“I have a question for you,” Kai said.
I nodded, then took a drink from the foamy beer. “Okay.”
“Are you in love with my brother?”
My neck tensed painfully, and my ears felt hot. Kai gave me an even, steady stare, as serious as I’d ever seen on his very serious face.
“Yes,” I managed. There was no use in lying, and the truth was the best way forward. “I am.”
“Holy shit.” Kai took another drink of his beer. There was anger on his face, but I saw that he was pushing through it. “I never thought you’d fall in love with anyone.”
I laughed. “Me either.”
He rubbed his hand over his face, then nodded. “I’m not going to try to stop you two.”
My heart jumped. “You’re not?”
“No. It wouldn’t work anyway. I know how you both are. It doesn’t mean I’m happy about the way you lied to me, though. And I guarantee, for a while, whenever I see you two touch each other, I’m going to go blind with rage.”
I sucked a breath through my teeth. “I’m not looking forward to that.”
“Give me time,” he said, then knocked the table. “But River stuck up for you. He told me how you helped him, and he explained that he’s the one who came onto you. And I want to tell you something else. I’m glad you fired the Hank family.”
I startled, surprised at the turn in conversation. “What about the finances? You said we were going to be screwed.”
“You and I have been dumping everything we earn back into the business for years. We need the Hank account if we’re going to keep building, but maybe we can hold steady for a while. Pick a different kind of client when we add to our list again, stay the size we are? It’s a great group, and we run without a hitch.”
“That’s against all of my instincts,” I said. “And I actually think it’s the perfect idea.”
Kai chuckled. “Yeah, I knew you would. That’s my brother’s influence.”
I smiled, glad River was rubbing off on me. “Yeah, it is his influence,” I agreed.
“I like it,” Kai said with a half-smile. “When River told me about the movie theater and the Hank family, I realized he was changing you. Building the firm has been your number one priority for years, but it really struck me that you’re starting to care about something else, too.” He shook his head, almost disbelieving. “I like it,” he repeated.
“So what now?” I asked. “Should I move back home?”
Kai rolled his eyes. “Like it’s just that easy? You’ve still got a mess on your hands, Leo.” He took another big gulp from his beer, then stood up. “Give me another couple nights before you come by to the condo, okay?” He patted me on the back, his face turned away. “We’re going to have to figure out how to feel good around each other again, but for now, I’m glad you and River have each other.”
Relief washed over me, and I nodded. Kai sauntered away, and I sat there for a while, just sipping my drink and taking it all in. My head was dizzy with the hope that things might actually turn out okay. My instincts told me to run straight to River, to tell him that we could be together, but I knew I needed to do this right.
He had learned to go slow and build trust with me, so I knew I shouldn’t rush ahead now when it mattered the most.
I pulled out my phone and dialed Cass, eager to ground myself in someone else’s perspective. “Are you free right now?” I asked the second he answered.
“I just picked Shawn up from the library. What’s up?”
“Any chance I can lure you out for a drink?”
By the time they got to the bar, I was practically jumping up and down in my seat. If Kai could forgive me, that meant River and I could really be together. He was still working on his independence, and I would never rush him, but something real was possible in a way it hadn’t been before.
And for the first time in my life, I truly wanted something that would last.
How could I not, after River walked into my life?
“What is that look on your face about?” Cass laughed as he and my brother squeezed into the booth across from me.
“You’ll never believe it, but I fell in love.”
