“But it worked?”
Shane gritted his teeth.Ryan swept her off her feet just like Shane said he would.
“You like her, don’t you?”
Choking out a laugh, Shane shrugged, even though Claire wouldn’t be able to see him. “She’s okay.”
“No, I mean, youlikeher. If you didn’t, you’d be telling me more details about your little high school game. You love a good prank, especially when it works. Instead, you sound all cagey and...peeved.”
“Peeved?” Shane attempted to laugh again. “Really, Claire, you need to get out more.”
“Pot calling the kettle black, Worm.” The background clatter in Claire’s kitchen faded. “Right, you’re off speaker now. So, what happened?”
Knowing he was toast, Shane blew out a long, weary breath. “The high school rom-com happened.” He flopped onto his sofa and told Claire all about Krista. From finding her in the bushes to dumping her bags at her feet.
“Way to go,” Claire said. “That must’ve have made her feel really special.”
“But she’d made her choice by then.”
“How do you know for sure?”
“Because...” Uncertainty clawed at him for a moment then died, killed by the image of a bridegroom left standing at the altar without a bride. “Because I’ve learned a few things this past year.”
“I knew that witch would have something to do with this.”
Holding the phone away from his ear, Shane let Claire rip. Ranting about Fiona was one of his sister’s favorite steam-busting past times—especially after a night of no sleep.
“And I hope she chokes on that stupid little rat-dog of hers.”
“You’re starting on Pookie now?” Shane said. “Wow, last night must’ve been really rough with the kids.”
“You hated that yappy creature as much as I did.”
But Fiona had loved her brainless Cavapoo. It had been a standing joke between them—one of many. Like the fancy parties she’d dragged him to for her work. As an events’ organizer, Fiona used to say she loved showing him off in a tux to her clients, that he looked like James Bond on steroids and was good for business. Her work was one of the reasons they’d bought and moved into the apartment in the Central Business District, overlooking the Opera House and Sydney Harbour, instead of the large house in the suburbs that he’d wanted. A large house built with children in mind.
“It’s time to get over Fiona,” Shane told his sister now. “You’re more hung up on her and what she did than I am.”
“That’s not true.”
“No, you’re right. It isn’t.” Shane couldn’t deny it anymore. He’d let Krista go because he was afraid of getting hurt again.Once bitten, twice shy.She’d said it herself by Medicine Lake. Would she therefore understand why he’d fled at the service station?
Would she hear him out and let him explain?
But now that she had Ryan, would whatever Shane had to say really matter anymore?
