His father’s passing still weighed heavily on all of them. Hugh would have loved a new wee one to cuddle and spoil. He would have loved to see his wife become a grandmother and to see his daughter hold her first child.
It had taken considerable effort on everyone’s part to dispel the dark mood, but eventually the tears dried, and they sent the happy parents-to-be off.
Patrick, however, was still frustrated over his son’s recent attitude. His boy was unhappy, upset about something. Whatever it was, Jonathan wasn’t opening up to him like he normally would.
“Is he concerned about taking the Architects Register Admission Exam?” Bran asked.
“Surely not,” Raven chimed in. “I’ve never seen anyone with more talent. He’s been working with the firm we use for new builds or reconstructions since he got his bachelor’s.”
“Yeah,” Rowan, who had just arrived, added. “He had no trouble with his masters, and he speaks positively about the projects the firm allows him to collaborate on.”
“I don’t believe it has anything to do with his job or the ARAE exam. Daniel hasn’t said anything to you?” Patrick asked his brother.
“No, only that neither of them took dates to the Gray Eyes event last night, which was new for the two of them, but Daniel seemed fine with it.”
Patrick looked at his wife, River. “You’re awfully quiet.” Very quiet. Very un-River-like. The moment he called on his wife, he watched her eyes flick to first Raven and then Rowan.
“You know something.” That wasn’t a question. The question was why she was keeping secrets. They never kept secrets from each other.
He flicked his own glance to first Daniel and then Ulf. They shrugged but nodded toward the women. As if they’d choreographed the move, River’s sisters moved to sit on either side of her at the kitchen bar.
Patrick flicked the heat off on the range before turning his attention to the three smiling women. They still looked so alike, it made his heart pound to see them side by side, remembering when he, Bran, and their dad met the sisters for the first time.
Not letting happy memories fog his train of thought, he asked, “Well, wife?”
“I, no, we,” she corrected, glancing again at her sisters who nodded agreement, “think Jonathan’s in love.”
“But there is a problem,” Raven added.
“A big problem,” Rowan agreed and winced.
seventeen
MAGS
Two weeks had passedsince Dagr and Bébhinn’s charity event and their big announcement. With all their closest friends—and Eze, whom everyone instantly approved of except for Jonathan—gathered around them in Gray Eyes’ high-stakes poker room, the happily married couple announced that they were expecting a baby.
Everyone went wild with congratulations. No wonder Bébhinn chose a charity that provided shelter and love for children. Mags was still tingling with excitement for her friends. Another child to love on, as if Gray and Ciar’s little ones, Colm and Imogen, weren’t amazing enough.
Mags looked at herself in the mirror as the hot air from her blow dryer filtered through her dark brown waves. She pinched herself every morning to prove that she was truly living in such an amazing flat with an amazing friend instead of sleeping on an attic floor and being lonely. Her clientele was ticking up every week as well.
She and Eze had become closer, and Mags would be forever thankful that she’d taken that job at the chippers because she’dmade a lifelong friend from it. He surprised her by turning in both of their notices. He claimed that he used to need the monotony of the job to concentrate on the theories running through his mind, but since she’d moved in, he felt more clarity and had enough peace now to sit on his living room couch and let his mind wander where it would.
With the money she saved by living with Eze, she was able to devote her energy to her business. She quit her job at the elderly care facility to free up even more time, but kept the bartending gig because it was only two nights a week and the tips were crazy good.
They’d compared notes a few nights ago about the men they were trying to make have regrets. In her case, she wanted to get over the man and for Jonathan to have regrets. Nasir watched her with an unforgiving glare. Eze pretended not to see Nasir’s pain-filled eyes following him, but he’d admitted that it went a long way to soothing his wounded pride.
Jonathan—he was more complicated.
It was hurtful and infuriating in equal parts that he was attempting to, what, pursue her? He had done everything to show her that he didn’t think of her as girlfriend material, or even worthy of a date. Was this about making amends for the kiss and how he behaved afterward?
She shook her head at her reflection. “Let it go, already, Jon.”
Whatever his reasoning, she knew it was in her best interest to ignore his newest nonsense and protect her heart.
Jonathan was the one man who could really hurt her. He’d proven the ability over and over and over again. She was mature enough now to understand that he wasn’t doing it on purpose. Not since after the one kiss they’d shared, anyway.
She was the one who’d allowed her heart to be pummeled and broken. She was fixing her past mistakes now and moving on. She might still long to feel his hands on her skin and hismouth devouring hers, but she’d become an expert at pretending where he was concerned.
