Page 12 of Choosing Us

Good for him. I hope he found an all-consuming love that flipped his world in the best way.

More than once, I’ve wished I could believe in those sorts of things for my own life, but my reality is much more pragmatic. Maybe that’s why I’m such an avid reader of romance books, it gives me a small escape of believing in the possibility of meeting one’s true love, finding your place in this world, and believing in happily ever after.

The notion sounds nice, but as my work stares back at me from the coffee table, I accept that’s just not in the cards for me.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Careful not to drop the box tucked under my arm, I lean over and press the doorbell for Savannah’s house then immediately type in my access code to enter her front door. Liam has our security systems all set up so that each of us has a specific code that we can use to access each other’s properties. Of course, we can turn those codes off for our own places, but I don’t know if any of us ever have. But the doorbell is more of a notification, not something I ring and then wait for her to come to the door. When she and her ex-husband first got married, I always—and I mean always—waited until they came to the door.

You do not make that mistake twice with newlyweds.

But over the years, it went from occasionally being Shane answering the door, to rarely, to never. About six months before Shane ended up leaving my sister and filing for divorce, Savannah was crying when she answered the door. She told me I didn’t need to wait for her to answer because it was always going to be just her, so I should just ring and then enter. I really hate seeing my sisters cry, and I really wanted to ream Shane for being so absent, but Savannah made me promise not to intervene.

How does one intervene with a ghost, anyway? Vivian’s first husband was the same way and never really connected with our family, nor made it a priority. Their marriage ended when he was murdered, but he had failed his marriage vows long before his death, and that discovery was just as hard as dealing with his actual death.

I stopped trying to have a relationship with Shane a long time ago. He seemed to have a chip on his shoulder about how close we all are as siblings, and instead of trying to make his own space in our circle, he just walked away—long before he quite literally walked away from my sister and their marriage. They are officially divorced, and he is catastrophically failing his duties as a father when it comes to their three daughters, but my brothers and I will do everything in our power to make sure they have strong male role models as positive influences in their lives.

Instead of just the gaping hole that Shane left behind.

Although that decision might have ended up being the best thing he ever did for Savannah, outside of having their three girls together. Savannah is now in a loving and genuine relationship … and I may need to go back to waiting for them to come to the door, at least once they move in together.

I really like Theo, but she’s still my sister.

“Savy, it’s Ryan. Where you at, girl?” I call out in their foyer but don’t see anyone around. I hear voices coming from the back of the house and make my way there, until I turn the corner and run into something—or should I say someone.

“Omph! I’m so sorry!” A soft voice comes from much lower than the boxed humidifier I am carrying in my arms. At six-three, I’m not the tallest Callahan brother, but I’m not a short guy.

“No, no, I’m sorry, I—” I lower the box and pause.

It’s her.

The striking brunette from the wedding that my eyes kept following, regardless of how many times I tried to ignore that she was clearly there with a date, until he spun her around the dance floor and she disappeared like Cinderella at the ball.

“Hi.” That’s the best line I’ve got right now? Come on, man.

“Hi. I don’t think we’ve officially met, but I guess this qualifies.” She extends her hand as she continues, “I’m Harlow. I work with Walker, and as of last week, am also a proud member of your sisters’ book club.” She grins and it lights up her entire face. Harlow is maybe five-foot-four or five, with dark brown-almost-black hair, pulled back in a high ponytail. She’s wearing jeans and a light blue short-sleeved top, and some sort of wedged slip-on shoe that may be giving her some additional height. Regardless of her footwear, she barely clears my shoulders.

A curvy beautiful stunner, with rich dark brown eyes and plump full lips.

And I’m still just standing here holding the box like a bump on a log.

What she said registers with me and my brain comes back online—fucking finally—but not before I give my head a soft shake to pull myself together.

“Hi. Oh, I said that already. I’m Ryan, one of Sav and Viv’s brothers.” I balance the humidifier against my hip with one hand while I shake her hand with my free one. The moment her skin touches mine, the oddest sensation scatters up my arm from the point of contact. I’ve never experienced something like that before. Harlow’s eyes go wide ever so briefly before she pulls her hand back.

“Nice to officially meet you, Ryan. Do you need a hand?” This tiny thing thinks she’s going to give me a hand.

Damn, she’s cute.

“I appreciate the offer, but I’m good. I just have to watch where I’m going.” I nod to the box in my hands. “My niece Olivia is having some issues with her allergies, and Sav wondered if we had any humidifiers at the pharmacy.”

“Are you a pharmacist?” She scrunches her eyebrows in confusion as she leads me back toward the kitchen.

“No, but I do work at the hospital. I’m the Chief Financial Officer at Forrest Falls Hospital.”

“Oh, right. Viv mentioned that. But Savannah didn’t mention anything about Olivia not feeling well. She should have told me.” Harlow scans the outdoor patio where it looks like the rest of their book club is gathered.

“Why, are you a doctor?”