JAKE
My meeting with Keller, my trusty lawyer and long-standing friend, went quicker than expected. Thanks to him, I had a totally legal, no-strings-attached exit from the contract I’d signed eighteen months ago that had been burying me ever since. After pouring money into a funnel with no returns, I could now wash my hands of the whole business and turn my energy toward what mattered.
Gabriella, for starters.
I left my lawyer’s office and got in my car as the late morning heated up. The sun was out, and puffy white clouds hung heavy in the sky. It was a beautiful day in San Francisco. The perfect sort of day to sit with Gabi on her balcony this evening on her laptop and look at resorts in the Maldives.
I already had my eye on one that looked especially impressive.
Soneva Jani was one of the Maldives’ most exclusive, high-end resorts. I’d already done a bit of digging and discovered that we would not be limited to bungalows or villas but would be able to rent an entire four-bedroom retreat. If she wanted, she could invite some friends to come spend a night or two with us.
We could have some romantic one-on-one time, but we could also use it as a chance to give back to the people in her life, like her soon-to-be sister-in-law, who I knew had been there for her when things were rough these past few months. Or Donna, who very clearly still detested me.
I couldn’t blame her. If she was as good of a friend as Gabi claimed, then she would need convincing to see that I really had changed my ways. I would be patient. I would do whatever it took to convince her that I was the right man for her friend. More importantly, I would treat Gabi right and worship the ground she walked on, and my actions would be enough for Donna to see the truth.
I was ready to move forward. More ready than I’d ever been.
Traffic wasn’t bad leaving Santa Rosa. I got back to the office shortly before eleven o’clock and rode the elevator up, checking my phone compulsively.
Gabi had expected to drop off the papers roughly fifteen minutes ago and I hadn’t heard from her. Had she gotten delayed?
I tried to dismiss the thought that she was late for such an important commitment. More likely than not, Theo and Banner had invited her to stay for a cup of coffee or something.
As soon as I stepped into my office, I spotted my brother chatting up the new receptionist. He was dressed casually in a pair of white shorts, boat shoes, and a striped polo shirt. He’d obviously just stepped off his sailboat.
“John,” I said.
My brother turned, smiled, and strode forward to embrace me in a one-armed hug. “Jakey. I was in the neighborhood and thought I’d pop by. It’s been a bit.”
“I’ve been meaning to call you.”
“Oh yeah?”
I nodded and steered him to the elevator. “Yeah. Come on, let’s go for a walk. I need a distraction, anyway.”
Our walk ended up leading us to a French café that served specialty coffees and authentic French baked goods. We sat back and enjoyed savory breakfast food with our coffees under the shade of a tree. A gentle breeze rustled the leaves overhead, and a songbird of some sort flitted from branch to branch, chirping and singing with his little yellow chest puffed out.
“You seem different,” John said, eyeing me over the rim of his coffee cup.
“I’ve been making some changes.”
“As in?”
John and I had grown up in the same toxic, abusive household. I wasn’t sure how he would react to finding out I was in counseling, but even if his reaction was negative or judgmental, as my counselor warned me to anticipate, I didn’t want to hide it. I was not ashamed that I had decided to work through my shit with a professional.
“I started seeing a counselor,” I said flatly. No bullshit. No sugar-coating.
John’s eyebrows lifted. “No shit. Really?”
I nodded. “Last month, when you came by my place the day after the fight at the social club? Well, I’d hit rock bottom. I took my anger out on someone I really care about who was only trying to help me. I hurt her pretty badly, and consequently, I lost her. As I should have. I was so angry, John. And for once I was angry at myself, not her, not Dad, not you. Not anybody. Me. And I knew I had to resolve all my bullshit. Otherwise, what you said would come to fruition. I’d turn out just like Dad.”
John looked like he’d just swallowed a bone.
I chuckled. “I know it’s a bit out of left field.”
“I’ve been in counseling for six years.”
I blinked. “What?”