I run a hand through my hair. “I don’t know,” I admit. “Maybe?”
“Are you asking for our blessing?” Kalle wants to know. “Because I did that with Edie’s dad and it didn’t go down like this.”
“I’m so sick of everyone getting married,” Gunnar bursts out, dropping his head onto the bar. “There’s so much pressure and me and Stella arenotthere yet.”
The outburst temporarily silences us. “Dude,” Bo says finally. “This isn’t about you.”
Gunnar lifts his head. “I know, but I had to get it out there. So. Much. Pressure. Please don’t marry her,” he begs me. “At least not right away.”
“I think that might be getting a little ahead of ourselves,” Kalle cautions, which mirrors my thoughts exactly.
“When you know, you know,” Bo says sagely, pushing his glass back to Kalle for a refill.
Also my thought.
“I don’t know what will happen, but I want to see her.” I take a deep breath, wishing we were talking about just a girl, rather than their sister. But Lyra has never been just a girl, and that’s the wholeproblem. “I want to spend some time with her. I need to see if I have to fight for her, if this is my last chance.”
“Leaving it a bit late, aren’t you?” Bo asks drily.
“Maybe. Hopefully not. I just don’t know, you know?”
“I’ve never known you not to know something,” Gunnar points out.
Bo huffs a laugh.
“Are you all right with it?” I ask, turning to each of them.
Regardless of how he feels about Abigail and me, Bo is the first to clap a meaty hand on my shoulder. “Yes.” His voice is gruff. “You’re our brother.”
“And if you and Lyra got together, that would make it really real,” Gunnar adds. “Not that it’s not real.”
“All of us would be honoured to call you brother-in-law.” Kalle offers me his hand.
“But don’t get married,” Gunnar groans. “Don’t do that to me. Not yet, please.”
“I’m not promising anything,” I tell Gunnar. “But okay. I’m going to do this.” I finish the rest of my beer too quickly and it almost comes up my nose. “I’m going to Saint Pierre to fight for your sister.”
“Best of luck.” Kalle raises his glass and the others follow. “You’re going to need it.”
10
Lyra
I
tellmyselfIpickedAsani because I’m interested in him. That I’m attracted, intrigued. I was swept away by our first meeting, our conversation at the cocktail party, and that I can see a future with him.
I could have picked any of them—Tanner, Basher, sweet and funny Rand. Eliott. Even sad-dog-eyed Lucas, but the way he looks at me might have been too much for an entire date.
But I picked Asani.
I keep listing the entirely plausible reasons so I can forget that I decided to give Asani the First Date Rose because he was first out of the car, and that seemed fair. It takes courage to go first and he should be rewarded.
It’s not a great reason, but at least it’s a start.
The show gets me a snazzy convertible, thinking it makes good video to show me speeding around the roads of Saint Pierre. I agree that it does.
There aren’t a lot of snazzy any things on Saint Pierre. Most of the vehicles are either pickups or tiny compacts, and all have seen better days. But I like the red Audi convertible waiting for me the next afternoon, although I push it a bit on the short drive and the drone filming above me barely keeps up.
