“Ava,” Sean beckons her over. “Harry is here. You remember him, right?”
The heels of her boots tap the floor in a steady, easy rhythm. That slows as soon as she’s a foot in front of me.
I take a deep breath before I look squarely at her face.
She studies me for what can’t be more than a second or two before she clears her throat softly. “I can’t say that I do.”
My jaw tenses as I hold in a laugh.
“Did you and Sean go to that school upstate together?” Her index finger taps her chin. “That’s how you know him, right?”
Sean laughs. “Looks like you’re forgettable, Harry.”
“It seems that way.” I raise my chin. “How have you been, Ava?”
“Good.” Her gaze is stuck on my face. “I’ve been very good.”
“Good,” I repeat. “I’m glad to hear that.”
“And you?” she questions as her brothers watch us. “How have you been?”
Sean’s hand moves to squeeze my shoulder as it always does when someone asks how I am.
“I’ve been great,” I say evenly. “Work is thriving. My family is happy, and your brother is always around to give me a rough time.”
Her gaze trails to where Sean’s hand is resting on my shoulder. “Friends are important.”
“Very,” I punctuate the point by patting my palm in the middle of Sean’s chest. “Our friendship means the world to me.”
“Oh, Harry.” Sean leans in to plant a kiss on my cheek. “You’re going to make me blush.”
That turns Ava around. She walks away from me.
A pang of regret darts through me, but that not-so-subtle reminder that I just sent her about my friendship with her brother was more for my benefit than hers.
Ava Wells will always be off-limits. Nothing will ever change that.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Ava
Why did I act as though I didn’t remember Harrison? I suppose I can attribute it to overcompensation. I didn’t want to approach him with a massive grin because that would be a dead giveaway that I was excited to see him.
Instead, I acted aloof and disinterested, resulting in Harry having a mini bromance moment with my brother.
The message he was sending me was crystal clear. His friendship with Sean is important to him. I know it’s just as important to Sean, so I have to stop trying to catch Harry’s eye across the table.
“Your sister has an excellent palate, Harry,” Callie says as she pops another noodle in her mouth.
I have no idea if she’s allergic to seafood, but she hasn’t touched any of the delicious shrimp or lobster she set out in the middle of the table.
She’s been munching away on breadsticks, pasta swimming in decadent sauce, and salad.
I, on the other hand, sampled everything.
“I agree,” I add without glancing to where Harry is seated across from me.
Before dinner started, I tried my best to score the seat at the head of the table so I wouldn’t be facing Harry, but Sean grabbed that one.
“I’ll pass that on to Jos,” Harry says in a low tone. “We’ll add this kit to the rotation.”
“How’s Roxy?” Callie asks. “I was hoping you’d bring her with you.”
I’ve never met Harry’s youngest sister, but I know she attends the same private school I once did. Sean clued me into that a few months ago when he called me to talk about one of my former teachers. Roxy was enrolled in her class at the time. During science week, Sean tagged along with Harry to view Roxy’s exhibit for the science fair. She won first place, which meant she got to take the trophy home for a week. My name is engraved on the same trophy from back in the day when I took the big win.
Sean spent a few minutes talking to my former teacher about my current endeavors. He said she was impressed with my musical abilities but disappointed that I didn’t pursue a career in the sciences.
That was never for me. My one and only shining moment in the world of science was when I won the award for my innovative take on blowing the biggest bubble possible.
“Good.” Harry takes a sip from the wine glass in his hand. “Ramona is heading to France on Friday. Roxy will hang out with me for a week and a half.”
“Your mom is jetting off to France?” Sean asks. “Why the fuck?”
Laughter settles over the table as Harry shakes his head. “Why the fuck do you think?”
Sean’s laughter fades, but in its place, a huge smile slides over his lips. “Looks like Harry’s getting another new step daddy.”
“Fuck you,” Harrison tosses that out with a finger pointed at my brother.
Sean blows him a kiss in response. “Bring Roxy over for dinner one night. You know how much she likes hanging out with your best friend.”
Harry’s gaze darts to me before it lands on Sean’s face. “Will do.”
“Who took these pictures?” I glance at my future sister-in-law’s face as she approaches where I’m standing.
She grins. “I did.”
I’m stunned. When I first entered Sean and Callie’s apartment the other day, I didn’t take the time to soak in everything.
Tonight, I wandered around the living room once dinner was over. Sean and Callie retreated to the kitchen to tidy up. Declan and Harrison discussed Ryden’s upcoming season with the New York Falcons, and I took a moment to breathe.
Sitting across from Harry during dinner was an exercise in restraint for me. I struggled not to steal glances at him every thirty seconds.
It’s only a matter of minutes now until I can excuse myself to go back to Declan’s apartment.
I run a finger over the frame of a photograph of the outside of this building. It shouldn’t be as breathtaking as it is, but because it’s black and white and the lights around it are hitting the entrance at just the right angle, it looks almost magical.
“You’re incredibly talented, Callie.”
She wraps an arm around my shoulder. “Your brother inspired all of this.”
“Sean inspired this?” I chuckle.
“Damn right, I did.” Sean moves to stand next to his fiancée. “Calliope inspires me every damn day too. I’m a better man because of her.”
I glance up at his face. “You’re one of the best men I know.”
“Thanks, Ava.” He smiles. “You should check out the photograph hanging in the hallway near our bedroom. It’s one of Calliope’s latest and greatest.”
Curiosity nips at me, so I take a step back. “I’m going to look now.”
“I’ll get a print of it framed for your apartment,” Callie offers as I walk away. “It’ll be a housewarming gift.”
I look over my shoulder to see her and my brother staring into each other’s eyes.
Not everyone finds love like that, but I hope one day I do.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Harrison
I watch Ava disappear down the hallway and view this as my chance to steal a moment alone with her.