“Have you decided if you’d like dessert?”
I look toward where the waiter is smiling his professional grin as if he can’t tell that we’re in the midst of an argument. I didn’t even realize he’d approached us, so who knows how much he’s overheard.
“I’m going to wait outside.” I toss the napkin from my lap on the table and stand.
“Keane!” my mom calls.
But I ignore her, walking through the restaurant until I’m outside, where I inhale deeply. I knew it would be like this. Why do I even try with them? They’re always going to see me as a loser who can’t get his shit together.
I pull my phone from my pocket and text Fiona to let her know my ask was a bust, but she doesn’t respond. Great, I’m an uber-loser now.
Twenty-Four
Keane
The ride back to the apartment is tense. Marlowe tries to make small talk, but it’s clear to all that no one wants to have a conversation. Then for some unknown reason, my sister invites my parents up for a drink before they head back to the hotel—and they actually accept.
What the hell? Can’t we just be done with this shitshow of a night? I think I speak for all of us when I say that we’ve had enough of each other tonight.
I speed walk into the building and take the stairs two at a time until I reach the third level. I just want to get inside, take off these fucking dress clothes, and toss a few drinks back until I’m relaxed enough to go to bed and wake up with a fucking hangover. Then tomorrow, Fiona and I can deal with telling Marlowe that we’re dating.
I use my key to unlock the apartment door, and instead of a dark room, I’m met with a room full of people—friends, family, and a few coworkers who have the night off—yelling surprise. It takes me a moment to realize what this is as I stand with my hand on the doorknob and expectant faces staring at me.
“Happy birthday, bro,” Marlowe says from behind me. I turn, and she gives me a hug, whispering in my ear,” Don’t worry about Mom and Dad. We’ll figure out some way to get you that money.”
I pull away and give her a small smile, avoiding looking at my parents standing behind her. I gesture at the room full of people. “Are you responsible for this?”
“It’s your thirtieth. I wanted to do something nice for you.”
“Thanks, sis.” I give her another brief hug and turn my attention to the room full of people. “Hey, everyone.”
Fiona’s face is the first one I really focus on. She’s stunning in a red dress that shows the perfect amount of cleavage, with red lips to match. Jesus, those lips are going to run through my mind all night. I’m already picturing what they’d look like wrapped around the base of my cock.
I smile back and scan the rest of the room. Some of my college buddies and their wives are huddled together. I don’t see them too much anymore since they got married and I work most weekends. There’s Ollie and Nick with Jemma. Some of my cousins and my aunt and uncles. One of the bus boys from the restaurant, a waiter, and… shit, Annabelle?
She looks at me as though she wants to eat me alive, even going so far as to lick her lips. I’ve been successfully avoiding her for the past couple of weeks and have been curt, if not rude, for her to take the hint. But the way she’s looking at me, I know whatever progress I thought I made, I didn’t.
I glance at Fiona and notice she’s watching Annabelle as well. Shit, this could get awkward. Annabelle has a big mouth. I wonder what the hell she’s already told Fiona.
Shaking it off, I step into the packed room in order to say my hellos to everyone. When I finally reach Fiona, she’s working hard to play it cool.
“So how was dinner?” she asks, obviously really wanting to know how it went with my parents.
I glance across the room at my parents chatting with my mom’s sister, not looking at all like they just crushed their son’s dreams. “Not well.”
I don’t know what she sees on my face, but hers morphs from encouragement and excitement to pity and remorse.
“I’m sorry,” she says in a soft voice I can barely make out over the noise in the room.
I open my mouth to respond, but the next thing I know, there’s a set of arms wrapped around my neck and pulling me down into a hug.
“There’s the birthday boy.” Annabelle practically suffocates me. Her perfume is cloying.
To be polite, I gently pat her back the way you would an overzealous aunt or grandma and straighten up away from her. I give her the best version of a natural smile I can muster with Fiona standing a foot away. “Hey, you have the night off, I see.”
“I had to beg Jacques to let me have it off, but when I heard about the surprise party, there was no way I was gonna miss it. I have to make sure the birthday boy gets the most important gift tonight.” She pokes my stomach before her finger trails down slowly.
I gently take her wrist and remove her hand. My gaze darts to Fiona, whose lips are pressed together.
“Well, thanks for coming.” I don’t know what else to say. I just want out of this situation. Annabelle gazes at me like I hung the moon and Fiona’s stare is boring a hole in the side of my head. “I should probably make sure I finish making the rounds. I’ll talk to you two later.”
I don’t wait for either of them to respond, instead making a dash for it like the chickenshit I am. This night just went from bad to worse. Happy birthday to me.
Twenty-Five
Fiona
I’m trying not to act like a jealous girlfriend, but it’s hard not to notice the way Annabelle follows Keane around like a lost puppy all night. And she keeps touching him—running her hands down his arm or fussing with his hair. It’s infuriating that I can’t just go over there and stake my claim. And what’s even more infuriating is that I want to. I am not this jealous girl.
“I was thinking maybe Ollie and I could switch off weeks, unless you think you’d need two of us there at once?”
I return my attention to Nick. He’s talking about his and Ollie’s agreement to help the people at our shelter. I had to run the idea through my director, but after some red tape, she said it was a go, so now we’re trying to work out the details.
“Yes, that would be fine. My director said we can squeeze it out of the budget to give you the supplies you’d need for basic medical procedures and assessments.”
Nick narrows his eyes and tilts his head, as though I’m a patient in his ER and he’s trying to figure out my diagnosis. “Are you okay?”
“I am, why do you ask?” I take a healthy sip of my wine.
“You just seem… distracted or something. You’re the only woman I know who gets excited talking about this kind of thing, but tonight, you have something else on your mind.”
“I’m fine.” I smile, but my gaze betrays me, and I glance over his shoulder.
He must notice because he glances over his shoulder to where Keane sits on the couch, Annabella practically on his lap. He turns back around with wide eyes. “Oh shit, are you into him?”
“You’re crazy.” I take another glug from my wine glass. All class tonight, folks.
“Bullshit. Keane? Really?”
“Shhh!” I glance around, but no one is paying any attention to our conversation, thanks to the music and the various conversations filling the room.
Nick laughs into his fist as if he’s trying to hold himself back from really letting it all go.
“Shut up.” I smack his forearm and he drops his hand from his mouth.
He steps closer to me and leans in. “Does he know?”
Rather than respond, I give him a death glare.
“He does, doesn’t he? You two have been banging behind everyone’s backs, haven’t you?” Now he’s full-on belly laughing, bending over at the waist and all.
“No, we haven’t,” I say between gritted teeth.
“Yeah right. I know jealousy when I see it, sweetheart, and it’s written all over your face.” He points as if I should use a mirror to see for myself.
; “I’m serious, we haven’t slept together yet.”
He straightens and stops laughing. “Yet, huh?”
I sigh, letting all my frustration show. “We have to tell Marlowe still that we’re dating, and looking at him now, I’m not so sure that’s necessary.”
Nick looks over his shoulder again. Keane is watching us while Annabelle blabbers on about something beside him. Keane’s gaze doesn’t move away when he sees us both look at him.
“He’s not into that chick. She’s been following him around all night like he has a raw steak in his pants and she’s a dog. In fact, anytime I’ve seen him, he’s been looking at you.” Nick raises an eyebrow.
“Really?” I sound so hopeful, I annoy myself.
Nick nods. “Why don’t you go over there and steal away his attention?”
I shake my head. “I don’t want to hurt Marlowe. We need to tell her first before we’re public. And I’m not sure how she’ll react.”
“She’s the biggest romantic I’ve ever met. I’m sure she’ll be fine with it.”
I hope he’s right. Every time I think of telling her tomorrow, I feel sick about it.
“Maybe.” I lift my glass to my lips.
“Well, whatever happens, I wish you luck. Lord knows love lives aren’t easy.” He brings me in for a quick hug.
“You sound like you’re talking from experience,” I say when we pull back.
He shrugs and I don’t press him to explain.
“Fiona, we’re leaving. I just wanted to thank you for all the help you gave Marlowe in putting the party together.” I turn to my right to see Mrs. Travis standing there.
“I was happy to help.” I lean in to give her a hug. “Will I see you guys again before you leave town?”
She glances at Keane. “I’m not sure my son would like that.” Her disappointment is obvious, but I’m not sure what she expects since she crushed him tonight.
I’m not supposed to know what went down though, so I play dumb. “Oh, okay. Well, safe travels if I don’t see you.”
“Thanks, sweetie. And, Nick, it was nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” Nick says, shaking her hand. After Keane’s mom walks away, he leans into me and says, “Already in good with the in-laws, huh?”
I smack him across the arm, trying to be annoyed, but we both laugh.
A couple hours later, the party has died down and most of the older people have left. It’s just myself, Marlowe, Jemma, Ollie, Nick, a couple of Keane’s friends he’s saying goodbye to at the door, and unfortunately, Annabelle.
“How mad do you think Keane would be if I left and met up with someone?” Marlowe asks beside me. She’s practically giddy, and I don’t think it’s because she’s drunk. I didn’t see her drinking much tonight.
“Who are you meeting up with?”
“That guy I had the date with last night.” She grins.
I smile. “I take it the date went well?”
“Better than well. I think he really has potential.”
“So when you say you’re meeting up with him you mean…” I raise an eyebrow.
“I mean I’m going to his place to sleep with him, obviously.”
We both laugh. It dawns on me that if Marlowe spends the night elsewhere, Keane and I will have time to talk about everything that’s gone down tonight.
“I’m sure your brother would be fine with it.” I feel a little sleazy because I want her to go. But I want to be alone with Keane.
Keane looks as though he’s done with the festivities and has been for hours.
“All right. I’m going to go tell him.” Marlowe heads over the door where Keane is closing it behind his friends.
I watch as they speak and Keane’s lips dip into a frown, then they hug and Marlowe heads down the hallway to her room. Keane scans the room and our eyes meet. I feel as if there’s something he’s trying to communicate to me, but before he can, Annabelle is there, hanging off his arm, and I look away.
Marlowe appears from the hallway and announces her departure.
“Wait up. We’ll walk out with you,” Jemma says.
Jemma, Ollie, and Nick each give me a hug and say goodbye, wishing Keane a happy birthday again before leaving the apartment behind Marlowe. Now it’s just me, Keane, and Annabelle. Ever-present Annabelle.
Even in my tipsy state, it’s clear to me how awkward the energy in the room is.
I’ve spent the entire night watching Annabelle hang off of Keane and haven’t been able to say or do anything about it. Now, I’ve had enough. I can’t stand here and watch anymore. “I guess I’ll leave you guys to it. I’m going to bed.”
Keane looks just as irritated with me as I am with him. What the hell is that about?
Without waiting for either of them to respond, I spin on my heel and march down the hallway.
“It was nice meeting you,” Annabelle calls after me.
I don’t bother to respond, slamming the bathroom door instead. I need to clear my head and have a shower. Tonight hasn’t turned out at all how I thought it would. Story of my life. You’d think I’d be used to it by now.
Twenty-Six
Keane
I listen as the bathroom door slams.
“She’s kind of rude,” Annabelle says from where she’s impeding on my personal space once again.
What is it with this woman? Why won’t she take a hint? I’ve practically written “Back off” on her forehead with permanent marker.
“I’m going to head to bed too. Thanks for coming tonight.” I grip her elbow and walk her toward the door, but I should know it won’t be that easy.
“I was hoping you’d suggest we head to bed.”
Christ. Someone give this girl an instruction manual on reading between the lines.
“We’re not going to bed, Annabelle. I’ve been pretty clear that what happened between us was a mistake and it won’t happen again. I need you to accept that fact.”
When she stops walking, cementing herself to the hardwood, I let my hand drop from her arm. “You don’t mean that.”
She reaches to put her hands around my neck, and I step back. I don’t know if it’s the frustration with my parents, at having seen Nick and Fiona flirting earlier, or having to deal with Annabelle hanging all over me like one of those stuffed animals with Velcro on their hands, but I snap. “Jesus, give it a rest. We are not going to sleep together again! Get it through your head!”
Tears spring to her eyes. And though I probably should feel bad, I just can’t find it within myself. I’ve tried my best to be somewhat of a gentleman with her—because how can you really be a full-on gentleman when you’ve had a one-night stand with someone then tell them it was a mistake and you want nothing more to do with them? But she will not take a hint—or a proverbial frying pan to the head apparently.
“Well, I just thought—”
“There’s no reason for you to think anything other than what I’ve told you, which is that nothing is going to happen between us. You need to go.” I swing the door open wide, gesturing with my hand for her to walk through it.
She stands with her mouth flapping open and shut like a dying fish for a moment before she beelines to the door. “Fine. But even if you begged me, I wouldn’t sleep with you again now. So don’t even try it.” She steps out into the hallway.
“I wouldn’t be too worried about that happening.” I slam the door and flip the lock.
It might’ve been an asshole move, but I cannot take her anymore. Not after tonight anyway. I lean against the door for a moment, pushing a hand through my hair, once again picturing Nick and Fiona’s heads close together, deep in conversation. Relive the way he hugged her not once, but twice tonight.
Is he into her? He’s never mentioned anything when we’ve hung out. From what I can tell, Nick is probably a forever bachelor. Is Fiona into him? It would make more sense than her being into me, I suppose. The guy is a doctor, good-looking, and I’ve seen him charm the pants—literally—off m
ore than one woman.
“Fuck.”
There’s only one way to find out.
The shower stops. It’s now or never. I stalk into the hallway and lean against the wall opposite the bathroom, waiting. Fiona murmurs to herself behind the bathroom door, though I can’t make out what she’s saying.
A couple minutes later, the door whips open and she’s there—white towel wrapped around her body, blonde hair dripping down her shoulders, clean, natural face. The only word that comes to mind is MINE.
She screams. The towel almost falls when she startles, but she grabs it at the last second. “What the hell?”
My inner caveman balks at her quick reflexes. Seems I’m in full-on Neanderthal mode tonight.
“We need to talk,” I say gruffly.
“Where’s your little girlfriend?” she snips.
I scowl. “Where’s your boyfriend?”
She shakes her head and narrows her eyes. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Are you into Nick?” My hands fist at my sides.
“Are you for real right now?” She takes a few steps forward and stabs me in the chest with her finger. “You have the nerve to say something like that to me when you had Annableh hanging off you all night?”
I almost snicker at her nickname for my co-worker, but she still hasn’t answered my question. “She’s just a co-worker who can’t take a hint. Relax.”
“Have you slept with her?” Her Mediterranean Sea eyes could breathe fire right now. Why is that so fucking hot?
I shift my stance to make room for my growing erection. “You haven’t answered my question. I saw you and Nick laughing and hugging and whispering to each other. What the fuck was that about?”
A smug smile plays on her lips. “Wouldn’t you like to know.”
Three's A Crowd: A Best Friend's Older Brother Rom Com (Love in Apartment #3B Book 2) Page 14