Aria
It was finally the weekend—which meant no more Sebastian and Caspian constantly at it in the office over the fund proposal. At one point, I thought they might kill each other. Anyone would think they were siblings, and one had taken the other’s favourite toy.
Sebastian had promised we’d spend Saturday together, but he’d left the house early this morning and said he needed to go into the office. My heart sank a little with not having him here. He never worked on a Saturday. This proposal was clearly getting to him more than he was letting on.
Serfina and Hayden were visiting family, so I was all by myself.
Rather than sitting around the house, I’d decided to do a bit of retail therapy with Sebastian’s card—for once, I was going to do as he said and spend on it.
But here I was, looking at ties for him rather than anything for me. He wasn’t even here, and my subconscious always went back to him. I should have been mad at him for leaving me. I let out a heavy sigh as I touched the grey silk tie. He’d look good in this one.
“Do you want someone to try that on for you?”
I startled from the voice in my ear.
It was one I hadn’t heard in a long time.
I turned to see none other than Callum Brown standing in front of me.
“I thought that was you.” He smiled. “Well, if it wasn’t, I would have whispered something inappropriate in another woman’s ear.” He chuckled.
“Callum?” I chirped. “Oh my God. What are you doing here? How are you here?”
He laughed. “Are we playing a hundred questions?”
I was a little flustered from the shock. He was someone I never thought I’d see again.
“I’m so sorry. I’m really happy to see you.”
“Come here, you.”
He wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his chest. That familiar smell of dark musk hit me, a smell that had been my only comfort for four years.
“You look like you’ve grown,” he joked, pulling away.
“Very funny. Just because you’re like, a giant, being six feet and all.”
“All right, Miss Five Foot Nothing.”
“Five foot five, actually.”
He chuckled to himself. It felt like we hadn’t been away from each other at all.
We always used to joke around with each other in Leeds—in private, of course.
He never really acknowledged me when other people were around.
I knew why he did it; to protect me from Jason.
If he’d seen how we truly were with each other, I doubted either of us would be breathing today.
Callum looked different. His dark, chestnut brown hair was now shaved at the sides and short on top, his stubble was a neatly trimmed beard, and his green eyes were as bright as ever. They always reminded me of a fresh spring day.
I held the tie against his black shirt. “This would suit you, actually.”
“Grey’s my favourite colour.” He winked.
I swatted his chest with the tie. “No, it’s not.”
“How much do you want to bet on that?”
“A gambling man now, I see,” I teased.
“Only when it’s a sure win.”
“What are you doing here, anyway? You’re a long way from Leeds.”
“I’m looking to invest in a few businesses here. They weren’t far from Oxford Street, so I thought I’d treat myself to a new tie for the occasion.”
“You were buying ties? I don’t believe you. I was always the one who told you what suited you—you could never quite get it right.”
“Maybe I listened,” he teased. “We should get coffee and catch up. Unless you’re with someone?” He glanced around, then met my eyes again.
“I’m actually by myself.”
“Then it was meant to be. Think I saw a coffee shop a few doors down when I was walking up.”
I went to put the tie back, but Callum took it from me. “What are you doing?”
“You said it would suit me, so I’m buying it. Unless you were making it up?”
I rested my hand on his chest. “Go and pay for it.”
He smiled at me, and I watched him make his way over to the till. I couldn’t help the warmth I felt, seeing him again. I’d missed his company.
He walked back over, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. “You ready, my little Astra?”
That nickname was something I hadn’t heard often, only when we were alone, but it always brightened my day. It let me know I was safe with him, and I could be myself without worrying about Jason.
A few minutes’ walk down the road, and we arrived at the coffee shop. The mixed aroma of a nutty caramel with a hint of cocoa hit me instantly as Callum opened the door for me, the sound of beans grinding and the clinking of cups and saucers in the background.
“Sit down, and I’ll go get some coffee,” Callum said, and wandered off to the counter.
The grey velvet tub chairs were soft and comfortable as I sat on one, looking around. The stone walls were painted white with a shimmer of gold to add that elegant touch. It was a cute little vintage place.
Callum soon placed the coffees on the table, with a chocolate twist plated up, and sat in the chair next to me.
My eyes widened slightly as I looked at the cup. “You remembered.”
“Cappuccino with an extra bit of chocolate powder. No sugar. How could I forget? I also got you one of those chocolate twists you like, in case you were hungry.”
“Actually, I’m starving. I didn’t have breakfast before I left this morning.”
I picked up the pastry and took a big bite. It was warm and gooey. This was what I needed right now, something sweet.
“In a rush to buy ties?” he joked.
“Ha, funny. Come here.” I gestured with my hand for him to come closer.
He leaned forward, and I untied his tie and removed it. After placing it in the bag, I grabbed the grey one and wrapped it around his neck, looping it over and pulling it so it was neat. I ran my hand down it to remove the creases and looked up to smile at him.
“Much better,” I said, leaning back in the chair and taking a sip of my cappuccino.
He straightened his jacket and cuffs, then took a sip of his black coffee.
We sat there for a beat in silence. He always had such a warm, easy presence about him that never made me feel awkward.
I never understood how he and Jason were brothers; they were complete opposites.
Callum was kind, thoughtful, and patient with me.
I wasn’t stupid; I knew what he did, but he was never like that around me.
Jason, on the other hand, sometimes forced me to watch him torture and kill people.
I shuddered at the memories, fiddling with my sleeve.
“Are you ok?” Callum asked, placing his hand on mine to stop me.
I shifted. “I’m sorry, Callum.”
He narrowed his eyes at me. “What for?”
“Jason. Everything that happened. His death. I can’t imagine what you’re going through. Losing a brother …” I trailed off.
He squeezed my hand. “Don’t you dare do that. None of it was your fault. Jason made his choices. He brought it on himself.”
“You don’t have to be nice about it.”
I swallowed hard to push down that sick feeling that was rising from my stomach. He didn’t know I’d been the one to pull the trigger.
“Callum—”
He cut me off. “Where’s your ring?”
I glanced down at my hand for a moment as his thumb grazed over my finger. Callum had picked up on me fiddling with my sleeves anytime I was anxious, which unfortunately was most of the time in Leeds. He’d bought me this special ring that I could twist instead.
“I left it when I came down here. It was a reminder of my past, and I knew I didn’t need it anymore.”
“I’m glad to hear that. I never liked seeing you that way.”
“Oh!” I placed my cup down. “I want you to meet my partner,” I said excitedly.
“Your partner?”
“Yes. His name’s Sebastian. You’d get on like a house on fire, I know you would.”
“I’m not into setting houses on fire,” he teased.
I swatted his arm. “Don’t be such a joker.”
He sat there for a beat, then smiled. “I’d love to.”