Last Straw

Will She Or Won't She

"I won't do it." Crossing my arms, I am fully defying my father at our supposed be nice family brunch gone now to hell in a hand basket.

"You will." His tone is every bit commanding, his gaze iron clad.

He's fully serious.

Fucking hell, I'm really going to have to do this aren't I?

NO.

Please no.

"I don't want to, I'm fine in New York. You can't make me." I glance to my brother Lance for support and get none. 

Even worse because by the looks of it, he agrees.

Arms crossed, he looks just as serious as our dad. The two of them matching in costal blues and sunglasses, making decisions for me on the bench opposite. I don't have to see their eyes to know they are are united front.

Fantastic.

I should have known when he sent the plane with no warning something like this was coming.

"I don't think you are fine. I will take away your trust fund if you don't," He threatens, not playing games anymore. It's all I can do to literally stop my mouth from falling open. Dad's actually serious... He knows I won't be dumb enough to keep fighting now. I have my own money, but only an idiot would walk away from a lump sum like that. "He broke your ribs darling. You can't keep doing this. I need you where I can keep an eye on you."

On some of it, we agree.

Blame it on the alcohol as much as I want what happened that night was unacceptable. I know it, he knows it, we all know it. But he's apologized so much I'm inclined to believe him.

And I love him.

Love doesn't wash away so easily.

I know dad was pissed about the accident making the press, but this I hadn't expected.

I don't want to give up my freedom.

But I don't think I have a choice.

The thing is that my relationship hadn't started so volatile. It was sweet and simple and so pure for so long and still can be. I first met Chad the day my book dropped at the closest bookstore to my apartment in New York. He was hunting a baby book for his first nephew and I still remember the look on his face when we turned the corner at the same time.

I still swear my heart stopped.

He was dressed in classic all black and wore a NY baseball cap, but the look of relief when he laid eyes on me was something I've never experienced before. I'll never forget the way he stared in one spot for minutes before he walked over 'Excuse me, but do you know any good baby books?' with his adorable british accent and crooked smile as if it was the most natural thing in the world to be asking me.

We spent nearly an hour in the bookstore, and stood outside the shop chatting so long the morning was well passed so he asked me to lunch. 'Not tomorrow, now I mean. Today is all that we've got, ya know?' He'd said and I all but swooned at his take life my the balls approach. So we'd went to lunch and when he asked me about my book purchase I'd gone and done the one thing I never dreamed.

Told him I authored it, fake name be damned. I barely knew him from adam but something about us just felt... right. He insisted on taking me back to the shop after to buy himself a copy and called me everyday with his thoughts. The rest was history I guess.

Things definitely started to sour between us last year after his father died. Ever since then Chad had been drinking more, but at some point drinking hadn't been enough to take the edge off. I should have seen the signs... But I thought he was just grieving.

Until on the way to the way to dinner last month he wrapped his car around a telephone pole.

With me inside.

I took the brunt of the impact with two broken ribs and a concussion, while he walked away with a broken arm and a hell of a lot of regrets.

An accident that would have been one thing, turned to another entirely when the hospital got his tox screen back. Chad had enough pain pills in his system to tranquilize a horse.

Pills he says he kicked after that night.

And I want to believe him. But my family feels differently, clearly. Which is how I find myself in Monaco, at breakfast with my father and brother all but forcing me to travel with their formula one team this year. My dad owns Ashton Martin racing, and Lance drives for them alongside Fernando Alonso. I love going to races, but this is another thing entirely.

This will be every race.

They are going to make me leave New York. Leave my friends. Leave Chad, for most of the year. Either that or I walk away without a trust fund big enough to provide for my children's children.

And I'm no idiot.

"What would I have to do?" Because it can't be as easy as asking me to fly around the world with no work to be had. My family doesn't know about my books, they actually think social media funds most of my life besides the fund. And I'm sure as hell not breaking that news now.

I'm in enough hot water as it is.

"You can be your brothers minder." Dad says and an unexpected smirk crawls across my face.

So I get to tell Lance what to do? I can think of worse jobs.

Will she or won't she...

Seems she indeed will.

Fuck.

"Just for this one season right?" I eye the men across from me, wanting a promise from their side first.

"Just this one season." He agrees, extending me a handshake like I'm not his child and this is just a business deal. It probably is for him. "My people will be in touch about the details."

Fate sealed, I shake his hand. He's got me and he knows it... No amount of arguing could get me out of this one. Dad's phone starts to ring and he excuses himself, grabbing his keys in a sign this meeting is called to an end.