“Yeah, you’re not talking out your ass, are you?” I asked, completely taken aback from his complete one-eighty.
“I’m serious. Just don’t fuck it up.”
Lourde's grin curled upward into her cheeks. I was equally confused but happy because I knew how much it meant to her to have Connor accept us.
“I didn’t think you’d be this cool,” she said, walking around the coffee table and giving her brother an enormous hug. “Thank you, we’ve always been close, but this means the world to me,” she said, releasing him then skipping off toward the kitchen to fetch her own cup of coffee.
“Truth be told, I really don’t think you would have stayed away from him if I hadn’t given you my blessing.”
“Probably not,” she said over her shoulder.
She walked back and sat on the seat opposite. “It means the world to me that you can find it in your heart to be happy for us, Connor,” she said, taking her cup to her lips.
A thud down the hallway pulled our attention.
“What was that?” Lourde asked.
Connor stood up. “Nothing. I’ve just got the window open. Anyway, I’m glad you guys are happy, and we shared this moment, and it’s been great, but I really have to get back to work. Alfred wants me to follow up then and present tomorrow being Monday with the board, so I’d really appreciate it if we might organize a lunch this week, or I'll see you at the ball on Saturday.”
I finished the rest of my espresso, uncertain if Lourde noticed the sense of panic lacing Connor’s words. “Sure thing, buddy.”
Lourde looked over her shoulder as we walked to the elevator. “Is someone here?”
Ha, she did.
“No.” He pressed the elevator call button eight or nine times, repeatedly.
There was someone here, I was sure of it, but I wasn’t going to be a dick about it because Lourde would want to know exactly who it was, and he just said he gave us his blessing. I didn’t want to rock the boat.
“Is there?” Lorde asked. “Who is she?”
“No one.” The doors opened, and he pushed his sister back into the elevator. “I’ll see you on Saturday. Be good to her.” He held his finger up at me with a steely glare.
“Always,” I said.
“And you be good to whoever is in there.” Lourde let out a giggle, and Connor’s lips tipped into a smile.
“I’m working now. Would you just go already!”
“Bye, brother, love you.”
“Bye.”
“Why do I feel like my brother’s hiding something?”
“Or someone?” We both laughed.
“Seriously though, I hope he’s okay.”
So do I.