Sweet Love - Mia Kayla Page 0,94

up there and see where your sock biz takes you.”

Kyle tipped his chin. “Nah. New York is way too fast for me. I like slow and leisurely.”

Wasn’t that the truth? I wasn’t about to lecture him that slow and leisurely wouldn’t get him anywhere.

“I’ll be back,” I said because there were always the holidays and Nana’s birthday.

“It’ll be different. It has been weird in a good way, having you back for a while,” he said, his voice quiet. His gaze focused on the stapler in his hand, opening and shutting the top.

I hadn’t been back home more than a long weekend since I left for college.

“But I’m not too worried.” He stood, placing the stapler back on my desk. “I know you’ll be back for good, you big baby.”

I widened my eyes, laughing. “What?” I motioned to the boxes in front of me. “Um, moving?”

“Yep. Wanna bet?” His smile widened.

“You’re crazy.”

“If I am so crazy, you won’t be scared of a little wager.”

I laughed.

Chapter 30

Connor

I’d invited Charlie to my last family dinner, but she wasn’t talking to me.

I hated how we’d ended things, how she’d left crying. I’d been calling her constantly, but once again, her phone was off.

We were at our favorite Italian restaurant, Toressi. All of us were seated there—my father, my mother, Kyle, and Nana.

Since I’d come home, I’d only had dinner with my family once. Oddly, it seemed like a holiday because that was the only way I’d agree to have a sit-down dinner with my family.

I couldn’t even look at my dad, still angry for everything that had happened between us.

Small talk ensued. We weren’t a family who spoke about anything deep. It was as though we were strangers, though we’d grown up together in one household.

It wasn’t until my mother said something after dessert that my head peeked up at my father.

“Connor … your father has something to say.”

She kicked him under the table, and I knew this because he jumped.

“Yeah …” He cleared his throat. “So, I’ve set things in motion and have given the marketing team a go with your concepts.” Pride was still heavy in his tone. It was the way he spoke in general, voice powerful, booming, even though he’d just admitted I was right.

I perked up in my seat. “Really?”

“Really.” He tipped his chin. “Everyone was in agreement that this is the approach we should follow as we take Colby’s into the next generation.”

I squinted, and the wheels in my head started turning. If this was a ploy to get me to stay, it wasn’t happening. “I’m not staying.”

“That’s not why I approved the plans. I’ve …” He ran one hand through his pepper-gray hair. For the first time, he couldn’t meet my eyes, and his gaze flittered to the table. “I’ve been stubborn in my ways. I brought you in to change the direction of Colby’s, and I wasn’t listening. I know this is the right decision because the vote to use the concept of family was unanimous.”

When he finally lifted his head, I nodded, feeling vindicated, confidence filling my shoulders, making me sit up taller. “Well, thank you. I need you to back this. I need you to fund the money to make this Colby’s biggest launch ever because I know it’ll be the game changer for this company’s future.”

My father nodded. “I will.”

“And Charlie had a lot to do with those ideas. I think she should be recognized at the next board meeting. I think you guys need to approach her about maybe joining the marketing team to lead the efforts of the rebranding.”

My mother nodded from across the table. “That’s a great idea. She really has an eye for things.”

Nana smiled beside me, motioning to me as though I’d won the prize in some game show. “She sure does. And that commercial seemed so real, so believable between you and Charlie. The proposal. The wedding. I’m glad you didn’t film what happened after the wedding.”

“Mama,” my mother scolded, but the whole table laughed.

“Why isn’t she here tonight?” Nana raised an eyebrow.

“I invited her, but … yeah.”

“She’s salty because Connor is leaving her,” Kyle added.

I stiffened. “I’m not leaving her. I’m leaving Chicago.”

“I’m sure that’s not how she’s taking it.” Kyle’s smirk grated on my nerves.

I had no clue why he wanted to consistently torture me. He knew this wasn’t easy for me, leaving her.

“Shut up. You know nothing … bro.”

“Remember our little wager.”

I shook my head. “This is one you are going to lose for