mistake and you do want to spend the rest