Can't Get Enough (Skyland, #3)(126)

“Well, we haven’t been together long and you’ve been pursuing this team literally for years. I’ve met your father. I know what he was denied his entire career. I know he’s still grieving your mom and the impact you’re hoping acquiring this team will have on him. I’m taking all of that into account.”

“And what I feel for you? Do you take that into account?”

“Look, I wouldn’t blame you for choosing the team. It wouldn’t surprise me. Hell, on some level maybe I’d even understand.”

“It wouldn’t surprise you?” I give my irritation free rein. “Setting aside the fact that you think I would choose a business venture over you—”

“A business venture,” she scoffs. “Don’t reduce it to that. We both know to you it’s more than that.”

“Setting that aside,” I persist. “I’m offended that you think I’d endorse or enable something that could have such egregious consequences for Black people, for equity.”

“Seriously?” She sucks her teeth. “Rich Black folks choose their own interests over the community’s all the time.”

“I’m just some rich dude to you?” I ask softly. “Just like every other man who has looked out for his needs and forgotten his girl’s?”

“You said it. I didn’t.”

“Hendrix, baby.”

She lets out a long frustrated breath. “Look, I know you’re in a difficult position.”

Is she really not going to ask me to choose her? My resolve strengthens, but all the words I had prepared to convince her recede.

“I’ll be in touch,” I tell her instead. “The next time we talk, this will be settled.”

“You’re not going to… well, tell me what you plan to do?” she asks, allowing a rare vulnerability in her voice.

“I’ll show you.”

“Goodbye, Mav.” The joy and eagerness usually in her voice when we speak is noticeably absent, flattened by worry and frustration.

“Goodbye, Gorgeous.”

I hang up, take a deep breath, and process what I’m about to do. It goes against every business instinct I have. The Vipers are an excellent investment. It’s an industry I know inside and out and what I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember. And I truly believe it would invigorate my father in his grief like nothing else could, but this conundrum is not really a conundrum at all because of what I know in my heart. Something I haven’t voiced to Hendrix yet, but will not miss the chance to show her.

“Let me guess,” Bolt says. “We’re heading home.”

“You know me well.” I sigh and scrub rough hands over my face. “But first I gotta make a call.”





CHAPTER 51





HENDRIX


So you’re dating Maverick Bell?” Chapel asks, confusion and some displeasure in her tone. “I saw the pics of you and him all hugged up outside the courthouse. And now you tell me you’re no longer producing my show. This sucks, Hen.”

Who you telling?

I want to say it so badly, but show restraint and comport myself like the good professional I am.

“My first concern is as your manager,” I reply, tilting Daddy’s rickety chair back and trying to maintain my Zen. “And ensuring that the best opportunities are available to you so we can grow your brand. That’s my priority and my commitment.”

“You feeding me the company line, but you forget I know how bad you wanted to break into producing with this show. You sure Maverick is worth losing this shot?”

Two days ago, I would have answered with an unequivocal hell yeah. After discovering the owner of the Vipers is one of the assholes behind this lawsuit and that Maverick is in business with him…

Do you trust me?

Maverick’s question has been looping in my head ever since we spoke two days ago. We actually haven’t spoken since. I’m still grappling with that question for myself. I’m certainly not unpacking it for Chapel. Not yet.

“Zere and I discussed this,” I say, sitting forward and evading her question. “We’ve agreed it’s better for all concerned if I step away from this project.”

“Because she thinks you stole her man.”

I really wish Chapel was not so read between the lines literate.

“The situation between Zere and me—”

“And Maverick.”

“—has evolved and the smoothest road forward is with me operating in my capacity solely as your manager, and Zere taking the lead alone to helm the show.”

“And you’re sure you’re okay with this?” Chapel presses. “I don’t have to do it. You’re my manager, yes, but you’re also my girl and I—”

“Chap!” I close my eyes and take a beat to pull myself back from the edge. “Of course I’m disappointed that it’s not going as originally planned, but I want this show to have the best shot possible. That won’t happen if there’s tension between the two people trying to get it made.”

“If you don’t want me to do this, I won’t. We’ll do something else later.”

Look at her choosing me. The women in my life are constantly putting each other first. The men… jury’s still out.