Hard(35)
“But if I sell it—”
“Sell it?”
I flinched. “Well, yeah.”
He sat up. His profanity was a sharper bite than usual. “Why the fuck would you sell this place?”
He asked that question while sitting in one of the fifteen leather recliners and sofas positioned around an auditorium-styled room, complete with full-sized movie screen, projector, and arched buttresses decorating the ceiling.
“Because…it’s ridiculous?” I said. “Because I still get lost in the east wing? Because the upkeep on this place is insane?”
“You’re a billionaire,” he said. Then the asshole spelled it out for me, letter by letter. “This house is nothing to you. You should have two more like it in other places in the county, plus a vacation spot in the Maldives for kicks.”
“Don’t sass me.”
“This house is an estate. Size matters. It’s meant to be large and obscene.”
“You would know that best.”
He swore. Damn it. I waved a hand, collapsing on the chair beside him. He didn’t make room for me. In fact, he scowled.
“Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean it.”
“I’ll take the compliment anyway.”
“I’m sure you would.” I picked at the couch. “I don’t know what I want to do with the money or the house. I mean, technically? I don’t even own it yet. His estate is paying for everything. My bank account has about five hundred dollars in it.”
“You’ll manage.”
“Probably. I did before. But this isn’t me. And I don’t think it’s you either.”
He snorted. “And so you can’t accept it? You can’t take the help?”
“It doesn’t feel right.”
“You’re crazy.”
I grimaced. “What do you care? You should be in the exact same spiral of shame that I am.”
He laughed. It wasn’t his normal, carefree chuckle. It almost sounded…angry.
“Please, Shay. Go ahead. I’ve heard it every day since I came here. Tell me why I should be ashamed of myself.”
“What the hell is wrong with you today?”
Zach groaned as he sat up. “I’m waiting to hear how I’ve fucked it up this time.”
“Why don’t you get it?” I asked. “How don’t you see that this inheritance is all bullshit?”
“It’s legal.” A grunt accompanied his words. “You want to screw me out of what an attorney said is rightfully mine? Be my guest. Find a judge who’ll side with you. We’ll get it over with.”
“I’m not talking about you!” I pushed from the couch only to pace the room. “For Christ’s sake, Zach. I’m talking about me. I got all this stuff—the house, the cars, the school, the billion freaking dollars—all from a man I didn’t know!”
“He was your father.”
“He was never a father to me. He ran around on my mom, left my family when I was a kid, and only checked in on my birthday and holidays to give me money. He never loved me. He tried to buy me off so he could have a life without me.”
“So? What’s the problem then?” Zach shrugged. “Take the bastard’s money. He screwed you over for twenty-one years. Least you can do is get what’s yours.”
I gave up. “You don’t understand it.”
“Then tell me.”
There was nothing to tell. I didn’t even know what I wanted to say anymore. I didn’t know what I wanted. Suddenly, an entire freaking estate was too damn small, and Zach’s presence entirely too big.
“Forget it.”
He called after me before I made it to the doorway.
“You make it seem like you’re the only one who lost someone.”
I stopped. His voice embittered, but I didn’t blame him. Not when he was absolutely right. He stood, gripping the couch with a trembling hand.
He didn’t look okay. Was he sick?
“Do you think you’re the only one who had a shitty parent? Think I wanted to be hauled house to house, date to date, man to man? You’ve never asked where my real father is.”
No, I hadn’t. “Where is he?”
“My mom said he was dead. A soldier. Died in Desert Storm.”
I swallowed. “Is that why you…?”
“Became a SEAL? Yeah. Felt like it was in my blood. Serve the country. Do some good.” He arched an eyebrow. “Except I’m twenty-four years old, and Desert Storm ended twenty-five years ago. Mom was never good at math.”
“Oh.” I softened my voice. “Did you ever find out who he was?”
“Don’t know. He was probably just some screw she had. She was good for fucking around like that. She tossed herself man-to-man looking for someone to take care of her. She married three times before shacking up with your dad.”