Page 46 of Untroubled Heart

I like Beth. She might be nosy, as she says, but I like that she’s upfront. Her openness and confidence are refreshing, and with the depths of betrayal and deceit from my dad, I have even less patience for lies.

“We were on and off for years. I knew the last time we broke up was the one that was gonna stick. He got in with the wrong crowd, kept getting picked up for misdemeanours, but a few weeks after we split, he was arrested for possession, and that’s when I found out I was pregnant. I visited him, told him I was keeping her, that I had no expectations for his involvement, and he accepted that.”

“Ugh, some men really ruin it for the rest of them.” Beth shakes her head. “Thank God for vibrators.”

“Beeeeth!” Mason groans his dismay from his office, making Beth jump in her chair and glance around, spotting his partially open door. “Did I have to hear that?”

“What else did you hear, Nosy Nelly?” she calls back.

“Ahhh, pot meet kettle!”

I lean my elbows on the desk and link my hands together, hiding my laughter behind my fist.

“Anyway, I’m currently going through all the legal stuff now, to officially separate custody.”

Beth studies me carefully. I try to keep still and composed under her assessment, but my leg starts bouncing under the desk the longer she silently stares. Her green eyes are so similar to Mason’s—one of them—but the effect is entirely different.

“Do you think you’ll date again?”

“Elizabeth.” Mason is standing in the doorway to his office, arms folded over his chest as he leans against the frame and glares at his sister.

My eyes bounce back and forth between them, wondering what silent conversation they’re having. Cas and I have perfected the art of silent conversations after years of living with our mum.

“Well, look at that, you are here.” She smiles as he walks over and takes the seat beside her. “Were you hiding from me?”

“Of course not. Tim Tam?” Mason holds the packet up to Beth, and she begrudgingly accepts her third biscuit since she’s been sat here.

On the surface, you might dismiss Mason’s gesture as self-serving, but I don’t think that’s where he’s coming from. The man tracks his sister’s period… Okay, the reminder said don’t piss her off, but my brothers tend to talk less or stay out of my way if I’m feeling more irritable during my cycle. I look at the Boss Bitch mug in Beth’s hand, the snacks he keeps locked away, ready for when they’re needed. I think he might actually do it to comfort her. It’s surprisingly thoughtful.

“How did the call with Carmen go?” I ask.

“Settlement’s already underway. We’ll be able to start demo from next week, so I wanna get started with the project timeline and get all the trades booked in this week.”

I don’t know why a sense of excitement fills my veins. It’s not my house, but I feel connected to it since we walked through it together. Since I shared with Mason what I would do if it were my house, it was hard to not insert myself into the fantasy. I don’t know if Mason was meant to be part of that fantasy or if I was just projecting a happily ever after I’d always hoped for.

“I’m so excited.” I clap my hands as Beth looks between me and her brother.

“I’m just relieved he finally found what he was looking for,” she says. “Tell me, Callie, since you’re the only one who’s been there so far, what kinda style would you do? I know you’re a fan of Art Deco.”

“I think I like anything that’s done well, but the house was just so charming with its original details. I would lean into the cottage look, but make it sleek and modern too.”

“Interesting,” Beth says slowly.

There’s a kerfuffle under the table, followed by a yelp from Mason.

“Very interesting,” Beth says again.

Chapter seventeen

I’ve entered an unfamiliar and highly concerning state of mind in which I’m struggling to think of anything but Callie.

The way she loves learning new things, seeing the simplest things under the brightest light. It makes me want to show her the world. My world.

She loves iced matcha and the beach. In high school, she worked for a local charter company, helping on boat and helicopter tours along the coast.

She wears glasses after she’s been at the computer for long periods of time. The horny bastard in me let every naughty librarian fantasy come to life the first time I saw them, and I’m thoroughly ruined.

She has the most stunning blue eyes, the same ones she gave to her daughter.