“It could do with some work.” I huff out a laugh as we cross the road, his antics halting my internal turmoil.
“I’m open to suggestions.” He pushes open the diner door, and we slide into a booth.
“You can rely on Kai?” I say, browsing the drinks menu.
“Oh, I like that one.”
“Or Kai likes to pry.”
“Too far, man.” He pouts across at me as he takes his menu. “But if you don’t want my foolproof advice then that’s your choice.”
“What makes you an expert?”
“Have you not seen how ridiculously in love Lily and Marcus are? I did that.” His smile is fucking huge as he jabs his thumb into his chest.
“Not sure I’m following?”
“It’s a whole story that I don’t need to get into right now. It was a whole operation. But what I do need to get into is your little predicament.”
“I need to speak with Ria and not you about this.” I grin at him. “But thank you for calming me down.”
“You’re welcome. But unless you’re going to tell Ria that you’re in love with her and this little dilemma you’ve got yourselves in is actually you living out your fantasy, then you need my help.”
“I’m not sure where you—”
“Nope.” He holds up his hand, halting me. “You do not get to deflect. I know what I’ve witnessed. You, my friend, are in love with the delectable Miss Stone. It’s written all over your face, but only some people are clever enough to read the words.” He raises his eyebrow at me, begging me to argue again with him.
“Shit.” Falling back against the booth, I stare across at his goofy expression. “How long have you known?”
“Officially, five seconds.” He places his menu down. “Unofficially? The first time I saw you two together. Whenever she wasn’t looking at you, you were looking at her, and you have this little glint in your eye when you watch her or when someone talks about her. It’s like you light up from within.” I frown at his turn of phrase and he full on belly laughs. “I know that sounds like it should be in one of those books that Grace reads. But you do.” He leans on his elbows as he stares me straight in the eyes. No humor, just understanding. “Mate, what’s stopping you?”
I’m taken off guard by his observation. I thought I was doing a good job at hiding my feelings. Hunter has never mentioned anything to me, and I would have thought he would have been the first to call me out. I assumed wrongly, it seems, that no one knows how I feel about Ria. How I think about her the moment I wake and then how throughout the day, she is constantly on my mind. Working with her has made it almost impossible to ignore the nearly obsessive thoughts I have about her. Even the color blue reminds me of her sharp, bright eyes. And I have plants in my apartment because she told me I needed them there to help keep me calm. She is wrapped around my every movement, andI can’t untangle myself. The more I try, the tighter the knots form.
Kai’s question about what is stopping me is one that I battle with constantly.
“I’m not good enough for someone like her,” I whisper, not daring to look him in the eye.
“You did not just say that to me.”
“I’ve told you before. I’m too chaotic and can’t sit still. She would hate that. I’m no one’s calm, and that is what she needs. And I’ve proven what an absolute mess I am when left to my own devices. Look what hole I’ve got her in now.” I sigh. “Plus I owe Hunter so much. He’s the brother I never had, and if I acted on these feelings it would end in disaster, and I’d lose her and him. That’s not something I’m willing to do.”
“Let’s think about this. Hunter knows who you are and what type of man you are. You love hard, Leo, and that’s evident in everything you do. Has he ever said to stay away from his sister?”
“No.”
“And has he ever told you that you wouldn’t be good enough for her?”
“Well, no, we’ve never actually spoken about it.”
“So how do you know he wouldn’t be happy with you being with his sister?”
“I…I suppose I don’t.”
“So it’s all in your head and how you see yourself.”
“Yeah, but even if Hunter wasn’t bothered and was all right with it, she doesn’t feel the same.”
“You sure about that?”
