Page 101 of Fix Them Up
Brian shrugged. ‘No.’
Sandra padded down the hallway. The door creaked open, and a high-pitched wail of excitement echoed off the walls.
Ren, Liam’s brother, who was supposed to be halfway across the world, strolled into the room, a duffel bag slung over his shoulder.
Chapter Thirty-One
A cacophony of noise erupted as chairs were scraped back. Liam gave a filthy swear, and Brian and Sandra beamed like Ren was a soldier returning from war. Kevin held his son close and kissed him on the head, gruffly asking why Ren hadn’t told anyone he was coming home. I stood by, a little awkwardly, as Liam introduced me.
Lydia hadn’t moved from her seat. I noticed his eyes flickering to Lydia and losing some of their shine.
I felt Liam’s hand at the small of my back. ‘This is Kat.’
Ren’s brown eyes, so similar to his brother’s, met mine. It was almost eerie how similar the brothers were, especially standing side by side. They moved in the same way. They had the same shade of dark brown hair, although Ren’s was shorter. They were even the same height. Although if I pointed this out, I was sure there would be a measuring contest, so I grinned at the thought and kept that to myself.
‘Hi, Kat.’ Ren grinned. ‘Suppose I have you to blame for this.’ Ren’s eyes flickered to Liam’s, a joke in them. While Liam exuded a steady calmness, Ren had a fluid cheekiness about him. He had the air of someone who was loved and adored. If I looked up younger sibling in the dictionary, I would find Ren’s face grinning at me.
Ren scanned the room, and his gaze snagged on Lydia, who was still sitting at the table, an unreadable expression on her face.
‘Hey, Lyds,’ he said, his voice hoarse.
‘Lawrence,’ Lydia replied curtly.
My eyebrows shot up. Liam frowned. I’d never seen Lydia act cold and nonchalant in her life. It wasn’t in her DNA. She had a smile and a joke for everyone. She was the life and soul of every room. But when Ren walked in, she’d closed down. She folded her arms in front of her, not looking in his direction.
I’d been led to believe that Ren and Lydia had spent their childhood together, inseparable. Liam said they were two sides of the same coin – best friends.
But these people weren’t best friends.
Ren’s gaze finally shifted away back to his dad with a cocky smile. But call it ADHD perception or whatever, but I knew the expression Ren wore on his face was longing.
Longing and regret.
My eyes shifted to Lydia.
You okay?I mouthed.
Lydia gave me a quick nod as everyone sat back down and began quizzing Ren. Sandra pulled up a spare chair, and Brian shoved a beer into Ren’s hand and busied himself, making a plate of food for the new arrival. It struck me that Brian and Sandra’s ties to both Hunter boys were strong.
‘How long are you staying, son?’ Kevin asked, clapping his son on the shoulder.
‘For good,’ Ren said, sipping his beer.
Lydia’s head shot up. Ren swallowed as he stared at her.
‘For good.’ Kevin frowned.
‘Yep,’ Ren said, angling his head towards Liam. ‘Liam convinced me. He left me a sappy message about how he’d found his big boy pants ’cos he finally found a woman to inspire.’ Ren’s eyes landed on me, twinkling. ‘I’m guessing that’s you, Kat.’
I shrugged, sipping my wine. ‘I guess I gave him a good kick up the arse.’
Ren laughed. ‘Good.’
‘Can you stop talking about me like I’m not here,’ Liam grumbled.
‘I’m here to help you open Lily’s,’ Ren told Liam. ‘I figured you could do it with the best bartender in the Northwest.’
Lydia snorted, and Ren’s eyes flickered to her.
