“Yeah.”
“Like two and a half days.”
“I know how the weekend works.”
“Well…that’s a lot of me.”
He stared for a while. “Doesn’t feel like a lot.”
19
LUCA
When I walked inside the bar, he was already there, seated in the booth facing me, arms on the table, sleeves pushed to his elbows, his bright-blue eyes the only kind feature he possessed. Dimly lit with hardly anyone there at one in the morning, the place felt like it belonged to the two of us.
With frustration already heavy in my heart, I sat across from him. He had already ordered a drink for me. I sank into the back of the booth, scanned the room I already knew was empty, and then looked at him again.
His stare was as cold as mine.
I grabbed the glass and took a drink.
“You want to start, or you want me to start?” Bastien asked.
“You already know the answer.” I didn’t want to be here. Didn’t want to be interrogated. But there was no dodging Bastien when his sights were set.
“Why are you being this way?”
“What way?”
Irritation flashed across his eyes even though he’d probably expected the conversation to go this way. “Like a cunt.”
I gave a quiet scoff then took a drink.
“I told you everything about Fleur from the day I met her, and you’re keeping me in the dark about Aliénor but telling her I’m like a brother to you.”
“I didn’t ask about Fleur. You told me about her.”
“Because you’re my brother.”
“Because we’re different men, Bastien. You’ve always been a talker. Always been good with words and expressing yourself and shit. I’m so far the opposite.”
“Really?” he challenged. “Because I remember sitting in Holybelly with you while you told me how much my retirement has bothered you.”
My eyes flicked away.
“That you miss me.”
“I never said those words.”
“Whether you did or didn’t, they were implied.”
I grabbed the glass and took another drink, falling deeper into this prison.
“But you won’t tell me a damn thing about Aliénor. I had to find out from Carvel.”
“He only knew because he was there.”
“I don’t give a shit whether he was there or not. Why am I hearing about this important relationship from anyone else but you?”
