Page 87 of Honor

Not that I’ve ever been to any of those musicals recently. I did have to sit through a few matinees when I was a kid, but I haven’t set foot in a Broadway theatre in years.

“Am I good enough for Charlotte?” Those words fly out of him, along with a sob.

Jesus.

“What the hell does that mean?” Irritation laces my tone. I can’t say for sure if it’s because he interrupted me when I was on my way to eat out Evie or if I’m mildly pissed that he’s lacking the confidence he’s always had.

Randall is by far the best-looking guy in most rooms. He’s had to manage the expectations of not only his parents but his two over-bearing older sisters for most of his adult life, but he’s done it all with an arrogant swagger that is impressive.

He’s nowhere near as cocky as I am, but he’s always been proud of himself.

“She’s beautiful, Reid.” He grabs my shoulders and shakes me.

I allow it because I can see how torn up he is. Patting his cheek, I give him a small smile. “You’re not bad-looking, Randall. I’d trim the beard if I were you, but other than that, you’re a solid seven out of ten.”

I expect him to punch my chin playfully, but he tears up again. “You think I’m good-looking?”

I jumped into the middle of that, so I own it. “Sure.”

“She’s worth a hell of a lot more than I am,” he points out. “She’s the heir to a fortune, Reid. It’s a fucking fortune. I’ve done well for myself, but her net worth makes mine look like pocket change.”

This would be the perfect time to sell him on the idea of handing the keys to Azelius Spas to Vidori for a fair price. I can’t do it, though. Not now.

“Who said money matters?” Those words come out of my mouth.

I’m as shocked as Randall. The look on his face says it all, but still, he doesn’t let my question go unanswered. “You. You’ve always told me that money matters most.”

I have, and if this conversation had happened when he wasn’t on the brink of an emotional collapse, I might have said those exact words to him again.

“Do you love her?” I ask the question I should have asked as soon as he stopped me dead in my tracks in this hallway.

“More than I’ve ever loved anyone or anything,” he confesses, and I see the same declaration in his eyes. He truly loves Charlotte Rushing, and for a split second, I feel something I haven’t felt in a long time.

I’m envious of Randall.

My first experience with that was when we were kids. It was the first day of school. During drop-off, Randall was clinging tightly to the hands of his mom and dad while my grandma stood a few feet away from me. Tears streamed down her cheeks because she knew that my mom and dad should have been there for me.

I felt it again at every birthday party his mom threw for him, and that envy was eating me alive when we were at this beach house years ago when his family went for a swim in the ocean altogether while I waited on the shore with my grandma and Melody.

Life has been kind to me in many ways, but not in the ways it has been to Randall. His engagement to Charlotte is further proof of that. He loves her so much that he’s scared he’ll fail her because he’s not perfect in his own eyes.

“Come to my room for a second.” He tugs on my forearm. “I want to show you what I got Charlotte for a wedding gift.”

“Maybe tomorrow, buddy.” I pat his hand. “It’s late.”

“It won’t take long,” he promises. “Give me five minutes, and I’ll let you get back to your bed.”

“Three minutes,” I counter, but don’t add that I plan on heading to Evie’s bed.

“That works for me.” He points down the hallway I just exited. “You really are the best man I know, Reid.”

I’m not. I’ll never be, but since I don’t aspire to be, I’m all right with it.

I do want to be the best lover Evangeline’s ever had, so I motion for him to start moving toward his room because the clock is ticking, and the most beautiful woman in the world is waiting for me.

CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE

Evie

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