Page 127 of One Time in Paris
The kettle clicked off, and Aiden gave it a scant glance, then pulled a box of tea from the cupboard. “Not much of a selection here, I’m afraid.”
Quinn came back over and took the box. “We can handle it. You should go talk to Callum.”
Grimacing, Aiden flicked his gaze back out the window. He didn’t particularly want to talk to Callum, but it wasn’t as though he could avoid him forever.
“Fine.” He grabbed a jumper he’d left on a chair and pulled it over his head.
May as well get it over with.
Aiden strode out of the cottage. Callum wasn’t where they’d left him—not that he’d expected him to be. Instead, he’d wandered off toward the cliffside. The view was the reason Aiden had bought the place to begin with. The cottage itself needed updating, but he doubted he’d ever get around to it.
Pushing his way through the gate that led toward the tall grass on the cliffside, Aiden made his way toward Callum. The grass was still wet from last night’s shower, so it soaked his legs and trainers, seeping into his socks by the time he stopped beside him.
Somehow, he doubted this conversation would go as painlessly as the one with his brothers had.
Callum’s jaw was set, his eyes focused on the water. “It’s beautiful here,” he said without looking at Aiden.
“I always loved Isle of Skye,” Aiden said, his voice a rough scratch.
“Isn’t that what you used to call her? Isla of Skye, I think.”
He remembers.
Aiden’s shoulders tensed. “Yes. Or Miss Skye. She didn’t get it, though.”
Callum nodded. His hands slipped into his pockets, his frown deepening. “You know if you had told me that you were in love with her?—”
“And you believe that now? That I love her?” Aiden crossed his arms. “Because I’m not certain that she does. Not after last Saturday.”
Callum turned toward him. “I’m not here to fix things between you and Isla.”
“Then what?”
“The hell if I know.” Callum looked away again.
“I didn’t set out to fall in love with her, you know. Or to lie to you. I don’t know if Isla told you, but we don’t remember anything about the night in Vegas except that we didn’t have sex. I had no clue that we were married until I received the papers once I was back in London, but I had to talk to her first, and at that point, I just wanted to have it annulled. But then the show happened and with the Ipolymer deal and Isla’s filming...”
It was utter chaos, and I handled everything poorly.“Look, I’m sorry, Callum. I hated every moment that this was hidden from you. That we were hiding itfromyou. It’s not who I am. She’s. ..Isla. The easiest thing about the last month was falling in love with her. She’s—” He couldn’t get the words out.
God, talking about her hurts so much.
“She told us about Vegas—how it all happened. So, I don’t think any of us can hold you responsible for that. And I can’t be angry with you for falling in love with her, either. Or defending her at the party. You did nothing wrong in either case.”
“But I did lie to you.”
“Yes, you did.” Callum flinched, and a muscle in his jaw worked.
“Callum, I’m sorry. I truly am. And not because I got caught in a lie—I wanted to tell you long before I was able and definitelybeforeyou found out. But everything just got so...complicated. And my loyalty?—”
“Belongs to her now. Yes, I understood that, too.”
Why does that sound so godawful?
Callum squinted at him. “To tell you the truth, I’m less worried about you breaking her heart than I am about her breaking yours. Isla...” He sighed. “Isla’s difficult to keep happy. She has a restless spirit. Mum used to call her an old soul, one that couldn’t quite rest easy. I thought it was all bullshit, but I have to admit I see it now. When she’s interested, she’s unstoppable. But when that interest dies...no one and nothing can motivate her.”
What is he saying?Aiden frowned. “So, are you giving me your blessing to be with her?”
“You can try.” Callum held his gaze. “And it probably will change some things between us, regardless of what happens.”
