She swallowed and turned her head deliberately to look forward, though it took a massive force of will, hating the taste of grief and anger in her mouth. “Let’s go.”
Chapter Seven
Jacob spun the bottle of beer around, watching the condensation ring on the table become larger. The music from the bar was white noise, the clatter of plates and glasses a cacophony he was able to tune out.
The beer was his favorite, an IPA from a local brewery, but it was bitter and disgusting on his tongue today. His taste buds were ruined for everything. He swallowed, but it didn’t help.
“…up with you?”
“I think he’s brooding.”
“This seems a bit intense, even for him.”
“These artist types, man. Yo, Jacob!”
Jacob jerked his head up, startled at the sound of his name. His brothers stared back at him, equal amounts perplexed and amused. “You aren’t even paying attention to us,” Ben, his youngest brother, complained.
“Ah. Sorry, guys. I’m, uh, not good company.”
“Is it your book? I know you have a deadline.” Ever mindful of obligations, Ben cocked his head. “How’s that going?”
“Great,” he lied, attempting not to think about the manuscript languishing on his hard drive. Like he’d been able to write a single word today after last night. Shell-shocked and sleep-deprived, he had spent the day in a stupor, too many thoughts shooting through his brain for him to focus on any one.
“You don’t look great.” Ben frowned. “Is something wrong?”
What was wrong was that he was a stupid asshole. He couldn’t eat, he couldn’t sleep, and he had barely managed to look at himself in the mirror this morning when he was brushing his teeth.
A bit of beer spilled on the table. Absentmindedly, he wiped it with a napkin. “Nah, it’s fine.”
“Really?”
“Yeah, really. I’m just kind of tired. You know.”
“Man, tell me about it. You didn’t tell us how hard running our own business is,” Connor said. Ben and Connor were Irish twins, with Connor older by only eleven months, but they looked enough alike to pass for identical. All the Campbell brothers looked similar, actually, big and broad and dark haired. Kati was the only oddball, with her blondness and petite frame.
“I actually told you exactly that, before you started.” Jacob frowned, his attention suddenly diverted from his own troubles. “What’s wrong? Is it going poorly?”
“Nah. Business is picking up,” Ben replied. “We’re finally moving past mowing lawns.”
Connor grinned, his smile looking so much like their late mother’s, Jacob felt a pang in his chest. “Got a huge new client last week. Out of town, has eight properties here they want to completely redo.” Without even looking at each other, the boys high-fived. “It’s gonna be great.”
Jacob’s smile was weak, but it was there. “Good. I’m happy for you guys.”
“Maybe he’ll like us so much we can get a deal on rent in one of those properties,” Ben mused. “It would be nice to have running hot water. I’ve taken more cold showers…” He cut himself off.
Connor made an annoyed sound. “Damn it. Finish that sentence.”
“Not a chance. I know you already have some smartass remark ready.”
Deprived of a prime teasing opportunity, Connor’s full lips turned down.
“Your landlord still hasn’t fixed your water? I can come over and take a look,” Jacob offered, ignoring their antics.
“Nah. We can handle it.”
“I told you two, you could move back home until the business gets off the ground.”
“Yeah, I’m sure that’ll drive all the chicks crazy.” Connor’s smile was sardonic. “Your place or…my brother’s?”
