Bro Code(58)

“If you get any inquiries from potential small business clients, feel free to send them in the direction of my new firm, which I will be establishing here in Indiana. I’d be happy to work with them.” I press the button to end the call. No way in hell is that jerk getting the last word. I take the liberty of deleting my number from Roland’s phone before sliding it across the podium to him.

“You’re a joke, Barrett,” Roland sputters. “You know as well as I do that you can’t keep this plant open. There’s hardly a factory in the country that’s still paying employees instead of making the switch to an automated solution. All you’re doing is buying time until she has to eventually sell that dump.”

“You may be right.” A look of pleasant surprise washes over Roland's features, but it doesn’t last long. “Maybe she’ll have to sell next year, or even next month. But until then, I’m going to be here helping her keep it open as long as we can. And if it comes to the point of selling, I’ll be there to make sure the business ends up in the hands of someone who actually cares. Which I guess eliminates you, doesn’t it?”

Roland’s tomato face ripens two shades of red. I’m kind of surprised he hasn't had an aneurysm. “Everyone needs to get out of our building immediately!” he screeches over the crowd, but no one seems to be bothered or even notice. He marches out of the conference room with a huff, slamming the door behind him, although I don’t even hear it shut over all the whooping and hollering from the guys as he leaves.

Now that he's gone, I can get back to the real reason why I’m here.

Ava.

She's standing at the side of the room, surrounded by of a long line of employees, fielding questions, compliments, and handshakes while she thanks them for their loyalty through this crazy process.

She’s absolutely glowing, happier than I’ve ever seen her, and I can’t help but crack a smile knowing I played a part in making that happen. I join the back of the line of admirers to wait my turn for her attention, but the guy in front of me elbows the guy in front of him and suddenly they’re letting me cut to the front. Looks like I’ve got a room full of wingmen.

I don’t even know where to begin, so when Ava and I are finally face to face, all I can manage is “Hey.”

“Hey.” She smiles, tucking her hair behind her ear. Why is it that defending her in front of a room full of people was so easy, but just looking her in the eye is so hard? I gather all my confidence in a deep breath and as I exhale, the apology starts spilling out of me.

“I am so, so sorry, Ava. I can’t apologize enough. You don’t have to forgive me now, I know I don’t deserve it. But I’m going to work as hard as I can to earn it. I-”

She doesn’t let me finish my thought, throwing her arms around my neck and pressing her mouth against mine in a wild kiss that almost knocks me back.

When she pulls back, she slaps a hand over her mouth, her eyes darting around the room in a frenzy. For a second, I try to figure out what's wrong. It’s not like any of the guys from the factory are going to care if their boss is kissing the lawyer. Who cares?

“Nick, I’m so sorry,” she says, voice breathless and shaky.

Oh, that’s who.

Fuck.

I pivot over my shoulder and find myself toe to toe with Nick. He’s making a scrunched-up face of disgust like he just smelled something rotten, or did a vodka shot and doesn’t have a chaser to follow it up with.

“Are you mad?” Ava peers timidly over my shoulder, using me as a human shield against her brother. Nick considers it for a second, but his sour face eventually relaxes a bit as he shakes his head.

“Less mad than I am just weirded out,” he says with a shudder. “I’m just glad I knew before I saw you guys all over each other. Barrett already told me earlier that he loves you.”

If looks could kill, the glare I give Nick would, at the very least, land him in the emergency room.

“Thanks a lot, man. Kind of wanted to tell her that part myself.”

Nick shrugs apologetically and backs up a bit, giving us what little bit of privacy this busy conference room has to offer.

“You love me?” There are tears in her eyes.

I can barely breathe with the way she’s looking at me. This isn’t exactly how I pictured this moment with Ava—in a corporate conference room of the enemy with her brother standing five feet away. But the secret’s out now, so all I can do is play up whatever small amount of romance the situation can offer. I smile and she bites her lip in that way that drives me absolutely wild.

“How could I not?”

Her eyes flash bright as she grabs me by the lapels of my jacket, pressing up onto her tippy toes to take my lower lip between hers. She’s tender and slow, even as her staff cheers. I can feel her smiling through the kiss until the moment she pulls away.

“I love you, too, Barrett.”

As her words wash through me, so does a strong sense of calm. I shouldn't feel this good—I just lost my job, yet I've never felt better.

“Then that settles it. I’m moving to Indiana to be close to you.” Ava furrows her brow, but I keep talking through her concern, wrapping my arms around her waist. It feels like centuries since I’ve held her; now that I have her back, there's no way I’m letting go. “And before you say anything, I don't want you to worry, I’m not giving anything up by leaving Chicago. Just a bunch of eighty-hour weeks working for someone else. Instead, I’ll open my own private practice here where I'll be able to make time for what really matters.”