Wes didn’t know if his brother meant their partnership or him and Hailey.
“Hailey.”
She shook her head, held up a hand. “I tell you a Tiffany bracelet is too much after two weeks, you seem to get it. I didn’t think it needed to be said but apparently you need it spelled out pretty clear. Nearly four months is too soon to buy real estate to save your girlfriend’s ass. Especially when said girlfriend has told you more than once that I can take care of myself. I don’t want anything from you other than you, but that’s too much for you to wrap your head around, isn’t it?”
Noah muttered, “Oh shit.”
Walking closer, hoping to get the situation under control, he reached out. “Hailey, I didn’t buy the place. I didn’t rescue you. But would it be so bad if I did? You matter to me. Do you think I’m just going to let your dreams fall apart when I can stop it?”
She shook her head. “So, you support me, listen to me. You help me brainstorm ideas but you don’t reach into your pockets and bail me out.” He started to speak but she held up her hand. “Or ask your mom to do it.”
He stiffened, dropped his hands. “Speaking of hiding things. Why didn’t you tell me you’d lost two contracts because of Ana?”
She stormed toward him, poked his chest. “Because my business is mine to take care of. I’m not going to cry to my boyfriend about a couple of lost lunch contracts through her when I filled those spots in seconds.”
“We should go,” Chris said, hedging toward the door.
Hailey shook her head. “No. I’m leaving. You stay.” She started to go but turned. “I thought when you made me that game that you really did understand me. You spend so much time looking for ways to solve other people’s problems, even when they don’t want you to, you end up creating more. I don’t need saving. I saved myself when I showed up here. I know you have money but that isn’t the part of you I see. I see the guy who laughs at corny jokes, always puts his keys exactly where they go, makes lists for fun, and is an incredibly talented artist. But you need to start looking back, Wes. I needed someone to see me, all of me, and believe I could do what I set out to do with or without them.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets, his jaw tightening. “I won’t apologize for wanting what’s best for you.”
Noah and Chris groaned in unison.
“That’s part of your problem. You think you get to decide what that is. But I make my own choices.”
“Don’t leave like this.” The word “stay” sat heavily in his mouth. He didn’t want her to go.
“I’m leaving before I say something I’ll regret.”
She walked by him. He fought the urge to reach out and yank her against his body, hug her until she could feel all his emotions trembling inside of him. But he wouldn’t. This was exactly what he’d feared. That he’d want her so badly, he’d let his emotions rule his decisions. He was thrilled his mother owned the shops. Should he have talked to her? Maybe. But he couldn’t chase after her only to have her walk away regardless. Space and time would give them both clarity. That was rational. Logical. They’d come to an agreement somewhere in the middle.
“Dude. You’re an idiot,” Noah said.
“Shut up, Noah.” Chris shook his head, sank down to the couch.
He hated fighting. It was part of why he tried to control the narrative. But maybe his need to sort things out in the way he deemed right really was getting in his way. His heart hurt. See? Emotions muddle everything up. He’d been so sure he was right, and now? He just didn’t know.
“Just out of morbid curiosity, what did you want to talk to us about?” Chris let his forearms drop between his legs.
Wes sank down to the spot Hailey had vacated. “This. I didn’t mean to keep it from you guys. I’m sorry. I was just trying to get things in place before telling you. But I also wanted to talk about CoreTech. Ana was horrible to Hailey. I’d like to drop them as a client.”
Noah hung his head then pinned Wes with an angry glare. “Let’s not make any more rash decisions. I’m not saying no but let’s let it sit for a while.”
God. He was doing it again. Acting on emotion. Of course they needed to let it sit. Discuss it.
Chris looked at Wes, studying him closely. “Why did she call you an artist?”
He ran his hands through his hair, held on to it as he looked at his brothers. He felt like he was treading water. “She’s seen my art. I made her a video game. It’s nothing.”