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“What makes you think she would’ve wanted to come?” I conceal the fact that the whole point behind this trip was to remove myself from her proximity.
“Of course she would’ve,” she argues. “Even if it was just for a get-together.”
“Now, Cecy.” Lan swirls his drink. “Can’t you see that Eli’s brooding episode is entirely because he’s suffering from a distance?”
“You’ll suffer from a distance between your food and toothless jaw,” I say calmly.
“My, a threat. I thought you didn’t deliver those, and if you do, onlysparingly?” He smirks.
“Lan, come on,” Bran says. “You’re being unreasonable.”
“Not to mention a twat,” I add.
“I’m just stating the obvious. Not my fault everyone prefers to bury their heads in the sand and carry on with their merry lives.”
“So you’re a wake-up call?” Cecily asks with a roll of her eyes.
“A wake-up call, a hazard alarm, a breath of fresh air in the midst of stifling hypocrisy. Take your pick. At any rate, I’m indispensable.”
“In hell and only possibly,” I mutter.
“Don’t worry, dear cousin. I’ll fight you fair and square for Satan’s throne when we’re there.”
I stand up. “I’m out.”
Creigh follows, but I pat his shoulder. “Seeing as I was bothering Your Highness, you’ll be happy to know that I’m flying back home.”
He nods.
“Pretend to be affected, wanker.”
He clears his throat and adopts a fake-ass sorrowful expression. “I’ll miss you, but I won’t miss your awfully moody presence. Hug Mum and Dad on my behalf.”
My brother envelops me in an embrace and I return it, knowing full well he’s as allergic to mushy shit as I am. Or probably more.
When my parents brought him to our house and introduced him as my ‘new’ brother, I despised the idea of sharing space, personal possessions, or parental dedication with someone else.
But then he followed me around everywhere, albeit silently, and participated in every sort of mayhem I dished his way. Though he did accidentally snitch to our parents about our endeavors.
In a way, Creigh wormed his way into my life slowly but effectively—something he shares with my wife.
The only difference is that he’s always—mostly—on my side and I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I was lucky to have gained a brother. We might not share a drop of blood, but he’s one of the few people I’d sacrifice anything for to keep safe.
“You’re leaving?” Bran asks.
I nod. “It was good seeing you. As for your twin brother, it was a taxing hassle.”
“The pleasure wasallmine.” Lan clasps my shoulder with a wide grin, then leans closer to whisper, “I’m coming back soon to raze your efforts to the ground, dear cousin. Please prepare the red carpet.”
“I’ll prepare your funeral.”
With that, I walk out of the bar and head to where Henderson is waiting with the car.
I’m only a few steps out when I hear a female voice call, “Eli.”
I stop near the mahogany double doors and turn around to find Cecily hurrying in my direction, her silver hair flying in the wind.
When she reaches me, I continue staring at her without saying a word. She’s the one who’s stealing my precious time, so she better have a good reason.
