“Marcus?” Jeremy’s voice comes from the bathroom.
Shit.
“Well, I should get going,” I mumble.
“Who was that? Do you have a girl there?”
“What? No,” I scoff, probably looking guilty as hell. “Definitely not a girl.”Not a lie. “I’ll call you later, okay? Stay safe. Say hello to Fi for me.” Then I hit End on the call and toss my phone onto the bed just as Jeremy opens the bathroom door.
He walks out with a towel hanging low on his hips, his blond hair damp from his shower. I can’t help the way my eyes travel the length of his body before sliding back up to his face.
He smirks at me. “Enjoying the view?”
I give him a tired but coy smile. “Maybe.”
Jeremy approaches me and sits on my lap, straddling mylegs. He pushes his hands through my hair, and I close my eyes briefly, letting out a pent-up breath.
“You seem so tense lately,” he murmurs as he studies me. “Did you sleep at all?”
I shrug. “A little.”
“What’s on your mind?”
“It’s just pub stuff. Nothing you need to worry about right now.”
He gives me a wounded look, and I realize he wants more from me. “It’s my siblings. Charlie’s best friend, Fiona, is working with Sebastian at the pub, and there’s this drama with her stepfather. And Charlie is worried and keeps texting and calling me.” I press my forehead to his warm shoulder. “Sometimes I wish I wasn’t such a good big brother. I’m tired.” He kisses the side of my neck, and I grip his hips and pull him a little closer. I raise my head and kiss him softly. He feels nice against my lips.
“And how’re things going with your dad?” Jeremy’s gentle fingers on my chin pull my gaze back when I look away. “Talk to me.”
“He wants me and Sabrina to set a wedding date, so we’ve been discussing what we want to say to him.”
Jeremy tenses a little. “I don’t understand how your brother is so clueless about all of this. It’s kind of a public spectacle in Seattle.”
“Sebastian has his own shit going on. But also, he’s always left the business side of things to me, so unless it involves food, he’s a bit oblivious.”
I haven’t told Jeremy that John is going to be our new investor once I’ve freed myself and my siblings from our father’s orbit. Then I’ll step back and leave Sebastian to run things.
His brows crash together as he studies me. “I know you loveyour family, Marcus, but you don’t enjoy this. You said you wanted a break, but what does that mean?”
He hit the nail on the head. I consider telling him that I only feel alive when I think about moving somewhere else. Somewhere peaceful.
Maybe with him.
I don’t really have a solid future plan, but I make enough money off the pubs to figure it out as I go. I’ve considered just being one those eccentric old guys who wears cozy sweaters and sells his pottery at Saturday markets.
I have started looking at properties—from the Washington coast to the mountains to the west—that are close enough for me to help Seb with the business if need be, but also isolated enough to give me the space I want and need.
But that seems like a lot.
So I tighten my arms around him and distract him with another kiss.
He moans as our mouths slide together, and I nip his bottom lip and flip us, pinning him on his back, his towel falling open. Jeremy giggles as I pepper kisses along his cheeks and nose. When I pull back, we stare at each other for a beat, and his ocean eyes reflect back that feeling that neither one of us is willing to voice.
“Tell me something true,” he whispers.
I swallow.
I might love you.
