Lachlan choked on a sip of water while Arran feigned hurt as he sat back, clutching his chest. “Regan, you think so little of my charms?”
She rolled her eyes. “I think it’s weird that a woman who hasn’t spoken to you in years would give her number to your sister.”
“You’re such a momma bear,” Robyn teased. “You do know Arran is ten years older than you, right?”
Regan glowered at her sister. “Men can be stupid when it comes to women.”
The men at the table looked affronted.
Arro shook her head at Mac and joked, “History does not lend itself to you in an argument against her accusation.”
Before he could retort, Regan pointed her fork at Thane. “Nor you.”
“You’re being harsh,” Robyn opined. “They all got there in the end.”
“You would say that since you were equally stupid about Lachlan,” her sister goaded.
Robyn wagged a finger at her. “Don’t call a pregnant woman stupid. That’s stupid.”
I wanted to enjoy their easy banter, but my pulse raced at the thought of Arran taking this Lisa woman’s number.
“So, do you want her number?” Arro asked her brother. “I assume you do, considering the lack of choice in Ardnoch.”
“How long has it been?” Lachlan grinned devilishly at Arran.
“How long has what been?” Lewis frowned.
Robyn nudged an elbow into her husband’s side and gave him a warning look.
His lips twitched, but sufficiently chastened, he told his nephew, “Since your uncle went on a date.”
Lewis wrinkled his nose. “Ugh.”
“You’ll change your tune soon enough.”
Thane looked at Lachlan. “Leave him be. If I have my way, he’ll change his tune when he’s ninety.”
“I thought fathers were only supposed to be overprotective of their daughters when it came to romance?” Arro chuckled.
“This is Thane,” Arran said. “I remember many a time when he coc—” He blanched, remembering the kids. “I mean, stopped me from dating a pretty girl.”
Thane snorted. “Only the ones whose dads or brothers or boyfriends would’ve killed you.”
Arran flicked me a quick look before staring down at his plate. “I wasn’t that bad.”
“So? Lisa?” Arro insisted.
“Aye, whatever,” Arran agreed.
The conversation turned to the double wedding next month, but I barely heard a word of it. Instead, my ears burned with rushing blood, my pulse wouldn’t slow, and a mixture of anger and hurt and jealousy choked me.
Aye, whatever.
* * *
As I was about to get into my car later that evening, I heard the side entrance door closing. Something overtook me. Perhaps it was my panic, maybe even a little desperation (though my pride refused to dwell on that), but suddenly, I was moving around the house toward the guest annex.
Sure enough, there he was, striding from the main house toward the annex entry.
“Arran,” I called quietly, hurrying after him.
He spun, his brows raised at the sight of me.
Thankfully, he started walking to bridge the distance between us.
I just wanted to throw myself into his arms.
I wanted to cry.
And part of me resented him for making me feel too much.
Shooting a quick look at the house to make sure we had privacy, I stopped before him, pretty sure everything was in my eyes.
“Are you really going on a date with that woman?” was the first thing out of my mouth. I squeezed my eyes closed briefly in embarrassment.
Arran’s expression was careful as he searched my face. “No. Regan is right. Lisa didn’t want me our entire senior year, so what’s changed, other than my famous brothers? But I would have been within my right to date her. Right?”
That hurt.
And angered me.
“Yeah. But then I wonder how you’d feel if I started dating Jared right away.”
The muscle in his jaw flexed as his eyes flashed hotly. “You know how I’d feel. And why him, specifically? Do you have a thing for him?”
Ugh. Men. “No. I just plucked him out as an example. But it’s good to know you’d be jealous too.”
“Of course I would,” he hissed. “I’m the one who admitted to feeling more for you. Remember?”
“Arran.” I reached out to touch him but then lowered my hand when I realized I didn’t have that right. Not yet. “I’m not good at … I’m a very private person.”
“I know that.”
“I … it hurt, okay? The thought of you with her, or anyone. It hurts.”
“Ery.” He stepped toward me, hope gleaming in his eyes.
He stopped with a glower after I raised my hands. “I …” Here goes nothing. “I want to try something real with you, too, but, Arran, I can’t make any promises. I can’t promise you I’ll be everything you need me to be. I can’t.”
He gripped my biceps, pulling me into him, his voice low and passionate as he replied, “No one can make promises going into a relationship, Ery. It’s a gamble everyone takes, not knowing if or when it will end. How much it’ll hurt. But it’s a risk worth taking when you feel this way.” He gave me a little shake with a tender smile. “Do you know how rare it is to have this connection? I’ve never felt anything like it.”