That Secret Crush (Getting Lucky #3)(59)

Tears spring to my eyes, and I take a deep, shaky breath.

Eric turns his tortured eyes on me. “Eve, I’m . . . fuck, I’m sorry. I know everything you did was for me, for us. I didn’t mean—”

“Save it, Eric. I’m just so sick of the two of you playing the woe is me card.” I motion around my apartment. “Do you think I like living here? In a moldy apartment below a guy who likes to save his toenail clippings as a hobby? No, but it’s what I can afford while I put myself through school and work at the Inn. I didn’t give up when life took everything away from me. I pushed forward. I made lemonade out of lemons, and yeah, it’s been fucking hard. I’ve had some really bad days, but I know by the time I graduate this semester, it will all be worth it. All the hard work and the tears will be worth it. I didn’t give up, so why did you?”

He shakes his head, taking a pause as I watch him absorb every last emotion I spilled between us. On a gulp, his eyes flash up, and barely above a whisper, he says, “I’m not as strong as you, Eve. Never have been. I still have no idea how you could spend every free moment you had with Mom and Dad while they were dying, watching them deteriorate every day. I don’t know how you’ve been able to carry yourself with such poise, such strength, after everything we’ve been through—and still be a goddamn inspiration. It’s one of the reasons I haven’t come back. I’ve been too fucking ashamed to show my face around you, knowing how much I’ve let you down in almost every facet of our lives.”

I stare him down. “Then don’t let me down anymore.”

“What do you mean?”

The wheels in my head are turning, sifting through the possibilities of Reid and Eric’s new opportunity. “Take the job with Reid. Create something even better than Bar 79. Prove to yourself and to Reid that even though you failed once, you’re not going to do it again. Stop hiding, and be the person I know you can be.”

“Eve, I don’t know . . .”

“And take me along with you,” I say before I can chicken out.

“What?” His brow creases.

Here goes nothing.

“You admitted it yourself—both you and Reid are bad at business. I’m sure Mr. Knightly is going to want a business manager for the restaurant. I’m about to graduate with a bachelor’s in business, and I’ve been managing the Inn for the last two years. I’m qualified, and I have a bunch of fresh and new ideas, ones I can’t act on at the Inn because they’re so set in their ways. Let me be a part of this. Let me help you finish what you started.”

“You want to manage the restaurant?”

“Yes, I do, and I want you to make it mandatory that I’m a part of it.”

I might be overstepping, but I don’t care. I’m so sick of these two morons sulking around and not making true use of their God-given talent. They need someone to push them, to guide them down the path to success, and I have the tools to do that. Mr. Knightly won’t hire Reid without Eric . . . well, guess what, Eric is going to come with a plus-one as well. If they’re not going to take advantage of this amazing opportunity, then I’m going to make them . . . I’ll guilt them if I have to.

I have zero shame.

“I don’t know, Eve. That’s asking a lot.”

“You owe me,” I say, catching him off guard. “You owe me this. You owe it to Mom and Dad as well.”

“Eve . . .”

“Do you not trust me? Do you not trust in my ability to manage a restaurant?”

“This isn’t my choice to make,” he snaps back, hand to his chest. “I can’t just say you’re hired when it’s not my goddamn restaurant.”

“Then convince them why I would be great for the job. They want you, so make them see why they should want me too.” I catch my breath. “You even said it yourself, years ago—once I got my bachelor’s, you’d go into business with me, and we’d take over the restaurant industry. What happened to that dream, Eric? That was our dream.”

“It was.”

“Then help create another. I love you, Eric, and I’m so glad you’re back in town. Stay this time. Not just for me, but for Mom and Dad. You left me and our plans back here in Port Snow, so help make them a reality.” My voice cracks.

He leans back in his chair, my words hanging between us.

Then I see the tears in his eyes. “Shit, Eve,” he says. “I didn’t come here to fucking cry.”

I chuckle and toss my napkin at him. “But you came here for some sisterly advice, and here it is: You belong here, you were meant to cook with Reid, and you’re supposed to be doing something great with your talent. The opportunity is there, so snatch it up before you let it slip through your fingers.”

He smiles, eyes shining. “Looks like I need to set up a meeting with Mr. Knightly.”





CHAPTER NINETEEN





REID


Reid: Fuck. FUCK! Eric Roberts is back in town.

Griffin: Oh shit! Is he taking the job?

Rogan: Does he know about you and Eve?

Brig: If he does, I didn’t tell him so don’t go blaming me.

Reid: No idea if he knows. He stopped by Eve’s last night when we were having dinner, but I bolted so fast I couldn’t even tell if he was suspicious.