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That I didn’t want to see before when he was at the door and I was walking toward him with Halo.
He was watching me with hunger, like he wanted something from me.
Like he wants something from me now.
And no matter how deep I feel it, the tug in my belly, I don’t have anything to give to him. Not anymore. So I step away again and say, “I think you should —”
“This isn’t the first time,” he says.
I look up. “This isn’t the first time for what?”
His eyes still intense, he tilts his head toward Halo. “That Little Berry here has tasted solids.”
“What?”
“Your brother’s already taken care of that.”
“Reed?” I ask frowning. “He already —”
“Yeah. Behind my sister’s back. So I think I’ll be okay.”
“But why would —”
“Because Callie’s acting crazy.” He rubs Halo’s back; she turns to him and coos. “She’s been ready for solids for weeks now.”
Which I also agree with.
Halo’s been showing a lot of interest in food lately. She can follow what we’re eating, grabs on to things, tries to put things in her mouth. And well, last week when I was babysitting her while Callie was in the kitchen, Halo did manage to swallow a very little and mushy piece of peach. I never told Callie, of course, because she would’ve freaked out, but yeah, little cutie pie here is all grown up and ready to eat grown-up food. Or at least mashed veggies and fruits.
“Just for the record,” I say then. “Are you actually agreeing with something that my brother did?”
“I can neither confirm nor deny that,” he deadpans after a couple of seconds.
Despite myself, my lips flicker with a smile. “No, I think you can. Confirm, I mean.”
His jaw clenches.
But I keep going. “That you just agreed with my brother.”
His jaw clenches some more.
“Your arch nemesis,” I add.
“I prefer sworn enemy,” he says finally.
“Why, because sworn enemy sounds so much more mature than arch nemesis?”
“Apparently.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “I’ll be sure to notify the maturity police.”
His lips pull up slightly as well. “Why don’t you do that while Little Berry and I finish off these cupcakes here?”
My heart drops a beat and I ask, finally unable to stop myself, “What’s Little Berry?”
“Strawberry.”
“What about it?”
“She looks like one.”
“So that’s your nickname for her.”
“Yes.”
“And because you’re always giving people nicknames.”
“Not always, no.”
“So then —”
His eyes flash. “Only on special occasions.”
And I guess three years ago, meeting me was a special occasion for him, wasn’t it? His rival’s little sister throwing herself at him while he must’ve been counting his blessings at the opportunity that had fallen into his lap.
“You can’t be here,” I say, repeating a version of what I said earlier.
“Why?”
“Because as I said, Callie and Reed aren’t here,” I tell him. “I can tell them later that you stopped by, but —”
“Or I can tell them myself.”
“No. You need to leave now.”
He stares at me for a second or two before saying, “Can’t break my girl’s heart.”
I know he’s talking about Halo. I know that.
And he’s right. Her heart would break if he left so soon. She’s clinging to him like a spider monkey. But I can’t have him around. It’s not good for my psyche.
“I think you’re underestimating yourself,” I tell him. “You’re an expert on breaking hearts. I’m sure you’ll find a way to let her down gently. So I’d really appreciate it if you left because I don’t want you around me.”
For a few moments, all he does is stare at me.
His features tight, his jaw ticking.
Then, “I acted like an asshole.”
“What?”
He breathes deep, his chest moving up and down and Halo moving with him. “The other night. Back at the bar.”
“I don’t… understand.”
Another breath, not as deep as the last one, but still deep enough to make me think that he’s bracing himself. “You were right. My sister is married to your brother now, much to my…”
He’s searching for a word here; I can feel it.
“Displeasure.”
“That’s a very tame word.”
“I’ve got better ones, but…”
“But what?”
“Can’t say it in front of her.”
By her, he means Halo.
And the fact that he’s cleaning up his language for his five-month-old niece when my own brother, her daddy, won’t do it, makes me want to smile. Which is crazy, because nothing about this situation warrants any kind of smile.
I fold my arms across my chest and prod, “Much to your displeasure?”
Another exhale. “And I took that out on you.”
“Wouldn’t be the first time,” I say, referring to what happened thirteen months ago.
How he took his anger, his need for vengeance against my brother, out on me and turned me into collateral damage.
“Yeah well, that’s why I’m apologizing.”
I draw back. “What?”
He shifts on his feet. “I shouldn’t have done what I did. Shouldn’t have acted like a douchebag. You were trying to make peace and I was fu—” he pauses, “I messed it up. As I said, you were right. We are going to be seeing each other. A lot. And there’s no use in making an already sh—” he closes his eyes for a second “— bad situation worse. So I’m here to tell you that I’ll stop.”
