Page 106 of Our Chaotic Love Affair

The truth was Cleo had told me. And for some crazy reason, I remembered. I supposed that proved I had paid a lot of attention to her. More than I did most people.

“Right.” Finn wasn’t buying it. “You planning to hide up here all day?”

“I’m not hiding.”

“Sure you’re not.”

I shot him a look. “Don’t you have someone’s wife to seduce?”

“Not until the reception.” He grinned. “Seriously, though. You can’t avoid her forever.”

I didn’t bother pretending I didn’t know who he meant. “I’m not avoiding anyone.”

“Bullshit.”

“I’m respecting her space.”

“You’re a chicken shit.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be?”

“As a matter of fact, I do. We do. Someone may or may not have gotten their hands on some Cubans.”

I left the solitude of my third-floor suite and followed Finn downstairs. Austin was already there, looking nervous in a way I’d never seen him. Hayes and Isaac were arguing about something. Probably sports. They always argued about sports.

Austin offered me a cigar. “You look like shit, by the way.”

“Thanks.”

“Told you.” Finn grinned.

Hayes looked up from his argument with Isaac. “Heard you gave Dad hell.”

“News travels fast.”

“It’s a small family.” Isaac grinned. “Well, not small. But gossipy. Very gossipy.”

“I didn’t give him hell,” I said, accepting the cigar. “I told him I needed some space to evaluate my role in the company.”

“That’s giving him hell,” Hayes said. “For Dad, that’s basically treason.”

Austin was quiet. We hadn’t talked much since I’d gotten back from Rome. He’d called once to congratulate me on “growing a spine” but I’d cut the conversation short. I wasn’t ready to talk about it. I still wasn’t ready.

I had gone into hibernation. I didn’t want to talk or be influenced. I was trying to get my shit together and didn’t need anybody’s opinions.

I lit the cigar and tried to focus on the conversation around me. Finn was telling some story about a woman he’d met in LA. Hayes was still arguing with Isaac. Austin was checking his watch every thirty seconds like the wedding might start early if he willed it hard enough.

“Nervous?” I asked him.

“No. Yes. I think I’d prefer it if someone just waved a magic wand and we were married. I’m not nervous about the marriage. I’m worried about the wedding. So many variables.”

“Like you’ll fall on your face,” Finn joked.

“Thanks for that,” Austin muttered.

“You’ve been walking since you were eleven months old,” I said. “You’ll be fine. It’s all about putting one foot in front of the other.”

“Shit. Big bro has jokes,” Hayes said.