The Artist (The Game Changers #2) (13 page)

Chapter Eighteen

By the time I made it up to the hospital, I felt beyond ill. I kept replaying the conversation with Dick in my head. Was this what I wanted? Giving up Maverick? Where else could I get the money? Where else could Maverick get the money? He could sell the bar, but then what? I needed to do something to help Maverick and his family, but was this it? Was this the only option? If I didn’t do this, my father could prevent him from getting the surgeon they wanted. They might have to go to Baltimore. That would be more money they didn’t have, not to mention the time Marie and Maverick would have to take off work. Dick taking care of everything was the best option.

I was out of thinking time when I pulled up to the hospital and Maverick was standing outside the front doors with Brock and Hailey. I steeled myself against the onset of guilt I was about to experience and went to spend what would be the last of my time with Maverick…at the hospital.

“Hey, Duchess. How’d writing go today?” he asked as he greeted me affectionately with a kiss.

“Fine,” I said with a smile on my face. “How’s Jack?”

“He’s doing better today. Seems more like himself. They scheduled the biopsy for next week.”

“That’s good, right?”

“We’ll see,” he shrugged. “They’ll know more once they get in there. Mom took Jack home to keep an eye on him. He wasn’t happy about that, but it makes Mom feel better. We were about to grab some lunch, but I wanted to wait on you since I hadn’t heard from you. I called, but it went to your voicemail.”

“Oh, sorry. My phone is in my bag. I didn’t even think to check it.”

“No worries. Let’s go eat.”

“Yes,” Brock agreed. “I’m starving.”

“You’re always hungry,” Hailey laughed.

We went to lunch at a café close to the hospital. Corbin and Ana met us there, and everything seemed to be normal again. Everyone seemed to be in better spirits, even though nothing had really changed. That was, everyone but me. I felt like I was on the verge of breaking down, but I kept myself in check. If I knew how to do anything, it was hide my emotions. Years of training, after all.

I wasn’t as good as I thought, though. After lunch, Maverick drove me back to my car, and it was during the drive that he asked, “You okay? You haven’t seemed like yourself today.”

“I’m great,” I said, probably too quickly. The smile I plastered on felt stiff and forced, not like my usual rehearsed smile. It seemed the mask was harder to maintain around Maverick.

“What’s going on, Duchess?” he asked as he grabbed my hand. “I can tell something’s off. Did something happen with your dad? You said he came by your condo?”

I couldn’t keep up the façade. “Let’s talk about it later. I need some time to think, then we’ll talk. I promise.”

“You’re worrying me.” He pulled my hand across the console into his lap as he held it tighter.

“I know. I’m worrying me too. Let’s just focus on your brother right now. My problems are insignificant compared to what you and your family are going through.”

“Hey,” he whispered as we pulled up to a red light. “If there’s something going on with you, I want to know about it. We’ll figure it out.” A moment later he added, “Together.”

“I don’t know if that works in this case, but I appreciate it. We’ll talk later.”

He let go of my hand to get out and open my car door once we made it back to where I had left my car. As always, he was the perfect gentleman, and helped me out of the passenger seat. “I can’t stand this, Duchess. I have to go to the bar and check on things, but you’ll come later?”

I nodded.

“And we’ll talk?”

“Yeah.”

I couldn’t look him in the eye, but he wasn’t having it. He put a finger under my chin and lifted it. “Whatever it is, we’ll figure it out.”

I nodded again, feeling choked up and unable to form words right then. Instead, I pulled him down to me and kissed him with everything I had. Then I buried my face in his neck and breathed him in while he held me close.

After a moment, I pulled away. “I’ll see you later.”

“Come to the bar whenever you’re ready. I’ll be there working. I need to get some stuff done, so I can take time off for Jack.”

After another quick kiss, I climbed in my car and drove away. By the time I made it back to my condo, I could barely keep it together. The closing of my door behind me was the last push I needed to fall over the edge. I dropped to the floor, and for the first time since I was a child, I sobbed uncontrollably.

Once I had myself together enough to think clearly, I washed my face and went about destroying the perfect life I had created. First, I drafted a letter of resignation and apologized for missing my meeting with my editor. In everything that had happened, I had forgotten about it, but it didn’t matter because part of the deal with Dick was that I had to quit. I apologized profusely then sent the email. I knew if I didn’t do this quickly, Dick would do it for me, and he and I had differing views on how to handle relationships, including business ones.

After that was done, I called Maddox. I needed a friend, and he was the only one who would understand. Truthfully, he was probably my only true friend I’d ever had.

“Kit Kat,” he answered. “How are you?”

“Not good, Mad. I’m leaving. Moving to New York per the dick.”

“What do you mean you’re moving to New York?” He sounded surprised.

“I made a deal with Dick and part of it is that I have to move to New York and marry whoever they choose.”

“Wait. What about Adam? You seemed really happy. This doesn’t make sense, Kit Kat. Start at the beginning.”

For the second time that day, I broke down sobbing as I explained the whole situation to Maddox. He listened, and when I finished, he said the words I knew he would say. “Kitty, we can find another way. You don’t need to do this.”

“Come on, Maddox. Even if there were another option, my father would find a way to ruin everything. This way I know Jack has what he needs, and I did one thing in my life right.”

“But what about you? What about your happiness?”

“Has it ever mattered before?” I asked sadly.

“Kitty…” Maddox sighed.

“I know. This probably isn’t the right thing to do, but it’s the only way I can help him. It’s only been a month, you know. It’s easier to end it now when we can both move on.”

“You haven’t told him you love him?”

“No,” I frowned.

“But you do? Love him?”

“I think so.” Then it really sunk in. “Yes. I do. More than anything.”

“There has to be another way.” Maddox’s voice turned to childlike optimism when he added, “Maybe if you talk to your dad, tell him how you feel. You know how nervous I was to tell my dad about Nolan. All he said was ‘it’s about fucking time you came out.’ Maybe your dad wants you to man up, so to speak.”

“I appreciate your sanguine disposition on this, but this isn’t like telling your dad you’re gay. This is about me helping Adam. Dick won’t help him unless I do something in return.”

“And the payment he expects is for you to sacrifice all happiness to turn into another unhappy trophy wife like your mother,” Maddox continues angrily. “You’re better than that, Kit Kat, and deep down you know it.”

“This is for the best, Maddox. I wasn’t calling for you to talk me out of it. I was calling to tell you goodbye. I’m sure I’ll see you in New York, but who knows when.”

“Call me when you get there. Call me whenever you need me.”

“Thanks, Mad.”

“I love you, Kitten. Just remember that. Talk soon.”

“Bye,” I whispered.

I tried to get myself together now that I had convinced myself this was the right thing to do. I had to let Maverick go. I packed a few bags of essentials. My father would have to get movers to get the rest while I stayed in his penthouse in the city. I left anything that I wouldn’t need in my Kitty life behind. The reminders of how happy I was weren’t going to be necessary. I didn’t need the distraction.

Once I was dressed in a designer dress and heels and my face was perfectly painted, I had Clive come up and help me with my bags. He loaded them in my trunk without looking up at me. He was aware that I knew he told my father I was home. I still thanked him politely instead of being angry with the poor man. I knew he didn’t have a choice.

Once everything was loaded, I took off down the street to the bar. It was lit up inside because the sun had gone down while I was busy packing. Dee was at the bar with a clipboard doing inventory when I walked in.

She looked up and raised one eyebrow at me. “In his office,” she said blandly and went back to work. It’s like she knew something was going on. Of course she did. She watched people for a living. Dee could have put her skills to better use becoming a psychologist. The woman could read people like no other. She didn’t trust me from the start, and she was right not to.

Maverick was on the computer when I knocked on the door. He turned quickly and smiled widely when he saw me standing in the doorway. The stabbing sensation in my chest increased exponentially when he smiled at me like that.

“Hey, Duchess. You look good.” He came over and kissed me quickly on my lips before dropping back down in his chair.

I tried to smile, but my lips didn’t listen. “I think we need to talk.”

He immediately registered my tone and frowned. “Sure. Let me just finish entering this last bit of payroll. It’s Moby, and he’ll kill me if it’s wrong.”

I sat perfectly still on the leather couch in his office while he worked for another minute. I took the chance to take him in one last time because I was sure this was the last time I would ever see my Maverick. From the colorful tattoos to the dark, soulful eyes, he was everything to me, and I was voluntarily giving him up. Jack, I reminded myself and concentrated on the framed picture of the two brothers holding the fish they caught in one hand and the opposite arms around each other. He needs Jack more than he’ll ever need me.

He hit the keyboard one last time and turned in his chair to face me. “What’s going on, Duchess?” he asked cautiously.

“I—” I started and then found myself choked up. Tears burned my eyes. I had to pull myself together, but the harder I tried, the more difficult it became to speak.

“Hey. Hey.” He reached out to comfort me.

“No. Stay right there. I can’t do this if you touch me.” The look of surprise on his face would have broken my heart if it weren’t already shattered. “Just let me say this. I didn’t mean for any of this to happen. I’ve never felt like this before, and I shouldn’t have allowed it. I knew it couldn’t last.”

“What? What are you talking about? What can’t last?”

“Us. My father…he…” Oh god. I was stuttering. “He has this idea that he gets to decide everything for me. I’ve told you this before. He gets to choose what I do, who I marry, what I eat, what I wear, everything. I’ve never argued, because it would have been pointless. He always finds a way. You were the first thing I chose, but I knew he wouldn’t let me have this.” I waved a hand between us.

Maverick scooted closer to me but kept enough distance so we weren’t touching. “I still don’t understand, Katherine.”

Another deep breath. “I’m leaving. I’m moving to New York to work in his office there.” To play wife for whatever man he chooses, I didn’t add.

“What? When?”

“Tomorrow.”

“You’re leaving and ending things. Just like that?” he spit out.

His anger surprised me. I don’t know why I didn’t expect it, but it took me off guard nonetheless. I gathered up all the resolve I had left and slipped on my Kitty mask. The same words I said to Maddox slipped out of my mouth again. “It’s for the best. We both know this wouldn’t have lasted. You have to do what’s best for your family. I’m going to do what’s best for mine. You should understand that.” It was low, but I couldn’t stand his anger.

He looked up at me sadly. “And what about you, Katherine? What about what’s best for you?”

“Trust me. Doing what my father wants is what’s best for me.”

“This is what you want? You want to move to New York and end what we have?”

I wanted to shout, No! I want to be yours forever. I want your brother to be okay and for us to be together. I didn’t say any of what I wanted to say, though. Instead, I sat up taller and did what my father expected. “This is what needs to be done.” It doesn’t matter what I want.

He shook his head with disappointment. “That’s not an answer.”

“It’s the only one I have.”

A knock on the door broke the silence that had filled the space. Dee was at the door. “Adam, we’re completely out of the Alesmith IPA and the Hair of the Dog. We’re low on six other kegs that you might want to pull. Bottles are low too. Here’s the list.” She held up her clipboard to show him.

“I’ll be there in a minute, Dee,” Adam snapped.

“No. It’s fine. I should go anyway. I need to go say goodbye to my mom. She doesn’t even know.”