“Don’t worry, we’ll definitely be out there,” Beth says, and I kick my foot out to shut my sister up.
“Ah!” Tenley yelps, looking over at me with wide eyes.Whoops.
Beth shrieks, then leans under the table. “What was that for?” she glares at Tenley.
“I think the first one was for you.” Both women look over at me, like I’m the biggest dickhead.Yeah, I know.
A boot kicks my shin. “Dude, what the fuck?” I blanch at Mason.
He shrugs. “What? I don’t understandtheir games.”
I scowl at him then look over my shoulder and notice the line at the bar is looking too busy.
“I gotta get back behind the bar,” I announce to the table, gripping the seat back as I slide out of the booth.
Isabelle shifts along the seat, taking up some of the space where I just was. Before I pull away completely, I turn my head to the crowd but keep my lips hovering by her ear.
“Don’t dance with him.”
She shifts, bringing our faces mere inches from each other. Her eyebrows pinch together, eyelashes fluttering in confusion. Now I feel stupid for even asking. My cheeks feel hot as I flick my tongue over my lip ring. Jesus, what the fuck am I doing?
“I won’t, Grim.”
I freeze, meeting her eyes. She’s called me that once before. In Royal Harbour. What does she remember from that weekend?
A small smile graces her face and my fist squeezes the leather seat back, trying to stop my knees from weakening at the sight of that smile, that promise, all for me.
I nod, and it feels like a deal has been made. As I step through the crowd, a riot of thoughts tumbles through my brain. It’s been longer than I can remember since I truly wanted something for myself. Had something to feel selfish over. But the things I crave from Isabelle, the things she seems to offer me, I can’t help but feel like I’m on the right path. I don’t know where it leads, but I want to follow it.
I just don’t know if I should.
Chapter thirteen
“Fancy seeing you here.”
I turn to the gentle voice that approaches from my side. Still wearing her riding gear, Evelyn settles beside me on the grass, looking at her son’s headstone with a soft smile.
“Just having a chat,” I say, looking back at his name etched in the stone, my lips thinning in the best smile I can muster for her.
“Yes, he’s a good listener.”
I turn my head to offer her a playful glare at her horrible attempt at a joke, but my eyes immediately start to well up. I purse my lips, sucking back the emotion.
“Yeah,” I whisper, with a wobble to my words.
Evelyn leans her head on my shoulder. “What do you think he’d be doing today?”
I drop my head back, looking up at the clouds, and blow out a breath. “Probably telling me about his latest idea for a cool business.”
Evelyn laughs under her breath. “Convincing you to buy a private island for the two of you to put matching castles on.”
“Yeah, him and his castles. He loved that idea.”
“He loved you,” she says.
A defiant tear rolls down my cheek, and I quickly swipe it away. Mad at myself. Mad at the world.
“Do you think he’d have a partner?”Evelyn asks.
