Page 257 of The Baby Bargain
He sets the takeout cup on the sleek wood table. Slides into a matching chair.
I sit across from him. Wrap my hands around my cup. It's warm but I can barely feel it.
"How's the new shop?" He takes a long sip. Swallows hard.
"Good." My phone is flush with updates on Inked Love, but I haven't seen enough of it. Not in person.
"It's nice. Beautiful." He tries to make his voice even. Gets most of the way there. "Suits you."
"The hot pink suits me?"
"The black."
I can't help but chuckle. "I look good in misery."
He laughs too. "You do."
"Maybe not as good as you."
He holds up his cup to toast. "You're the king."
"Then you're the prince."
"Maybe it's just a Keating thing." He takes another sip. Lets out another moan. "Fuck, that really is good."
I nod.
"I'm going to have to look past those uncomfortable chairs." He lays his palms on the table.
I try to think of some response. Chairs. Coffee. Black. None of that shit matters. I have to say the shit that matters. "I'm sorry."
His eyes go wide. He repeats my words like he's translating a foreign language. "You're sorry."
"Yeah. Not for the last year. I was pissed. I needed time."
He nods with understanding.
"Before that…" I suck a breath through my teeth. This is hard. But I can do it. "I made it too personal. Made your drinking about me. Yeah, it hurt that you lied. It hurt that I missed it. But I get that you weren't an alcoholic at me."
He stares at me, dumbstruck.
"Mom… Fuck, you think it's gonna stick?"
"I don't know." His voice is honest. "I hope so, but… I know better than anyone—"
"It doesn't always."
He nodsyeah.
"Do you think you will?" I stare into my brother's eyes.
"Do you?"
"Yeah." The tension in my shoulders eases. "I do. I really fucking do."
"Chase—"
"You don't have to say anything. I get it now. It's your fight. Not mine. I'll always be there, cheering you on, but I'm not gonna get involved."
