Page 56 of Drifting Hearts
“For what it’s worth, I’m glad you’re happy, Archer. And your shop looks fantastic. I wish you all the success.”
He nodded and I made my way to the door. I half thought Archer might call after me, but he didn’t. He let me slip out into the stairwell. I was glad he let me go, even though it hurt that he didn’t try to stop me. I didn’t want him to see the way my face crumpled and I finally lost my composure. A few tears managed to roll past my defenses before I was able to get control of myself.
I stood at the bottom of the stairs in a weird limbo between the bar and the shop upstairs and the door to the outside world. But I couldn’t hide there forever. Sucking in another deep breath, I dashed my tears away and ducked back into the bar to go find Kieran.
Chapter 28
Kieran
I grabbed a tablefor Shane and me. Something in view of the back so I could watch for Clay to return. I didn’t intend to stick around any longer than absolutely necessary, but there were clearly things the two of us had to say to each other.
Shane returned after a minute and slid into the seat across from me. He eyed his beer with suspicion. “You didn’t spit in it, did you?”
“No, but I can if you want me to. Not like you don’t have it coming.”
“Eh, that’s debatable.” Shane slid his beer closer. I didn’t know if he actually wanted to drink it or if he wanted something to do with his hands. A prop to kill some of the awkwardness between us.
“I hate fighting with you,” he said.
“So don’t.” I shrugged. I’d fight him if I had to. When a man was fighting for something, he had a lot more passion than a man who was fighting against something. It wasn’t a battle Shane could win. “You can always take option B and stay out of my business.”
“I want you to be happy,” Shane started. “But not with him.”
I took a long, slow sip of my beer then set it down. Folding my arms on the table, I leaned close. “You’re holding on to anger that’s not yours to have. Clayton didn’t do anything to you. He hurt Archer, and you care about him. I get that. But all of that happened before Archer even met you.”
Shane glowered at me, but didn’t say anything in his defense so I continued to press. “Archer is the one who is entitled to hang on to however much anger he wants to. And one day he might not hold a grudge at all. What are you going to do if Archer wants to be friends with Clay again? What if he wants to, but you’ve made it impossible for him to bridge that gap? What if Archer resents you for being so pig-headed about it? What if I resent you for it? What if Clay is here to stay because I care for him and want him in my life?”
Shane leaned back and crossed his arms over his chest. “Well,” he said, his jaw clenched so hard I worried he might crack a tooth. “I guess I’d have to get used to it. Wouldn’t I?”
I nodded at him. It wasn’t a hearty “welcome to the family,” but it was good enough for me to know that Shane wouldn’t actively be hostile toward Clay when he saw us together.
“I know you don’t think very well of him,”—Shane opened his mouth and I raised my hand, silencing him—“and I know you have your reasons, but if you really want me to be happy, like you claim you do, then you’ll find a way to not be a dick around him.”
Shane let out a pained groan, but his posture relaxed a little and some of the ache in my head eased. What I had with Clay was so new that I wondered if it could survive a rift between Shane and me. Clay would take it to heart, and he already carried enough without worrying about my relationship with my brother.
“Fine. Okay. I promise to behave. I will try my best to not be a jackass around him. That’s the best I can do.”
“You don’t have to like him, Shane. Just don’t make his life harder than it is.”
I saw Clay appear from the back, weaving his way toward me. He had a brave face on, but I could tell that whatever was said upstairs hadbeen hard on him. “We’re going to take off, though. So thanks for the beer.”
I stood and offered my hand to Clay, who took it without hesitating. “You okay?” I asked him.
He nodded and cut a quick glance over to Shane. He looked like he thought Shane might bite, and I didn’t blame him for being suspicious.
“Have a good night,” Shane said before standing and walking away, taking the barely-touched drinks with him.
Clay let out an uneasy breath. “Honestly, that went better than I expected.”
“With Archer or Shane?” I tugged Clay close and slid my arm around him.
“Yes,” he said.
“How did it go upstairs?”
“Well, we’re not going to be friends any time soon I don’t think, but he says he doesn’t hate me, and it feels a little overwhelming. I really thought he’d hate me forever.”
Clay sank into my side and I relished that he sought me for comfort. I wanted to be that for him. His comfort and his shelter. His fierce protector and his soft spot to land.
