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“I might be at that, but I know this isn’t what you want to talk about.”
“Actually, I want to get to know you. I already broke down over just what I actually want to do in life. You didn’t stop dating me after that spectacular mess.”
“I think it was important,” he said, squeezing my hand back. “Even if you stay on the MBA path.”
“Oh, I will. I don’t have a choice.”
“You always have a choice in life, except for me, that is. I can’t help being this devastatingly handsome and good looking.”
Playfully, I swatted at his shoulder. “Now, you’re just being full of yourself.”
“When you’re this amazing, it’s not being full of yourself, vixen, and you know it.”
“Maybe, but I’m sorry your friend riled you.”
He took a quick swig of the next glass, like the pro he was. “He did a bit, but I think it’s more that I’m surprised about me. I’m a good judge of character. That’s how you get ahead and stay ahead in business. If you can’t read people, then you can’t close a deal.”
“I’ve heard that in my classes.”
“Take notes on that. That’s the only thing you need to really learn in business. It’s crucial to know exactly who’s on the level, who will do what you say, who needs coaxing, and which person is set to backstab you. Usually, I can spot that a kilometer away.”
“But not now?” I asked, frowning.
He rolled the now empty glass around in his hand and between his fingers. Gazing off at the mirrors behind the bar, Callum let out a breath. “Sometimes it’s hard to see a snake sitting right there in the grass, is all.”
“I don’t know exactly how that feels,” I offered. “I do know what it’s like when someone you grew up with changes so much. About five years ago when my brother started getting into smoking and also into his band stuff, he was playing all over these dive clubs in Baltimore by the time he hit junior year.”
“Did he now?” Callum arched an appreciative eyebrow. “Sounds like a man after my own heart. Who doesn’t love a bit of fun?”
“I can see you loving that,” I added. “It’s just…there’s a cost. When one person gets to be off and relaxed—to do whatever they want—then someone else has to pick up all the pieces.”
“Someone like you?”
“Exactly. I love my brother, but I didn’t want to be thrust in his place into the CEO-in-grooming spotlight. Besides, David was such a nerd growing up, a total comics geek and Star Wars obsessive.”
“Now, I should note, those are both multi-billion dollar Hollywood enterprises.”
“Yes, but he was just so quiet. Then once he gets to high school he picks up the guitar, and it was like a completely different person was in his place, like he’d been snatched away or something.”
“Back in the day, my great-gran had these stories about changelings. It was about how fairies or some shite would sneak in and steal human babies and leave their own. It was all the kinds of stories she’d lapse into when she had more whiskey than we’ve had here.” He shook his head. “But it’s all a bloody bunch of trash. People change; they grow. Looks like Seamus and I are growing
apart.”
“Sorry about that.”
“I’m not, not really, not if this is who he’s going to be. He made his choices, and I made mine. But…” he added, drumming his fingers on the bar. “…I would have one regret otherwise.”
“And that would be?”
“Don’t write your brother off. You’re both young. He’s still figuring his whole life out, and so are you. People change into douchebags sometimes, no doubt, but don’t give up on family so fast. It’s worth everything.”
“Well,” I said, winking at him. “If you wanted to get us off to a maudlin start, you certainly succeeded.”
He rolled his eyes. “I didn’t intend to have my ex-mate come by and piss in my cornflakes last night. Sorry that this wasn’t the start to our romantic weekend you wanted.”
“Who said it wasn’t?” I asked, taking a third shot of whiskey. By now, the heat that had started in my gut was radiating to my cheeks and down my fingers. I was very well blissed out. “I got you to open up, and I think that’s a plus.”
He hopped off his stool and leaned closer. When he whispered, I could feel his breath against my ear and wished that he’d take my earlobe between his teeth, scrape across them delicately. God, just having him near me had me shaking. When he whispered, it made my most sensitive bundle of nerves pulse between my legs.
