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“There were people everywhere, Liv.I was jostled from wall to wall.I don’t know what Bradford did after he left me.”
Her lips quirk.“You werejostled?Since when do you use that word?And really?His entire bedroom was filled with a crowd?And why are you so snappy today?”
“Do you prefer pushed?Or maybe shoved?And yes, his fucking entourage of advisors were all over him.I will never understand how he copes with all those people in his space all the time.”I’ve never been more pleased that I wasn’t the brother our parents encouraged into politics.
What Idorecall is coming downstairs after I left Bradford and finding Slade in the grand salon with Olivia and Hayden, one of my other brothers.They were laughing over something Slade said, which was right before he put his hand to the small of Olivia’s back and leaned in close to whisper something in her ear.
More unprofessional conduct.
That’swhat’s stuck in a loop in my memory.
“Okay, we need to go up to his bedroom.”Olivia’s already on her way before my feet even begin moving.I’m too busy formulating ways to rid Olivia’s life of the goalie.
“Callan.”Hayden meets us at the top of the spiral staircase on the second floor.“I need the rings.”Yes, he does.He’s the best man and looking after the rings is his job.
“Give us a minute,” Olivia says.
“Jesus.”Hayden looks at me.“You lost them?”
“No,” Olivia says.“He hid them.”Her eyes sparkle with silent laughter as they come to mine.“But just for a moment.We’ll have them for you soon.”
Gage, another of my brothers, joins us.“Why would anyone think it a good idea to trust you with those rings?”
“Fuck you both,” I mutter.
“Bradford should have invited Abigail as your plus-one if he wanted to put you in charge of shit,” Gage carries on.
“In case you weren’t aware, I manage many things in my personal life without my assistant’s help.”
“Yes, because you have a wife managing all those things.”Gage eyes Olivia.“Fuck knows what your life would look like without Olivia by your side.”
This is a running joke with Gage, referencing Olivia as my wife.I love my brother but he’s been giving me shit for one thing or another since the minute I was born.
“How about you do something useful and help us find the rings?”I suggest.
Olivia takes charge of the three of us.“Callan and I will check Bradford’s bedroom.You guys check the bottom floor.I’d pay particular attention to the kitchen.”
Hayden grins at the in-joke about me and Ethan, our youngest brother.“Yes, those rings are probably in the fridge.”
His mention of the time I put Ethan’s cufflinks in the fridge when I was distracted by a cheesecake in there jogs my memory.“Fuck, I know where the rings are.”
“Where?”Olivia asks.
“In Bradford’s bathroom.”
“Why are they in there?”Gage asks.
“Because Ethan texted me right after Bradford gave me the rings.I needed a minute away from the crowd in his bedroom and the only place I could find was the bathroom.”
Olivia’s eyes soften.“What did he say?”She knows more than anyone how much I’ve been waiting on that text from our absent brother.
“Not much.Just that he’s definitely not coming today.”
“Oh, wow,” she says.“I really thought he’d show up.”
“Yeah, you and Bradford both.”
“He knows Ethan’s not coming?”Gage asks.
