surprised side-eye, and there’s silence from Remi’s end of the line. I grimace and look away. I rub a hand over the back of my suddenly warm neck. “I’m sorry, I just haven’t really had time to process this—”
“Hey, hey…no pressure.” Remi sounds like he’s talking to a skittish animal. “I know this is strange. Just wanted to let you know where I am…You can meet me there, or not. Either way, welcome to the family. You should come to dinner at Regan’s one Friday. Ty drive like you have sense and call me when you get home. We’ve got some business to discuss.”
He hangs up, without saying bye or waiting for Tyson’s response.
“Older brothers. Bossy as fuck. See how he just ordered me around? He’s always sticking his nose in my shit. You’d think I was still thirteen and not thirty-two.”
“Hayes is the same. Sticking his nose where it’s not wanted.”
“Listen, you got any nice doctor friends Regan’s age? She needs a regular guy, but you know my sister—she’s so image conscious. She’ll want someone who, as my mother would say “has the same size door as hers.” He gives me a knowing look.
“What does that mean?”
“I mean, she’s had a rough time. Since that picture dropped, all the funding for her little center she was building has disappeared. Her little fake housewives clique dropped her, boards she’s served on for years asked her to resign. Her kids come home crying because people are talking about their mother’s ass. And so, I want to find her a man who makes the bitches who have been kicking her while she’s down, choke. I’m thinking chief of staff, head of a department, or something.”
“You want me to find her a man?” My head spins at his request.
“Yeah. What did you think? That I was asking you to date her?”
“No, no, no,” I laugh, through my queasiness.
Tyson laughs, and the line finally moves. We inch up another few feet and come to a stop. “Regan is a rare vintage. I’m vetting her next man myself. And I don’t know anyone with better judgement than you. So, when you get to work, take notes, give me names, so I can start getting them checked out, and we can get her introduced. Okay?” He punches me in the shoulder, and I muster a weak smile.
“You know what, I’m not hungry anymore. So, if you’re only stopping for me, we can leave.”
“What’s wrong with you? You’re passing up shitty food?” He puts a hand on my forehead, as if he’s checking temperature.
I shove his hand off and give him a critical once over. “From the look of that gut, you might want to do the same,” I quip.
He just laughs and slaps my back. “Stone, my man. I missed you. It’ll be good to have you around. If you’re not hungry, you will be, as soon as we get close enough to smell the grease.”
His phone rings again. The car announces the caller as “Tami.”
I pull out my phone and check my messages, while he talks to her. But I can’t focus. I keep replaying the things Tyson said.
He crushed my hopes of getting him on my side in my bid to win Regan back. But, I didn’t come all this way to let something like Tyson’s approval keep me from her.
And, right now, the biggest obstacle in my way is the woman herself.
I’ll see her on Friday at this dinner. I’ll keep my feelings to myself, until I’ve had a chance to talk to her. Because there’s no way in the world that I’m going to let her go.
Always Be Unfinished Business
Regan
“Come meet us at The Belvedere. Stone’s only been in town for a week, and he’s already got a girl. You need to take lessons from him.”
I re-read Tyson’s text, my heart in my throat, as I stare at the picture of my brother with a grinning, gorgeous Stone and a half-naked girl who appears to be sitting on his lap.
I look at my missed calls. Today is the first time this week that he hasn’t called. At least now, I know why.
I slip my phone into my purse and close my eyes. “Charlie, I have a headache. Can we take a raincheck?”
His hand cups my forehead. “Are you sick? Do I need to pull over?” He puts on his turn signal and starts looking to his right, for a chance to change lanes.