I shrugged. “That depends. He’s here to talk to you, not me.” I had a feeling Kelton was here to finish our conversation. “I can leave.”
“I’m here to find out the truth, Lizzie.” Kelton’s voice hardened. “Whether you tell me or Dillon tells me. I’m not leaving until I get answers. Who are you running from?”
“Have you stopped to think for one second that I might be running from you?” I snarled.
Hurt washed over his face before he quickly banked it. “I get that part, but there’s something bigger going on. Let’s not forget, I haven’t done anything to you. I haven’t seen or heard from you in seven years.” He gripped the island.
Yeah, you did. You loved me. My heart broke into a billion pieces when I moved and left you standing on the street, looking like your world had just crumbled. I’ve been carrying the burden of that image all these years.
“You did say before he got here that you wanted my help,” Dillon said. “Unless he stole from you, which I don’t think he did, let us help.”
Traitor.
My gaze traveled from Kelton to Dillon then back to Kelton. I guessed it wouldn’t be so bad for both to help. I might find Terrance faster. After all, Kelton had an inside advantage since he and Zach were friends.
“He isn’t going to leave until he gets his way,” I said in a snarky tone, glaring at the blue-eyed Adonis.
“Tell your girlfriend to can the attitude.” One side of Kelton’s lips turned up.
I chomped down on my tongue, when all I wanted to do was wipe the tantalizing smirk off his face. But if Kelton continued to think Dillon and I were a couple, then maybe he would leave me alone after this conversation.
Dillon capped his VitaminWater. “First, Maxwell, drag the barstool over here and sit down.”
Kelton scowled but obeyed the direct order. It was funny to watch him stomp around much like he had when he didn’t get his way with Mrs. Nappi in our sixth grade science class.
“Thank you. Second, I’m not going to referee.” He turned his attention on me. “If you want him to stay, then no attitude, please. I get you two have history, but let’s cut to the chase. I need to pick up Allie and Bee in thirty minutes. And, so we’re clear, Maxwell”—his gaze lingered on me as though he was telling me he was sorry for what he was about to say—“Lizzie and I are not dating.”
Well, darn. I didn’t have Dillon to hide behind anymore. Maybe he thought the same as I did. If we kept pretending, Kelton would keep bugging him, and while Dillon seemed to have patience, everyone had a breaking point.
Some emotion washed over Kelton’s face that I couldn’t quite make out. Joy. Shock. Fear. Maybe all three.
“Now, before we were interrupted,” Dillon said to me, “you were telling me about your sister, Gracie. Let’s start there.”
Kelton straightened on the stool. It sat at least two inches higher than the bench seating at the table.
Yeah, this was going to be harder than I’d expected. Explaining how my sister died to Dillon was one thing, easy maybe, but to Kelton? His presence alone caused a queasiness to grip my stomach. Kelton didn’t even know my parents were dead.
I swallowed the frog in my throat. My current situation didn’t have anything to do with my sister. Keeping my eyes on Dillon, I began with, “In the event both my parents died, my dad had set up an estate for me, detailing how their 401Ks, life insurance, and other assets would be handled. He wanted—”
“Wait. Are you saying your parents are dead?” Kelton asked in a staggered tone.
Trying to keep my voice from wobbling, I sucked in a sharp breath. “Boating accident.”
He reached out to grab my wrist. I put my hands in my lap. If I was going to tell the story without shedding a tear, I couldn’t have Kelton touching me. I’d start bawling then more than likely jump into his arms. Neither of those actions would help to get my money back.
Kelton mumbled something before he asked, “Gracie, too?”
Dillon’s face was void of any emotion. So I concentrated on him.
“No. Gracie wasn’t with them. Anyway, my dad had outlined specific instructions for the trustee of their estate. Make sure I go to college, and make sure I get a monthly stipend for living expenses while in college. About a month ago, the university contacted me to let me know my tuition payment was overdue. I contacted the trustee, but he never returned my calls. So I went to his place of employment. Gone. I went to his house. Empty. When I checked my bank account, I also found my monthly allowance had stopped. I knew he had a son who was at BU. So I came to Boston in hopes I could find the man who ran off with my money.”
Kelton made an odd noise in the back of his throat. “Let me guess. Zach is the son.”
Dillon darted his gaze to Kelton, as did I. He shrugged with an I’m-not-an-idiot look.
“Yeah. His father and mine were good friends.” I took a swig of tea.
“How much are we talking about?” Kelton hunched forward, his elbows on his knees.
“A million,” I said, low.