Tug (Irreparable 3)

“The company is half mine.”

“Then I suggest you act like a CEO is expected to. It was your idea to take Gibson public, which I agree was a smart move. But now you have a board to answer to, and they’re looking to replace you.”

The hairs on my neck rise, and my skin heats up. “They can’t do that.”

“If they push hard enough, they can. I’ll talk to them, but I go on the road in a few weeks. Showing them you take your position seriously is up to you.”

Drew runs into the kitchen before we can finish our conversation. He barrels into me. I tickle him until he falls to the floor in a fit of laughter. He stands and smiles.

“You still owe me a boys-only sleepover,” he reminds me. “Can we do it tonight? Please, can we?”

I figure tonight is as good as any, since apparently I should avoid clubs or women for at least a night. “Let’s do it. If it’s okay with your parents.”

“Can I go to Uncle Tug’s? Please, can I go, please, Daddy?”

As pissed as I know Brady is, he doesn’t hesitate to agree. “I’m okay with it, but you’d better go ask your mom.”

After Drew leaves, I tell Brady that I’ll try harder to keep my personal life out of the public spotlight. I have no idea how to create this “new me” or if it’s even possible, but I have to try. I love what I do and I’m proud of what I’ve accomplished at Gibson.

Drew turns off the radio in the car, and I feel his eyes on me.

“Are you mad at my mom?” he asks.

My natural instinct is to resort to sarcasm and tell the kid I don’t know his mom, but I know he means Tori and not his birth mother.

“Your mom and I had a fight.”

“She loves you,” he says. His sad voice pulls on my heartstrings.

I love her, too, so much it hurts. “How do you know that?”

“I hear her and my dad talking,” he admits. “She said she loves you, and it makes her sad you’re not friends anymore.

I blow out a rush of air. “It makes me sad, too, but you shouldn’t be eavesdropping on your parents. Tell me more about school.”

He laughs, his head rolling back and forth over the seatback. “And you shouldn’t try to change the subject. She thinks you hate her. Why aren’t you friends?”

“Oh, buddy, I don’t hate your mom.” I choke out the words as my throat closes up. Why is love so messed up? “We used to be friends — best friends, even.”

“What changed?” he asks. It’s an innocent question from a child with little experience. I can’t tell him the truth. Tori and Brady would kill me.

“It’s complicated.”

“You mean, it’s none of my business, because I’m just a kid.”

Laughter bursts from my lips. “You know, you’re too smart for your own good.”

He grins and nods in agreement. “Smart enough to know a best friend should be forever.”

“Yeah, it should, but sometimes our own stupidity gets in the way.”

“Well, that’s easy to fix. Don’t be stupid.”

I reach over and rub his head. “I’m trying, buddy.”

“Well try harder.”

We park at my building and walk to get the ice cream I promised him.