“You have no idea what they put me through.” He slams his drink down and grabs another.
“I’m going to pretend you didn’t say that to me. When you want to behave, I’ll invite the two of you over for dinner.” Diane gives me a sad smile “I’ll cook you a real meal. Not this imitation shit Susie is serving.” She touches my arm lightly and I nod. There is definitely still bad blood there. His mother stalks off, and I get another drink. I’m going to need it if this is any indication of how our night is going to go.
Killian is bad company, and I leave him with one of his cousins to escape to the bathroom. I’m at the sink washing my hands when a girl who appears mid-twenties walks in. She has gorgeous burgundy colored hair that hangs down her back in loose curls. I give her a friendly smile.
“I’m Noelle. I’m engaged to Dillan, Killian’s brother.”
“Oh.” I know my eyes are wide with surprise. “I’m Liri. It’s great to meet you. I don’t really know anyone here.”
“I figured. I actually followed you in here. I hope that’s not weird, but I thought I could introduce myself and give you a quick rundown on the family dynamic.”
“That’s actually really kind of you. Thanks.”
“I doubt Killian has told you much. I haven’t talked to him in a long time, but I can see he’s still the same pissed off at the world brat.” She laughs.
“You’re Killian’s stepsister but marrying his brother?”
“Correct. I know it sounds weird, but we didn’t grow up as stepsiblings. I was practically out of school by the time our parents were married, and I was already dating Dillan. Anyway, I’m sure you know the family drama that their dad was cheating with my mom while Diane was sick, but that’s not really how things happened. I know this isn’t your business, and you might not care, but I feel like I should give you the real story and not Killian’s version or what other people think happened.”
“Okay.” I have to admit I am curious what she could say that could change my view of the situation.
“It’s true that Mom and Diane were best friends. We started staying with the Hendrix family when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Mom was doing everything she could to see to it the boys were taken care of while caring for Diane. My mom used to be a nurse. Anyway, Diane’s health was declining, and the cancer had spread. She wasn’t improving and her chances of survival were slim. It’s a miracle that she recovered and went into remission. But that’s not the point. She is the one who encouraged my mother to get close to Conrad. She said she knew she was going to die, and she wanted her boys and her husband left in the care of someone she loved and trusted. It’s messed up and at first my mom brushed the suggestion off. She even talked to me about it and called it crazy because Mom and Conrad kind of didn’t get along. He was off racing all the time and Mom was taking care of his sick wife. They fought a lot but then that anger turned into passion and they fell in love.”
“Wow.”
“I know it is a lot to process. There’s more to that story, but I have kept you long enough.”
“Thanks. It was nice to meet you, Noelle.”
“You too. I know Killian comes off tough and hard but somewhere behind that anger is a good guy. You just have to dig really deep to find him.”
“I know.” I know that side of him, and I hate that there is also this side of him that has never gotten past all the things that went on with his parents. Their issues shouldn’t be his.
I leave the bathroom and go in search of my broody and mad at the world boyfriend. I find him back at the bar drinking another beer.
“How many does this make you?”
“Don’t. If I want mothered, I have two of those here already.”
“Okay then.” I change the subject. “Have you spoke to your father?”
“Yup. And you have the job if you’d like. You can start tomorrow at three.”
“Really?” I squeal.
“Yes, really.” His lips lift into an amused grin.
“Thank you.”
“I doubt you will thank me after standing on your feet for hours and come home covered in ketchup stains and smelling of grease.”
“You make it sound glamorous.”
He puts his beer down and strokes a finger along my jaw. “I’m sorry I was rude to you. Being here is just hard for me. It’s hard to stand here and put on a smile and pretend like my old man is some great guy because he won a few championships.”
“I understand. I do, and I’m not trying to get into your family stuff, but do you think it’s possible that people deserve second chances. I’ve given you quite a few,” I remind him.
“Don’t compare me to him.” His teeth are clenched, and he has dropped his hand away to pick up the beer again.