“We’ll come out there too, but for now, we want to stay here,” Paul stated firmly.

“To be close to your girls.”

They exchanged another look, and I laughed. Three weeks ago, I would have been pissed off. I would have done it because they asked, but I wouldn’t have been happy. But now, I wanted to stay close to Beth and Evan.

“It’s fine. We knew we’d have to do this slowly.” I crossed my arms on the desk. “I know you two don’t have the love for Port Albany that I do. I mean, I know you like it there, but you prefer the bustle of the city. Like Maddox. We’re not always going to be together. We all know that. And I’m not upset about your girls. Let’s be clear on that. I want you happy. If living here and commuting to the other office is what you do, it’s all cool. At least you can set your hours and you’re always traveling in the opposite way of the commuters.” I grimaced. “Dad hated that part, but he loved Port Albany. So do I.”

“Things are changing so quickly,” Jeremy spoke. “I—we—just worry.”

“They are. They will. But one thing that isn’t going to change is my love for you two clowns.”

I saw them visibly relax. I sat back, studying them. “We have a unique bond most people don’t understand,” I said quietly. “We shared heartbeats and blood for nine months. Mom loves to tell people how we couldn’t be separated for the first few months.”

They nodded, not speaking. That, in itself, was a rarity with my brothers—they were always talking.

“We’ve been a unit our entire lives, guys. And we were treated that way by most people. Hell, we treated ourselves that way. But it’s time to separate a little. Come on, admit it, doesn’t it feel good just to be Jeremy or Paul when you’re alone with your girl? Not part of a trio, or even a duo, but just yourself?”

They exchanged glances, and Paul spoke first. “I do like it. I like being the man Diane looks at, knowing she is only seeing me, not us, if that makes any sense. She says she feels the same.”

Jeremy nodded in silent agreement.

“Your girls would understand better than anyone,” I replied. “They’ve lived this too.” I rested my elbows on the desk, earnest. “But we’re still us. The Callaghan boys. The triplets. We’re always going to be that. But it’s okay to be Ronan, Jeremy, and Paul too.”

I let my words sink in. Jeremy regarded me, his eyes narrow. “When did you get so wise?”

I barked out a laugh. “I’ve always been smarter than you two. Happens when you’re the oldest.”

They laughed with me, no longer tense. I shook my head. “Go get some work done. I need those specs of the roof garden on the BAM building ASAP. I need to make sure we’ve got the beams in to support it.”

They stood. “On it,” Paul assured me.

I watched them go, my smile fading. What I said was true, but I had held back again. I didn’t tell my brothers about Beth. I still wasn’t ready.

I swung my chair around, staring out the window, my thoughts chaotic.

I needed to sort this out.

I just wasn’t sure how.

Chapter Twelve

Ronan

The rest of the week flowed with a new rhythm. I worked during the day, being the Ronan my family knew. I designed and planned. Attended meetings, enjoying the give-and-take of the dynamics of our group. We all celebrated when Addi told us she was pregnant, confirming the little tableau I had witnessed not long ago.

“How did Bent and Maddox take it?” I asked.

Addi smiled softly. “They were both thrilled.”

Brayden laughed. “That’s an understatement. They were both more emotional than our moms. Dad called Richard to share the good news and wept like, well, a baby.”

Everyone chuckled. The serious businessmen who ran BAM all had incredibly soft sides for their family. Richard VanRyan was part of our adopted clan and Maddox’s best friend. He had been the first of them to become a grandparent when Gracie gave birth to Kylie, and he had gloated about it.

“No doubt he had lots of sage advice to offer.”

That brought out more laughter, especially from Gracie. Her father was confident, brash, and to some people, arrogant. But like the others, when it came to his family, he was a total pushover.

I wanted to emulate them.

I picked up Beth every night after her shift and, on Thursday, stayed with her as she baked the last of the cakes needed.

“Could you do this instead of waitressing?” I asked, curious as I helped her carry some wrapped cakes into the walk-in refrigerator.

“I would have to bake a lot of cakes.” She laughed. “I don’t think there’s a venue that needs as many cakes as I would have to bake to make up the difference.” She smiled at me. “Stop worrying about me, Ronan. I’m fine. It’s not forever. Once I’m done school, hopefully I’ll get a job and I won’t have to waitress or bake cakes anymore.”

Tags: Melanie Moreland Vested Interest - ABC Corp Romance
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