22. Brennan
twenty-two
Brennan
Three Months Later
W ell, tonight’s not going as planned.
I’ll roll with it though.
Stepping into the Met Grill, I immediately feel a sense of comfort. The reason I love this place is because it hasn’t changed in years—the same dark-wood paneling, the same low hum of conversation, the unmistakable scent of grilled steaks.
Bottom line, familiar places ground me.
I’m back in Seattle to see Cillian. He’s out of rehab and I was looking forward to introducing Astrid to him. Unfortunately, an important appointment pulled her away at the last minute and she’s not sure if she’ll make it.
Even though I’m disappointed, she’s one of the top real estate agents in the country and didn’t achieve such an elite status without being at the beck and call of her high-stakes clients. I’d also be a hypocrite if I got precious about her being late due to a work commitment. So, I get it.
Besides, it’s nice Cillian and will I have some time to ourselves—there’s a lot to catch up on.
I spot him in the back, already seated. He looks a hell of a lot better than the last time I saw him. Rehab was tough, but it seems to have worked. He’s sober, clearer, and seems like himself again. Other than the seriousness in his eyes. Heartbreak. A weight that lingers.
“Hey, Bren.” He stands to give me a quick hug. “Been a while.”
“Yeah, it has.” I slide into the booth across from him. “You look well.”
Cillian motions to the waiter for water. “I feel great. One day at a time, though. You know how it is.”
I nod, though I can’t pretend to know the depth of what he’s gone through.
We order two ribeyes, medium rare, with all the sides, and while we wait, I can’t help but reflect on how much things have changed in such a short time. Three months ago, I was being pushed around by the board and feeling suffocated by their plans for CognifyAI.
Things are different now.
Thanks to Astrid, I’ve been working closely with my financial advisor and lawyer to negotiate my CEO package, ensuring my future legacy with the company. It was a wake-up call. If I hadn’t gotten ahead of this when I did, I would have been utterly fucked.
Embracing my role as the public face of the company has been strategic. Now, I have a semblance of control. Public persona Brennan is someone I hated at first but now I’ve come to accept him. If I’m going to keep my eye on the long-term prize, I need to play the game for the board.
“Media training still got you in knots?” Cillian asks with a smirk as the waiter brings us the dessert menu.
I grin, shaking my head. “Nah, I’ve gotten the hang of it. It’s not as bad as I thought it’d be. Surprisingly, it’s worth it. If all goes to plan, and the deal we proposed goes through, I’ll stick with CognifyAI and I’ll be set for life.”
“More than.” He quirks an eyebrow. “We’re talking ‘richest man in the world’ territory, aren’t we?”
“Yeah, or something close. But, there are strings attached. The golden handcuffs they’re offering come with a five-year lock-in. I’ll be tied to the company for the next half decade.” I swirl the lemon slice around in my glass of water.
Cillian studies me for a moment. “And you’re not sure if it’s what you want.”
It’s not a question. He knows me too well.
“I’m not,” I admit. “It’s tempting. I’ve worked for years to get CognifyAI where it is. Walking away now would feel like giving up. At the same time, I’m not as excited about it as I used to be.”
“Oh?” Cillian leans back in the booth.
I pause, thinking about the project Astrid and I have been working on. “I’m more excited about Reuniverse than CognifyAI these days.” The words surprise me as they come out. “Astrid and I are in the final stages of beta testing. It’ll be ready for our reunion next year. It’s fun to build something from the ground up again. I’ve gotta be honest, the implementation of this AI has real potential on its own.”
Cillian chews a piece of his steak. “So, you’re telling me you could be the richest man in the world, but what gets you going is this reunion app?”
I laugh, but it’s the truth. “Yeah, it kind of is. It reminds me of why I got into tech in the first place—creating useful innovations to help people. CognifyAI’ s not the same these days. Once we go public, it’ll belong to the shareholders. I’ve come to terms with the change of status but it’s weird. Maybe that’s why Reuniverse is so much fun. It’s ours.”
“You’re building it with the woman you love.” Cillian leans back in his seat as the waiter refills his water glass. Thankfully he doesn’t sound bitter. “Sounds like you’ve got a choice to make. Stick with the golden handcuffs or go after what actually makes you happy.”
Huh. His bluntness makes me realize I do have a choice. “Well, I I’m hoping to do both.”
“How’s she doing, anyway?” Cillian asks after the waiter leaves. “Seems like things are pretty serious.”
“Yeah.” I swirl the water in my glass. “Astrid’s great. And yeah, we’re serious. As you can tell, she’s crazy busy with her clients and I’m always buried with shit, but we’re making it work. I’ve even set calendar reminders so I remember to text her throughout the day.”
Cillian snorts. “What? You set reminders to text your girlfriend? Jesus, Bren.”
I laugh, because it sounds ridiculous. It’s the only way I’ve figured out to remember to check in so she knows I’ve got my priorities straight. With everything going on—IPO talks, the constant travel between Seattle and Silicon Valley, media training and overseeing the technology, I need a system.
“You thinking about marrying her?” Cillian leans forward.
“Uh…” I glance at him, caught off guard by the question. “You know I try not to get too far ahead of myself.”
“Sure …” Cillian purses his lips pensively.
I swallow hard because he knows me so well. “I do think about it. Except, until I sort out CognifyAI, we don’t live in the same city. I won’t be able to give her what she deserves.”
Cillian shakes his head. “You’re making excuses. If you’re serious about her—and it sounds like you are—take it from me, don’t lose her. Once you’ve met your person, being without them is agony.”
”She doesn’t know yet.” I hang my head. “I have no excuse, other than…”
“Hey.” He grabs my wrist. “Don’t. The worst thing you could do is keep important things from her. She’s probably already picked up on the fact your brain works differently. And you know I don’t mean that in a bad way.”
“So, you think she notices to the point of wondering about it?” I try to keep my voice casual. Like I’m unbothered.
“Eh—yeah. She probably does.” Cillian scrubs his beard with his hand, watching me. Making sure I’m okay.
I take another bite of steak, mulling over his words.
It’s a strange thing, keeping this part of myself hidden from the woman who, besides my family, is the person I trust most in this world. Truth be told, Astrid knows more about me than anyone. She’s privy to my obsessions. Embraces my quirks. Understands and accepts my routines. Fills in my gaps. She might tease me sometimes, but it’s never mean-spirited. It’s part of our normal banter.
Bottom line, she always encourages me to be myself.
Withholding my diagnosis has gone on too long. There can’t be any secrets between us as we plan our future. Astrid deserves to know everything. Even the parts I’m afraid she might not understand.
Then she’ll be able to make an informed choice if I’m the man for her.
“Speaking of Astrid.” Cillian’s eyes flick toward the door. “Looks like she’s here.”
Astrid walks toward us in an emerald-green dress cinched at the waist with a gold belt. Her hair is loosely swept up, a few tendrils framing her face, and her dark leather pumps add a polished touch. Even after a long day, she looks effortlessly elegant.
I stand to greet her, kissing her quickly before she slides into the booth next to me.
“Sorry I’m so late.” She turns to Cillian. “The showing ran longer than expected. It’s so nice to finally meet you. Brennan talks about you all the time.”
“All good, I hope—except for the alcoholic thing.” Cillian addresses his situation head on, flashing her a toothy smile. “You’ve been keeping my brother in check, I see.”
Astrid laughs. “I try. He’s not easy to wrangle, but I manage.”
I glance at him. Yeah . She’s aware.
Like magic, the steak salad I ordered for her arrives and as she eats, the conversation flows easily between the three of us.
Astrid is, as always, amazing. She’s so natural. So at ease. I love how she can connect with anyone, even my beloved brother. I’ve never seen her break a sweat, no matter what the situation. I do want my future to be with her.
Cillian’s dead-on. There’s no time to waste.
After dinner, the three of us wait for the valet to pull up our cars. When Astrid’s Bentley arrives, she says goodbye to my brother and climbs into the driver’s seat.
She and I are staying on her houseboat, so before I walk around to the passenger side, Cillian wraps me in a bear hug. Claps me on the back, hard. “Don’t wait, Bren. She loves you for you. That woman’s a keeper.”
“I won’t.” I squeeze his shoulder.
If I hadn’t been sure before, watching her charm my brother sealed the deal.
I’m gonna lock her down. Tell her the truth. Ask her to marry me.
Soon.
I’ve just gotta make sure everything else falls into place.