I glance at his profile. His face has obviously changed remarkably since we were kids, but the color of his hair and his eyes still closely resemble my own. He used to call me his brother, even though he already has two.
We're as close as blood relatives. He's one of the few people in this world I'll confide in. That's the only reason I told him about Maya a few months ago after I saw her having dinner withanother man. She didn't notice me, but I couldn't take my eyes off of her.
My reaction to her was visceral and unexpected. I felt an overwhelming need to talk about it the next day. There are only two people on this earth who will never judge me and will hold a secret to the grave. One is Sebastian. The other is our mutual friend Griffin Kent. Both know about my illogical attraction to Maya Baker.
"She was on a date." I take another sip of the beer. "A guy named Charlie."
"Charlie?" He repeats the name back. "Did you meet Charlie?"
I wait for a beat. "Charlie couldn't tear his eyes away from Isadora."
"That, my friend, is irony at its best." He skims his fingertip over the rim of the glass of soda water in front of him. "Charlie wants Izzy. You want Maya. It sounds like the four of you should be playing a game of musical beds."
"Isadora and I are done." I drop my gaze to the top of the wooden bar. "Brynn got engaged last night, and Isadora pushed for the same this morning."
"You two broke up? You're shitting me."
"I'm not." I look at him. "It's over."
A wide smile takes over his mouth. "It's about fucking time, Julian. Jesus, I thought this day would never come."
I shoot him a wry glance. He's told me on more than one occasion that I was wasting my time with Isadora. He saw us together and the non-existent spark between us. I finally told him to shut the hell up about it months ago. It wasn't because I thought he was wrong, but the constant reminder that I needed to stop putting the business before everything else was the last thing I wanted to hear.
"How did she take it?"
I shrug. "The same way she takes everything. She was stoic, unreadable."
"You're expecting a fight, aren't you? Do you think she'll fight to hold onto you?"
I take a deep swallow of the beer before answering. "She can fight all she wants. I'm done. It's over."
"Good." He shoots me a smile. "You're free to chase after Maya now. Come to think of it, why the fuck are you here with me? Shouldn't you be buying her a drink tonight instead of watching me nurse a glass of water?"
"Did you miss the part where I said she came to the party with another man? I have no idea how serious that is." I wave a hand as I stand. "We're about to be propositioned, so unless you're interested in the women walking this way, I suggest we head next door for dinner."
He slides off the bar stool as he steals a glance at the approaching brunettes. "Italian food on your dime beats either of them. Think about what I said, Julian. You don't want to wake up one day ten years from now and look up Maya online to see that she's Mrs. Charlie Whatever-The-Fuck-His-Surname-Is."
Warton.I knew that before I spotted him with Maya last night.
I scanned the guest list after the invitations were sent out. Charles Warton Jr. has been on my radar for some time. Now, that he's a part of Maya's life, my interest piqued to a new level.
"I'll take your advice into consideration."
"You're such a stuck up prick sometimes." He pats my chest before he brushes past me. "I'm starving. Let's eat."
CHAPTER FIVE
Maya
"I havea new listing appointment in an hour." I tap my fingertip against the face of the antique silver wristwatch I'm wearing.
It doesn't work. Most of the vintage watches I've picked up over the years can't keep time. I don't buy them to help keep me punctual. I'm always on time. My phone keeps me on track with its calendar app and the multitude of alarms that all signal different, but equally important, events.
The wind chime I just heard is a reminder of a meeting I have with a potential client on the Upper West Side.
"Your watch is running two hours slow, Maya." Charlie cranes his neck so he can get a better view of my wrist. "You know that it's two o'clock and not noon, right?"
"I know," I say impatiently. "I'm wearing it because I like the style. That's the only reason I ever wear a watch."
