Chapter 37
KELSEY
It’s been over two years since I last saw Slade Sterling. After learning that he was actually the one that bought this house and turned it into the restaurant, I was worried I would be angry when we met again. Instead of anger, I feel nothing.
Looking at my boyfriend, I can’t say he’s having the same indifferent reaction to his brother’s arrival.
I try to think back over the last few days and neither Rich nor Sutton mentioned that Slade was coming.
It’s possible I just forgot or that they never thought to mention it.
Judging by Sutton’s expression, I don’t think he was expecting this.
I brush past Rich and walk over to Sutton’s side.
From his rigid posture to the muscle ticking in his jaw, I can feel the unease oozing off of him.
Instinctively, my hand splays between his broad back and I rub circles in his dense muscles through his chef’s coat.
I lean into him and feel him relax just the slightest bit.
“I take it you didn’t know he was coming?”
He shakes his head. “Nope.” His tone is curt.
The last diners sitting at the counter get up just as Slade reaches us and sits at one of the stools across from us. He’s just as imposing as I remember, but he lacks the softer charming features that his younger brother has.
I wait for either of them to say something, but neither does. Well, this is freaking awkward. Another moment passes and I swear you could cut the air between them with a knife. Finally, I spare either from caving to the other in this pissing match I’m caught up in.
“It’s nice to see you again, Slade. It’s been awhile.” I plaster on a polite smile that I’m positive looks more like a grimace than a warm greeting.
He turns to me and his eyes settle on my hand rubbing his brother’s back. “Where are my manners? I don’t think we’ve formally met before.” He stands and extends a hand over the counter. “Slade Sterling.”
I start to step toward him but Sutton extends his arm, stopping me. “Why are you here, Slade? I know you didn’t come to catch up with my girlfriend.”
Sutton possessively wraps his arm around me and I melt into his warmth, as much for him as for me.
Slade shimmies back onto his stool and smirks. “I thought we could put on our pajamas and curl up on the couch for the season finale of Honeycomb Ranch.”
I turn to Sutton. “Wait. Does your whole family watch? Also, the finale was last night.”
Sutton rolls his eyes. “No, he thinks TV is a waste of brain cells.”
I clutch my chest in mock shock. “How dare he besmirch the housewives?”
Sutton faces me and smiles. “I know. Caroline and Brooke would never stand for this.”
Slade huffs a dismissively laugh, prompting Sutton to look at him.
“Seriously, why did you come here?”
His brother shrugs. “I do own the majority of this restaurant, remember? I don’t need a reason to come check on my investment.”
Slade looks around the restaurant and I can see the approval in his cool, blue eyes. Still, there’s clearly some tension between the two of them, unlike that night at Bridger’s when they came in laughing like best friends.
Reaching into his pocket, Slade pulls out his phone, holding it up. “Also, did you forget how to use one of these? Answer a call? Reply to a text or email? I wanted to tell you the good news.”
He reaches into his pocket again, this time pulling out a set of keys. He pokes a finger through the key ring and holds them in front of Sutton’s face and jingles them. “Surprise!”
“What are those for?” Sutton asks, looking confused again.
“Those are for the apartment in Seattle.”
He tosses the keys at Sutton, who snatches them out of the air in a way that’s so nonchalant it’s almost sort of hot. He opens his hand and takes one look at the keys before flicking his wrist, sending them right back to his brother. OK. It’s definitely hotter than it should be.
Wait… apartment in Seattle?
I know this is new between us and I can’t expect him to make big life decisions just because of me. I also trusted him not to screw me over with my apartment. Looking at his face, it’s him that I’m worried about. I can see how conflicted he is and feel his palpable irritation.
“What happened to ‘no rush yet’?” Sutton’s voice is gruff.
“That was a few weeks ago, and you've been ignoring my texts any time I mentioned Seattle.” Slade’s eyes fall to a place setting on the counter next to him and he carefully straightens a knife and fork.
Sutton palms his face. “You know damn well that I said I’d help, but that I was only thinking about running it. So can we talk about this later?”
Slade holds up a hand. “We could go out for drinks and finally talk. I’m staying at The Veil.” He turns his attention to me. “Is your friend, Monica, around? She should join us too. Make it a whole night out for old times’ sake.”
I will give it to the Sterling brothers—none of them are lacking in confidence. That’s a fact. Unlike Sutton though, who is sweet and charming, Slade is kind of a prick and getting on my nerves. Seeing how Sutton is still irritated with his unplanned drop-in, I’m not the only one annoyed.
I tap my finger to my lips and hum. Then I smile right at him and shake my head. “No, she’s with her boyfriend tonight. Thanks for helping her get through her fuckboy phase though because he’s amazing.”
He tips his chin. “Glad to be of service. Anyway, let’s go to that shitty dive bar again, unless something else is open this late.”
He stands up and slides his stool back in before walking toward the bathrooms. When he’s out of sight, Sutton turns to Rich. “Did you know he was coming?”
Rich shakes his head. “Nope. You want me to take him out tonight so you two can do your thing? The wife’s having a girls’ night and already has a sitter who will stay late, so I don’t mind.”
“Nah. It’s fine. I do actually need to talk to him.”
Rich nods and goes back to cleaning up the bar.
Sutton looks at me and I can see the worry in his eyes as he searches mine. He drops his hands to my waist and holds me by my hips, reminding me that I love the feeling of his big hands on me. “Are you alright? I had no clue he was coming.”
I rear back and scrunch my face. “Am I alright? I’m the one that should be asking if you’re OK. You’re wound tighter than Caroline was when she found out Brooke and Kennedy got manicures without her.”
He laughs and a little bit of that worry fades away, revealing one of those dimples. “Yeah, that was a great episode.” He takes a deep breath and sighs. “I just wasn’t expecting him to be here and I’ve been putting off that conversation about the restaurant in Seattle.”
His kind eyes linger on me and I want to ask what he’s planning to do, but it feels like a bigger conversation. He must see the question in my eyes because he lifts a hand and rubs a thumb over my cheek. “I still haven’t made up my mind, but I’m pretty positive that I know what I want.”
The conviction in his voice and the feeling of his warm, callused skin on my cheek somehow soothes away every worry I had.
I nod. “It’s OK. You don’t need to worry about me.” I look back toward the bathroom and don’t see Slade yet. “If it’ll make you feel better though, I can go get Felix and sic him on Slade when he gets back.”
He chuckles and flashes those dimples again. “That would be funny. He’d be scared shitless, but no, this is something I need to deal with on my own.” He presses a kiss to my forehead. “Also, say what you want about Oscar, but you’re really starting to channel some of her energy.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I guess she is growing on me, but it helps that she has a cute dad.” I flick my brows at him and the smile he levels on me removes any doubt in my mind—I’m falling for this sweet, funny, and endlessly compassionate man.