“I don’t like it, Shelb. This is why I didn’t want you to do the show in the first place. You don’t need it.”

“Technically, maybe I don’t. But we’ve been over this. I wanted the opportunity to show that I’ve grown. That I’m happy and doing well.”

“And the commission for me means nothing, I’m sure.”

I blink, feeling caught. He presses on.

“Look, I’m not an idiot, kid. I know you’re worried, but you don’t need to be. I’m going to be fine. I don’t need you putting yourself through this just so I can retire early.”

“I’m not. Not completely, anyway,” I concede at his look. “I really do want to prove myself, and to do that, I need your expertise. You’re doing me a favor taking on the commission. If it helps you, great. I’d love nothing more than for you and Jazz to retire and take long cruises to places neither of you can pronounce.”

“I never liked how Ada Mae took advantage of you. I know I should have done more at the time. You deserved better from me. And this, here, feels too close for comfort.”

I shake my head. “Not even, Dad. Ada Mae pissed away my money before I even knew what a bank account was. She used it on plastic surgery and her boyfriends. You gave me a home, a career, a loving family, and a future. All things I can never repay you for. And now you’re making it possible for me, and by extension, Cameron Riggs, to start off fresh. Take the fucking commission and let’s never talk of it again.”

My dad chuckles, low. “Fine, fine. I’ll take it. And only because you’re right. Cameron is gonna need my help if he’s going to survive flipping a house with you.”

My jaw drops in faux offense and I shove at his shoulder. His face turns serious, though. “Speaking of, you should probably see what those guys are up to.”

“They aren’t coming here, are they?” I ask, afraid of the answer. It’s not that I’m scared of Lyle, but I’m definitely dreading seeing him. And I’d like to avoid that moment of “Oh, so this is where you’ve been hiding since I broke your heart and melted your career?” if I can.

Not that he would say that, but it would be implied in every loaded look, gauging his power to hurt me still, and I already hate him for it.

“Well, Cameron went to meet with him. I get the impression he wanted to speak with you both, but Riggs cut him off and promised to meet him at some distillery in town.”