Page 115 of One Time in Paris
Oh God, the wine is probably going to his head.Just what she needed—feeling like a loner with an extra side of family recrimination.
“You are a good father, Dad. Love and marriage just have a way of fucking us when we least expect it.”
He frowned at her language. “Isla.”
She rolled her eyes. “I’m just teasing.”Nope. Not getting pulled into a mid-party therapy session.She grabbed her drink. “I’m going to make the rounds. Catch you in a bit.”
She passed by her mum as she left Dad’s side. “Que estaba diciendo?” Mum whispered too loudly.What was he saying?
“Nada.” Nothing. She really wasn’t about to get caught in her parents’ perpetual stand-off. “I’m going to get some air.”
“Ten cuidado,” Mum warned behind her.
Yeah, yeah. She’d be careful.
Isla left the elegant room being used for the cocktail hour and slipped out onto the adjoining balcony. The venue was an old bank that had been converted into an event space and hotel—most of the guests were staying here tonight, including her. She’d checked into her room earlier when she’d come with Elle and Liddy and now all she wanted to do was flee to it.
The balcony had an impressive view of London, including the dome of St. Paul’s, and Isla walked toward it, glad for the break from the chatter and the soft lyrical strain from the string quartet. Nothing added to the chaos of a party quite like classical music being played over the sound of emotional implosions.
Glancing at the few people out on the balcony, she shouldn’t have been surprised to find Callum there. Yet there he was.
Of course he was there. Where else would a brooding older brother lurk if not on a balcony with a beer like a Victorian ghost haunting his own elopement party?
He caught her eye and smiled as she came up beside him. “I completely understand why you eloped,” she said with a groan. “And why Liddy had to talk you into a party.”
“I saw you caught over there with Dad. Sorry.” Callum grimaced, his gaze refocusing on the cityscape. “Though usually you’re able to rise above it all with a smile. Not today, though. Something on your mind?”
Isla focused her gaze on the dome of St. Paul’s. Like her heart wasn’t thudding in her chest. Like talking to her big brother—who’d always been a safety net for her, the only one who understood everything she’d been through—wasn’t somehow painful now. “No,” she said brightly. “You? Just avoiding your guests?”
“No,” Callum said. A muscle in his jaw flexed, then he sipped on the beer. “Just trying to figure out why everyone I’m close to—including my own wife—is lying to me.”
Isla drew a sharp breath, and her gaze collided with her brother’s.
He flicked his eyes away from hers again. “I’m not stupid, Isla.”
Oh God. What does he know?
Her heart slammed hard against her ribs. “Callum, I?—”
“I’ll admit, I was angry at the thought at first. Angry because I worry about the implications of you and Aiden sleeping together and what that might mean in the future if it ends badly. I don’t want my little sister getting hurt, especially not at the hands of one of my closest friends.”
Oh fuck.
Her mouth went dry, and she sipped more of her drink, letting him continue talking for now while she gathered her thoughts.
“But then, my anger faded, and it occurred to me that there also wasn’t anyone I trusted as much as Aiden—except for Quinn, of course—even though he’s lying to me, too. But really, you’re both adults. And he’s responsible. Wealthy. He’s always cared about you, and I couldn’t think of someone I’d be happier to see you with.”
Isla’s throat clenched. If this was where the conversation ended, it would be a good thing.
She hadn’t expected this. Calm. Mature. Like maybe, just maybe, she hadn’t given Callum enough credit.
The whole situation with Tomas had skewed her perspective too much.
She’d spent weeks dreading this moment, expecting fury or disappointment. But here it was—something worse.Resignation.It didn’t slam into her like a door. It seeped in, slow and sad, like rain under a cracked window.
Somehow, that hurt more.
But from the manner of Callum’s delivery, hewasn’thappy about the fact now.
