Office Grump An Enemies to Lovers Romance - Nicole Snow Page 0,151
know how else to stay involved in his life.
This is not cool.
My hands curl into fists. I want to go outside, call him, and scream into the phone, but talking to him will only make it worse.
But now he’s sending my parents weird gifts, and I just have to let it go and let him play Creepy Bad Santa?
Yikes.
I take a deep breath and remind myself worse things could happen. Magnus is an arrogant douchebag, but he’s harmless. Dad’s happier than a lark with a vacation he’s always wanted, and no one had to pay a dime.
But still...
Mom looks downright teary-eyed. Since when does she give a flip about a week in northern Wisconsin? There has to be more to it.
“What’s with the catering?” I ask. “No one died, right?”
“Oh, Brina!”
“Mom?” I whisper, my heart racing.
“You’ll never believe this...” She stands up, wiping her eyes, and smiles so big I can’t see her pupils. “Hog Fights Under City Lights sold a million copies. I’m a USA Today bestseller!”
She’s sobbing maniacally.
“Are...are you okay?” I ask, my voice so small, fear clenching my throat.
She wipes her eyes. “I’m so okay. It’s just—I’ve waited my whole life for this, and somewhere along the way, I gave up. I didn’t think I’d ever be here. Agents are querying me now—big names who do huge book deals.”
Oh My God.
This is where I realize I’m going to go to jail, because if I ever see Magnus Heron again, I will strangle him.
When he quits buying her damn books, she’s going to be crushed. Though I’m not sure crushed is the right word for making Mom a bestseller, and both of my parents insta-millionaires.
God.
I pivot on my heel and start stalking away.
“Brina?” Mom calls.
“Hold that thought. I forgot my phone in the car. I’ll be right back,” I say tightly.
“You don’t care? I thought you’d be proud of me...” She seems hurt.
Damn it, damn it, damn it.
With a suffocating sigh, I move in and hug her fiercely.
“I am, Mom. It’s amazing, but I’m always proud, whether you’re selling one book or one billion. You taught me how to walk and talk.” I kiss her cheek. “You don’t have to put Sir Oinkswell on a movie screen to impress me. I’m happy for you, though. Huge accomplishment.”
She hugs me so tight I can’t breathe.
“Aww, thank you, baby!”
“I’m going to get my phone now, so I can text Paige. She’ll want to hear the big news.”
It’s not a total lie, okay?
Paige has loved my mother ever since she declared herself the unofficial dorm mom. We’ll just forget that the first call I make won’t be to Paige.
I go sit in my car and dial a number I thought I’d never call again. Even though I’ve blocked it, I somehow have it memorized.
Whatever. I’ll reblock him as soon as I’m done.
My hand shakes and my stomach clenches as I unblock Mag’s number and hit Call.
He answers on the third ring.
“Brina?” His voice just about undoes me.
Stay strong.
“Stay out of my life and leave my parents alone,” I say, ignoring the fire raking my throat.
My eyes tear up in under a second, but I can handle this. I can—
“Your parents?” His heavy breath fills the phone, shattering my thoughts. “What did I do to them?”
“Oh, nothing big. Dad just miraculously won a dream fishing trip, and Mom sold a million copies of a book with a title I don’t know how anyone but you could afford. You’re setting her up for failure and I’m not okay with—”
“You said that when she made the Amazon bestseller list too, but her sales stayed steady. With a win like this, and a real agent, she can write whatever she damn well pleases from here on out and collect a nice advance—”
“Shut up!” I grind out, shaking. “You don’t get it. You’re...you’re going to kill her when she finds out, Mag, and I’m not having it.”
Amazing.
He’s quiet for ten whole seconds before he starts again slowly. “Brina. Has it ever occurred to you that maybe your mom’s books don’t suck? She never needed you to buy them. She needed you to market them, but then you wouldn’t be the unsung hero.”
I gasp. “I’ve always taken care of my parents, you dick.”
“Exactly. That’s why I did it,” he says, his voice that thick, sultry velvet that used to make me so wet I’d ache.