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“Should be,” she agrees. “Going to make a big night of it?”
She’s not looking at me, and it’s starting to irritate me.
“Nothing too crazy,” I say. Look at me, damn it. “Maybe I’ll chip in with the other guys for the strippers. Should be wild, since they’re bringing in both guys and girls.”
That gets her attention. Callahan laughs softly, meeting my eyes.
“It is a little wild, isn’t it?” she says, her tone wistful. She sighs.
“What’s that for?” I ask. “Wishing you had two fiancés?” The image that thought brings to mind is triple-X rated and is not the kind of thought I should be having about my best friend’s twin sister. I shove my hands into the pockets of my jeans, wishing I’d thought to bring a drink with me. Anything to keep them occupied.
“It’s not that,” she says, her cheeks turning pink.
“Then what?”
Callahan bites her lip, looking back out over the water.
“Alex was a good kid,” she says, her voice thick with memories. “Mischievous sometimes, like boys can be, but he wasn’t mean about it. At least, he was always kind to me.”
“Okay.” If she comes out and tells me she’s got feelings for the guy, I might have to punch something.
Not that I care. Not that it would matter.
“He’s just so… I don’t know… open. Did you see him with Joelle and Elliot earlier?”
“I did.” They make a striking set.
“He’s not afraid of anything,” says Callahan.
I take two steps, putting myself in her space, forcing her to look up at me.
“What do you have to be afraid of?” I ask.
Callahan averts her eyes, but I’m not having it. I grasp her chin and bring her face back up to face mine. Those bottomless blue eyes are so dark.
“Don’t jerk me around, Callahan. What do you have to be afraid of?”
“I’m not jerking you around,” she faintly answers.
“Then what is it?”
“He’s so strong,” she whispers. “They all are. They have to be, don’t they?”
I’m at a loss, but she keeps going.
“I could never do that.”
“Do what?”
She closes her eyes, retreating from me again.
“Stand up like that,” she whispers. “Knowing how hard something is going to be and just… doing it anyway.”
I let my hand drop.
“Bullshit.”
Callahan startles. Her eyes pop open, seeking mine.
