His voice stays soft. "I'm sorry. I should have talked to you. I should have sat down and explained. I will now." He sits at the counter. "I'm staying here."
"Because of Eve?"
"Yes. And because I want to be somewhere that feels like home and New York does."
"London is a better city."
"Of course. But try convincing these New Yorkers." He waves his hand they're ridiculous.
"Indie is the same. She loves everything about the city."
"She hasn't seen London. She has an excuse."
"But not Eve?"
He nods it's terrible. "No one is perfect."
"Is there a single other thing you don't like about her?"
"No." He laughs. "And even that… I love how much she loves it."
"You're disgusting."
"I know." He smiles. "After my divorce, I didn't think I'd ever be happy again. But I am. I'm stupid in love with her. Maybe you're not there yet, Ty. Maybe you're not ready to let your guard down. But you can get there. You have the discipline."
"I have the discipline to fall in love?"
He nods.
"You really are ridiculous."
"Do you ever look at yourself?"
"I know I'm ridiculous."
"No. Do you ever look in the mirror when you're talking about her? Your eyes light up. You smile like you're about to meet the Queen. You're different. Happy."
"I'm happy?"
"She makes you happy. If that's not love, then what the fuck is?"
I let Ian drag me on a run.
I even join him for a brunch with Eve.
She spends the entire time explaining how I can fix things. How I will fix things.
I have two women threatening my life if I don't unfuck this.
And I have absolute faith in both of them. They're equally capable of ruining me.
I leave. Spend the afternoon with my brother's words.
He's right.
She makes me happy.
Is that love?
I don't know.
But I'm ready to try to figure it out.
Chapter Fifty-Three
Indigo
I'm lying in bed, half-asleep, Back to Black on repeat, when a knock on the door rouses me.
Then a familiar voice.
Ty.
He's far away. I can't make out what he's saying, but I recognize his voice.
I drag myself out of bed. Press my ear to the door.
"Is this a booty call?" Sienna asks.
"Doesn't a booty call require a call?"
"Okay. Breakup sex. And don't say you didn't break up. She's been crying for the last thirty-six hours," Sienna says.
"Do you want it to be breakup sex?"
"Hmm… I'd accept it."
"You'd accept it?"
"Yeah." She tries a tough voice. "Do you have a better offer?"
"What would be a better offer?"
"Makeup sex? Or a hot friend with a thing for American soccer players?"
"For Indie?"
"No. For me. Keep up, Ty."
He laughs. "Which is the better offer?"
"Both, obviously."
"You want me to promise makeup sex with your sister and a hot friend for you."
"Is that unreasonable?"
"Aren't you claiming you want to fuck my cousin?"
"I thought I was overselling that," she says.
"You are."
"Then don't argue. Cam can be the hot friend. Or another hot friend. I'm negotiable."
"That is how I'd describe you."
"Thank you," she says. "And you can keep this between me and you. Indie… she's not so much on you introducing me to your friends."
"You're only eighteen."
"You're thirty, Ty. Indie is twenty-two. And you met three years ago."
She has him there.
She has me there.
But he just laughs. "I'm not introducing you to any friends from university."
"Hypocrisy!"
"Even so."
"In that case, I'm pretty sure Indie is asleep. And not interested in talking to you." She raises her voice. "Even if you look really good in jeans. I didn't even know you owned jeans." She lowers her voice again. "Is it true you don't wear anything under them?"
"What makes you think that?"
"Well, I asked Indie if you wear boxers or briefs. You know, just to break up the questions about the size of your dick."
"Of course."
"She blushed and said it was none of my business. But the way she said it… it was like the answer was neither."
"What about boxer-briefs?"
"You could tell me. It might help her case."
"Telling you what I wear under my trousers will help me win over your sister?"
She stifles a gasp. "You're here to win her over?"
He doesn't say anything.
"That puts the ball in my court. I have what you want. Now you have to bring hot friends."
He chuckles. "We're back to that already?"
"I think your non-answer speaks for itself," she stage whispers. "Besides, Indie… she tried to play it cool. You know how she is. But I see the way she rubs her wrists. And you know… I might have read her text messages a few times."
"That's an invasion of privacy."
"An innocent mistake," she says. "I thought it was my phone. We have the same model."
"Do you expect me to believe that?"
She laughs. "Yeah. And, uh, well… good for you."
"Good for me?" he asks.
"Swinging for the fences and everything."
Oh god. I pull the door open.
They both look at me.
"Sorry. She's uh… stop reading my text messages." I shoot my sister a don't. "You have a different phone case. You know better."