Good Girl Complex(Avalon Bay #1)(74)

I can practically feel Cooper’s eyes rolling through the phone.

“Whatever. Tell him to get his ass to work.”

“K, smooches, bye,” I sing sweetly, because the more I throw Cooper off balance, the more he’ll accept this completely preposterous premise. Ending the call, I hand the phone back to Evan. “I think he bought it.”

He gives me a look of confused amusement. “You’re a life-saver.”

“I know. Now can I ask why I’m lying to your brother?”

Running his hands through his hair, Evan sighs. He’s the type who hates explaining himself. I get that. But fair’s fair.

“Coop’s already on my case,” he says reluctantly. “If he finds out about last night, he’ll force an intervention on me or some dumb shit.”

“Do you need one?” I know Cooper’s been concerned that Evan is spiraling, but he hasn’t told me any specifics. Judging by last night, I suspect booze and fighting are possible culprits.

“Definitely not,” Evan assures me.

I’m not sure who he’s trying to convince, but it doesn’t work on either of us.

I let out a breath. “Make me a promise.”

He rolls his eyes. It’s these times I forget he and Cooper are two different people.

“I’ll cover for you as long as you’re honest with me. If you won’t talk to Cooper, I’ll feel better if you at least let me keep an eye on you.”

“I don’t need a babysitter.” He punctuates that with a dark scowl.

Yup. I get why they fight so much. Cooper’s overbearing and Evan is an obstinate ass. Together they create a perfect storm.

“I don’t want to be one,” I tell him. “So how about we settle for friends. Deal?”

He licks his lips to smother a grin. It’s almost charming. “Alright, princess. Deal.”

We shake hands. I give it about a fifty-fifty chance that he holds up his end of the bargain. Still, it’s miles from where we started, and I’m smart enough to take what I can get.





CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE


COOPER

Mac’s got yet another inspection at the hotel today, so I take the afternoon off to go there with her. She says it’s so I can translate for her, but I think she’s nervous about what she’s gotten herself into. Can’t blame her. Even if I had boatloads of family money, jumping into something as complex as renovating a hotel—not to mention running the damn thing—would make me a whole lot of anxious too. So as the inspector does his thing, Mac and I hang out on the boardwalk waiting for the verdict.

“I’m starting to think one does not simply buy a condemned hotel,” she says glumly.

I can’t help a smile. “That so?”

“Yup.” She bends to pet Daisy, who’s sitting at her feet. That dog doesn’t leave me alone for a second when we’re home, and then as soon as Mac comes around, she doesn’t know me.

“You can walk away.” From what I understand, the final sale of the property is still pending the completion of this last inspection. Crossing t’s and all that.

“No, I’m committed. It’s just overwhelming, you know? Thinking about everything there is to do. How much I don’t know.”

“So you’ll figure it out.”

She bites her lip. “Right.” Then she nods. Swiftly, decisively. “You’re right. I will figure it out.”

This is what I dig about her. Her confidence. The courage. She had an idea and some gumption and went for it. Most people spend their whole lives talking themselves out of their dreams. Point out all the reasons it’s too hard or farfetched. Not Mac.

“When you look at this place, do you still feel the same way as you did when you put the offer in?” I ask.

She smiles, the gleam of ambition fresh in her eyes as she stares at the crumbling building. “Yes.”

“Pull the trigger. Can’t win if you don’t play.”

“That’s the lottery,” she says, nudging my shoulder.

“Same difference.”

To be honest, I’m glad she asked me here. Even if only for moral support. There isn’t much I can give a girl like Mackenzie Cabot. Nothing she doesn’t already have or can’t get on her own. We all want to feel useful, though. I don’t know when it happened, but somewhere along the way, I started needing her to need me.

After a couple hours, the inspector comes out with his clipboard and runs down the list with Mac. Most of it we expected, some we didn’t. All of it carries a price tag.

“What’s the bottom line?” Mac asks him after he’s gone over every bullet item line by line.

“It’ll cost ya,” the man says through his overgrown mustache. “That said, there’s no reason this place can’t be operational again. I wish you luck.”

After a handshake, he gives her the paperwork and walks off to his car.

“So?” I prompt, taking Daisy’s leash from her.

She hesitates. Only for a second. Then she smiles wryly. “Guess I better call the bank.”

Gotta admit, it’s kind of hot that she can just call up a few million like placing a bet on the Panthers. She wears it well.

After she gets off the phone, we take a walk on the beach and let Daisy run around a little.