Page 120 of Bourbon Deceit
The moment of truth, my face held still as I took another sip of my bourbon and said, “And what would that be?”
“Don’t play with me, boy.”
“I’m sorry that you think I have time to play around with you, but I don’t, so if you would like to get to the point of this conversation, that would be appreciated.”
In the corner of my eye, I could see Goldie approach with Diego chasing behind her.
Not fucking now, please not fucking now. I was holding on by a thread. A bead of sweat trickled down my back as Goldie got closer. Why wasn’t Diego stopping her?
My dad’s head turned and he saw her. An evil grin spread across his face and he finally spoke. “You want to get down to the point, fine. Right here, right now, tell me. Lot 17 or Goldie? You can only choose one.”
I knew Goldie heard my father because he’d spoken loudly enough. She stopped in her place as she waited for my answer. I hid the shake in my hand by lowering my glass and set it on a table nearby. My next move would either make or break my relationship with Goldie, but I had no choice.
With the flick of my wrist, my hand caressed my jaw, showing off the bright emerald green cufflinks that donned my wrists, trying to convey to Goldie that she needed to have faith.
Without blinking, I cleared my throat and said, “Is there even a choice? No doubt in my mind Lot 17 wins every time.”
From the corner of my eye, I saw Goldie’s chest lift as she took in a sharp breath, then the defeat in her shoulders. Without looking back, she turned away from me, grabbed Diego, and fled through the crowd.
With all the energy I could muster, I smiled and laughed. “You can’t please them all.” With that, I grabbed my bourbon and walked away, leaving my father stunned and Goldie broken-hearted.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
“Love of My Life”
LO
The bounce of my leg kept my beating heart steady as I sat on my bed and thought about the words that rang from Jett’s lips. “Was it even a choice?” I couldn’t lie, it fucking stung to hear him utter such words.
Diego tried to calm me down in the car, but I’d ignored him as the street lanterns of New Orleans passed us by in a blur. My mind felt calm, calmer than its felt in a while, because I knew what I had to do.
Without a knock, my door burst open and Jett stood in the doorframe, gorgeous as ever wearing his tux with his tie undone and his hair in a mess from the stress he put himself through tonight. I didn’t move, I didn’t waver as he strode to my bed while shutting the door at the same time. He fell to his knees in front of me and clasped his hands over mine.
“Goldie,” he choked out, looking up at me with desperation. My hand went to his face and caressed his cheek. “God, I’m so sorry. I hope you know that I didn’t mean any of that, that you’re always my number one.”
“Am I?” I asked, with a bit of emotion lacing my voice.
He sat up and looked up at me. “Of course you are, how could you think that you aren’t?”
A part of me wanted to believe him, that I was his number one, that I was the only thing that mattered, but that wasn’t the case, especially tonight, and to be honest I was okay with that, because he was a good man and fighting for a good thing. I couldn’t hold that against him.
“Jett, you have one of the sweetest hearts I’ve ever come across. You don’t like to take credit but you’ve changed so many people’s lives. You saved Kace, you gave Diego a second chance, you’ve sheltered and educated the girls, you’re bending over backwards to help the Boys and Girls of New Orleans by sacrificing everything that makes you happy to give them a place to play, a place to grow up. Am I number one in your life? No, but I’m okay with it because the people, the causes that come before me are deserving of your attention.”
“That’s not true,” he said, but I placed my fingers over his lips.
“It’s commendable that you’re willing to put everyone else’s needs before yours.”
“You’re all I need,” he said quickly.
Running my hand through his hair, I answered, “I know that but like I said, you put everyone else before you, which means I take a backseat to everything.”
“Goldie, that’s not what I want you to think. It’s just hard right now. I wasn’t expecting to . . .” He paused as his hands twisted in mine. “I wasn’t expecting to fall for you and this all happened in the middle of a deal I’m trying to make.”
“And I’m okay with that,” I said reassuringly. “I get it, Jett. I promise you I do, but there comes a time when you need to stop trying to protect everyone else and protect yourself. I’m a big girl and I can hold my own against anyone.”
“These are dangerous men . . .”
“I’ve been through hell, Jett, and you coming into my life was by far the best thing that’s ever happened to me, and I will forever cherish that.”
