Page 24 of One Last Rainy Day
I lift my cup in salute. “Anytime.”
“So, it was intentional.”
“As intentional as you leaving her here yesterday without playing guard dog.” I shrug. “Maybe you didn’t drill your point into her good enough with your little make-up fuck.”
“I believe you heard evidence to the contrary.”
“You’re confusing me with someone who gives a damn. I’ve got more important shit to deal with right now than your fuck life.”
“Say what you will, man, but even with Tyler on our collective asses,you’rethe one currently sabotaging progress.”
“She needs to know her place.”
“I understand why this is hard on you, but you can’t keepholding her ignorance against her when she doesn’t know what you’re really about. If you’d give her half a goddamn chance, I think she’ll surprise you.” He palms the counter. “If you’re honest with yourself, she already has.”
“You understand?” I walk around and stare out of the kitchen window, scanning the cloud-covered mountain ridge beyond our backyard. “Yeah, I don’t think you do.”
“Then we need to talk about this.”
“What we need to do is get to the fucking garage. Tyler’s waiting.”
Sean sets his cup in the sink next to me as I dump my coffee in a travel mug, grabbing the pot and filling it to the brim before capping it. Sean turns to me, and even as pissed as he is, his expression leaks with concern.
“Want me to drive you?”
“I’m good.”
He bites his lip ring briefly before pinning me. “Arewegood?”
He tries to get a read on me as I duck my head and grab my keys—over the Cecelia conversation altogether. “What do you want to hear?”
“The fucking truth. I’m not going to lie to you. There’s potential there, not just for me, but for us, collectively long term.”
I pause the travel mug at my lips. “Now you’re thinking long term?”
“Isn’t that the point of this? I see it in her, and I think you’re pissed you can see it too.”
“I see a mouse.”
“Whatever, have it your way. If you wanted me to back off, you’ve made your point crystal fucking clear. Just soyou know, you could have saved us all the dramatics and just told me outright.”
“My fist didn’t clue you in?”
He runs a hand through his scattered hair, perplexed. “I thought we fucking settled this.”
“We did. Not my problem she couldn’t hack it. It was your little experiment that went awry. That’s on you.”
“Right. Fuck it.” Sean pulls his keys out and turns to leave, and I glance back out of the window to the world that awaits. A world I want no fucking part of if I can’t play the role I want to within it. That’s where Sean comes in. He’s been my liaison to the outside well before my perpetual state of unrest. While the rest of my brothers remain focused on their agendas, Sean’s always kept my back first and foremost. Even if his current motives with Cecelia are fucking selfish and asking a lot, he won’t betray me when it matters most. Of that much, I’m certain. “We’re good.”
He pauses and studies me for sincerity. “You mean that?”
I do. Even if he’s decided to make Cecelia a hobby, Sean doesn’t do long-term. Whatever he has brewing with her will fizzle out one way or the other. So, what do I give a fuck if he’s getting something personally out of it? It’s part of who he is and what he needs. Something I’ve never identified with but always understood about him. If he’s going to be distracted by any woman, who better than the one that will lead us closer to destroying Roman?
“Yeah, Romeo,” I quip. “But just so you know, she’s merely another in a long line of Rosalines.”
“Think what you will, but I’m straight up telling you otherwise...and I’m not sure you are or can ever be good with it. As much as I like her, and I truly fucking do,” headmits, running his hands through his hair, “it can end now. This impasse she’s decided on can be an out, so I’m leaving the ball in your court to decide.”
He lingers to make sure his following words are heard, along with his warning. “But if you do decide to let her through, I’m bringing herall in.”
