Page 38 of Elijah’s Whim

“You know, I’ve gone over this conversation about five different ways, and I can’t come up with a single outcome that isn’t shitty.”

Grant and I both sat forward in our seats too, ready to rally around our friend. That was what we did for each other. We rose, we rallied, we conquered, we celebrated. That was what we’d always done.

“What’s going on, man? Just tell us. We’ll figure it out.”

“Just like we always do.”

Bas turned and looked directly at Grant, and I swore I could feel his pain in my own chest when he inhaled to speak.

“My attorneys want to offer Rio a settlement for Sean’s death.”

“Fuck. Me,” I muttered beneath my breath.

“What did you tell them?” Grant croaked after a few long minutes. Then he asked, “How do you assign a dollar value to someone’s life? Think about it. Could you put a price tag on Abbi’s?”

The look Grant gave Bas was filled with so much anguish, I wanted to blink and, like a whiteboard, erase it from my memory. I never wanted to see pain like that on the face of someone I cared about. Ever again.

Grant cradled his face in his large palms for a minute. When he looked up, he said, “She’s been doing so good. This is going to fuck her up all over again. Every time she breaks, I’m scared to death I won’t be able to put her back together again. She doesn’t deserve to have to keep breaking.”

“Now, hear me out, Grant.” I raised both hands in front me, palms flat in an I-come-in-peace gesture and worded my thought carefully. “Is there any way Rio would take the money and possibly use it to start a memorial fund in Sean’s name? Or use it for Abstract? Do something positive in Sean’s honor. Taking a settlement doesn’t mean she has to buy a Ferrari with the money.”

“Or ten,” Bas commented, and I quickly shot him a dirty look.

Why didn’t the guy just know when to keep his damn mouth shut? I had just made a really good suggestion—a noble idea that seemed like something Rio Gibson could get on board with—and he had to suck the purity out of the moment with a comment like that.

“What?” Sebastian asked incredulously. “It’s a very large settlement they’re offering. Because it’s a combined offer from my workers’-comp policy, the equipment rental’s liability insurance, and my jobsite general liability insurance policy, the final total is substantial. These rare occasions are why I pay the premiums I do. If Rio did take the settlement, it would be satisfying to see the money go to someone who would use it for a good purpose.”

“I think you should be the one to make the offer to Rio,” Grant said after a long moment of silence. “I don’t want to be put in the middle of the two of you again, and I want her to hear words like you just said right there”—he stabbed his long index finger toward the ground in front of Bas—“come out of your mouth. I think it would go far in her healing process to hear you sound like a human being, with an actual beating heart, for once.”

“You both know that’s not what happens when I get in front of other people, though. I was only able to talk that freely because it’s the two of you here. I barely sound that relaxed in front of Abbigail, and I’m going to marry the woman. As long as I don’t knock her up again first.”

Neither Grant nor I missed the devilish grin on his face then.

“You bastard! Have you really?” I asked.

“No, but I’m giving it my best effort,” Bas said with complete seriousness.

“She will cut your pecker off if you do. She’ll never get into a wedding dress on that plan.”

“I just want to see that uptight family of hers at a wedding where their do-no-wrong little sister walks down the aisle eight months pregnant and our son and daughter are the ring bearer and flower girl.” Bas described the imagined scene with a wicked gleam in his eye.

“Now I know hell is about to freeze over,” Grant said, laughing. “Because that’s something Rio would completely conspire with you on.”

“All right, gentlemen, I have to head downstairs and get my day started in truth. Are we done here?”

We walked over to the elevator and reviewed what we agreed on. Bas and Grant were both checking with their ladyloves regarding weekend plans, and I pulled out my phone to text my beautiful chef while the two of them discussed a game plan about talking to Rio about the settlement offer. My plan was to steer as far from that hornet’s nest as possible.

Good morning, beauty. Hope

your day is going well so far.

I put my phone in the breast pocket of my sport coat so I would feel the vibration if I received a text back from Hannah—or anyone else, but she was the only one I hoped for. I was nearly to my office when I felt the device rumble against my chest. Instantly I grinned and pulled the phone out, only to have my happiness squashed.

I’m coming over tonight. I know

you miss me as much as I miss you.

We’re too good together, Elijah.