Page 66 of Pretty Heartache

“I did want to talk to Ember.” She pulls her bottom lip under her teeth. “I feel bad for leaving last night. I want to treat her to breakfast or lunch… if she isn’t too hungover.” She giggles.

I open my mouth to protest but stop myself. I have no right to tell Adeline what to do, and I can’t tell her about Soren. Not when Archer clearly hasn’t filled her in on the truth.

I won’t deny that it frightens me a little knowing there’s a chance Soren might be following her, waiting to catch her in a moment when she’s vulnerable.

But I can’t tell her not to meet up with Ember.

I offer her the only other form of protection I can when I can’t be there.

“My driver can give you a ride if you want.”

She raises her eyebrows. “You have a driver?”

I laugh. “Of course.”

She lifts herself up and rests on her elbow, looking down at me. “I’ve never seen him.”

“Well, Ray’s been our family’s driver for decades. He mostly works for my older brother Lennon, since I’m usually in and out of the country several times in a month.” I clear my throat. “I’m usually working in the UK or Europe. But when I’m home, he’ll drive me around sometimes. When I don’t take my car or bike, that is.”

“I don’t know.” She shakes her head. “I’d hate to put Ray out. Or your brother.”

“You won’t. He’s probably going to drop Lennon off at the restaurant, but other than that, he should be available,” I tell her, grabbing my phone. I text Ray, asking if he’s free this morning, then drop my phone back on the table. “There, I’ve already asked him if he’s free.”

She rolls her eyes at me before playfully slapping me on the chest. I catch her hand before she’s able to pull it away and bring it to my mouth to kiss the inside of her wrist, pressing my lips to her pulse.

“I need to shower before meeting my brothers. Would you like to join me?”

“Is that a real question?”

I laugh, my heart swelling at the twinkle in her eye.

After showering with Adeline,I quickly get dressed in one of the suits I keep at the house. I wait until Ray picks Adeline up before jumping into my car and driving into the city. I toss the keys to the valet and step into Eclipse, heading straight forour usual booth. Even after all these years, I’m surprised my brothers and I have kept up with the tradition of eating at my father’s favorite restaurant, at his favorite table.

At first, I thought it was some sort of sick torture the three of us were putting on ourselves. Like a punishment, carrying out my father’s obsession with power and control long after he’s been dead.

But as the years have gone by, I think of it more as a chance for us to rewrite our own script. Where my father used dinners at Eclipse to control and manipulate, the three of us Harding brothers use it as a way of checking in with one another.

Meals at Eclipse have brought us closer.

I slide into the booth beside Jude.

He’s wearing a simple, short-sleeve, collared shirt. The forest green fabric is thick, and the two buttons are undone at the top, just below his neck. His shirt is tucked into his black slacks.

“Play at Abbey’s school later,” he mutters against the rim of his glass of water, as if he already knows I was going to make a comment about his outfit.

“You should have mentioned it,” I say, waving to the waitress for her to grab my usual drink: a gin and tonic. “I would have come.”

“It’s not a huge production or anything.” Jude frowns, sitting back in the booth, draping his arms across the leather backing. “It’s a re-enactment ofThe Wizard of Oz,and it’s all taking place in the classroom. Apparently, they think all the parents will fit on one half of the room while the play takes place on the other.”

“Sounds like a blast.” The waitress sets my drink in front of me, and I take the first sip. “Who’s Abbey playing?”

His grin reaches his eyes. “Dorothy.”

“Of course, my girl gets the lead.” I smile. “Make sure you take pictures.”

“We will.” Jude smiles back.

“What did I miss?” Lennon asks as he walks up to the table. He undoes the top button of his black suit and slips into the booth, opposite me; Jude in the middle.

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