Page 31 of Orange Spell
Curran’s shoulders slumped.Marlin had to resist the urge to step towards him.He wanted to support him, but he was a bit afraid of Birch.He didn’t think his best friend would hurt him or anything like that, but it didn’t feel like a good idea to step between the two brothers.
“I’m sorry,” Curran muttered.“I don’t want us to fight, but you have to admit you’re not making it easy.”
“I can do that,” Birch easily agreed.“So I’m going to be honest.You’re my little brother, and part of me will always want to protect you.I’ll try not to be too overbearing, but it’s not going to be easy, especially considering the situation.”Birch sucked in a breath.“I don’t care that you and Marlin are together.I’ve known about—”
“We’re not together,” Curran blurted out.
Once again, Birch stared at him.“Why not?You slept together.You’re having a child.”
“We were both drunk, and something that shouldn’t have happened, happened.That’s all there was to it.”
“Curran.”
“Birch.I don’t want to talk about this.”
Killian cleared his throat.“Well, this is a surprise,” he said, looking from Curran to Marlin.
Marlin wanted to disappear.He’d never told anyone about how he felt for Curran, but he was pretty sure that Killian knew.He had no idea if Birch did, but even if he did, Marlin didn’t want to talk about it, either.
“It’s a surprise for me, too,” Curran snarked.“But I’ll deal with it.”
“Congratulations to both of you,” Killian said, fully turning toward Marlin.“If you need time off work, let me know.”
“He doesn’t need time off,” Curran answered before Marlin could.“We talked earlier, and we’re good.”
“We are?”Marlin asked him.
Curran scowled.“For now, yes.”
“Marlin, why don’t you walk Curran home?”Killian suggested.
When Curran turned to glare at him, Killian gave him his most innocent smile.Curran visibly deflated.He probably wanted to refuse, but Killian was the king, and Curran wasn’t as close to him as Marlin and Birch were.He wasn’t intimidated by him, but it was clear that he didn’t quite know what to make of Killian.
“I can do that,” Marlin confirmed.“I’ll grab lunch on my way back.”
“Bring back something for all three of us, please.”
“I don’t need to be walked home,” Curran tried to argue, but there was no heat in his voice anymore.He knew he’d been defeated.
Killian nodded.“Maybe not, but I think we’d all feel more comfortable knowing that you’re not alone out there, considering what happened in the dining hall.”
Curran groaned.“I really wish Pearl hadn’t talked to me.”
“Hopefully, she’ll leave you alone from now on.”
Curran moved toward the door again, but just like last time, Birch caught his wrist.For a moment, they stared at each other, and Marlin got ready to intervene.Birch would never hurt Curran, but they both needed some time and space from each other.
“We’ll talk?”Birch asked.
Curran smiled at him.“We will, eventually.It’s not that I don’t want to talk to you.I just haven’t talked to Marlin yet, either.Everything’s been a mess, and before you say it, I know it’s my fault.I’m not saying it isn’t.I just need a little time.”
“I can give you that,” Birch murmured.
“Good.”Curran glanced at Marlin.“Well?Are you coming?”
Marlin scrambled to catch up as Curran strode toward the door.All of this was too much for him to be able to deal with today, but did he have a choice?
* * * *
