(THEO) We sat at our usual table on the terrace, waiting for them to arrive.
When Torren walked in, his blond hair was still damp from the shower, tousled between wet and dry.
Effortlessly fucking beautiful.
Remy sat beside Lennox, and Torren followed.
I slipped into the seat next to him, carrying my glass.
Lennox shot me a warning look.
I didn’t smile, that would’ve been too obvious.
The conversation flowed easily enough.
Remy and Lennox talked about the wedding timeline, the venue, and some bullshit about floral arrangements.
I couldn’t keep my eyes off Torren.
He was quiet, but something about the way he held himself, the visible tension in his shoulders, the way his fingers drummed against the table, made me think he wasn’t always this reserved.
I ordered another whiskey, raising it to my lips and leaning back in my chair.
While Lennox and Remy were distracted, I took advantage.
“How old are you?” I asked, turning toward him.
He looked surprised, those pale blue eyes locking onto mine.
“Nineteen.” “Is that why you’re not drinking?” “Yes.” His lips curved slightly, suppressing a smile.
“Order something.
They’re not going to deny you anything here.” He shrugged, glancing at my glass.
“What are you having?” I offered it to him.
“Hibiki.
Japanese.” He took it without hesitation, sipped, and handed it back.
His expression didn’t change except for a slight nod of approval.
Either he had impeccable taste for someone his age, or he was very good at faking it.
I leaned in closer.
“Do you want one?” “He’s underage,” Remy interjected.
I turned to her, tilting my head.
“It’s a celebration.
We’re celebrating.” She shook her head, but she was smiling.
“Our families are merging into one,” I said smoothly.
“How can you deny him a chance to toast to your love?” “Do you always have to be so insufferably clever?” she teased.
“It’s practically a responsibility at this point,” I added a wink for good measure.
She laughed.
From the corner of my eye, I caught Torren fighting back a smile, shaking his head.
“Fine.
One drink,” Remy conceded.
I raised my hand, signaling the server, and asked him to bring the bottle.
Once it arrived, I poured Torren a drink and pushed it toward him.
He held it up, and I smiled as we clinked glasses.
I raised mine toward Remy and Lennox.
“To true love.” Torren took a sip, his lip pressing against the glass’s edge before he carefully placed it on the table.
He had nice hands.
Nimble, delicate.
The kind that would look good wrapped around something.
“Are you in college?” I asked.
“T started at Alcott, Mercer Falls, last fall,” Remy said.
“Impressive.
What are you majoring in?” Torren rubbed under his nose, that nervous tell again, before giving a half-shrug.
“Haven’t decided.” “Still plenty of time.” I tapped my finger against the rim of my glass.
Alcott University.
Mercer Falls.
That was useful information.
“I’ve been to your apartment,” Torren said suddenly I frowned, turning to Lennox.
“Have you been hanging out with Henry?” “In my defense, Henry lives in Mercer, and he’s easier to reach.” Lennox had the decency to look guilty.
“You’re the problematic one.” I scoffed.
“I’m fucking charming, Lex.
I resent this.
I had a right to bond with my new family.” Torren chuckled, and the sound went straight through me.
“You better not like Henry over me,” I warned Remy.
“He hasn’t tried to get my brother drunk.” “Well, that’s a surprise, and—” I spotted the third Kane brother rushing toward us.
“Speak of the devil.” “Sorry, sorry.
Ran late,” Henry said, breathing heavily.
He went around the table giving hugs before flopping down beside me.
“Where’s Sophia?” I asked.
He froze mid-pour.
“No more Sophia.” “That’s too bad.
I liked her.
I admired her dedication to low necklines, even if she was always one deep breath away from a wardrobe malfunction.” “She did have a great rack,” Henry admitted.
“Ample,” I agreed.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Torren struggling not to smile.
“Why would that matter to you in the first place?” Lennox asked.
I glanced at Henry, catching his wide grin.
“They looked fun.
Were they?” “Very fun,” he confirmed.
I clinked his glass.
“So why’d you break up with Sophia Fun-Tits?” Lennox buried his face in his hands while Remy patted his back.
I bit the inside of my cheek, trying not to laugh.
“She stopped being fun.
Now, Marisa, she’s a hoot,” Henry said, waggling his brows.
He took a drink and grimaced.
“It’s too early for whiskey.
I’m having a gin.
Does anyone want one?” “Maybe Torren wants one.
Do you want to try gin?” I asked.
“He’s good with one drink,” Lennox interrupted.
“I’m sorry, did you change your name?
I don’t recall asking you what you wanted to drink.” “Can I have a gin?
Light on the tonic.
Thanks, Max,” Henry said to the server.
He shrugged off his jacket and looked at Torren.
“Are you drinking?
I thought you were like sixteen.” I pulled a cigarette from my pocket.
“He’s nineteen.” “No, don’t smoke here,” Lennox said, raising his hand.
“What?
I thought you wanted the full Kane experience.
You wouldn’t want poor Remy realizing she married into a family of foul-mouthed alcoholics after the fact, would you?” I turned to her.
“She should go into it with all the information.
Isn’t that right, Remy?” She offered me a polite but knowing look.
“I think I’m well aware of that by this point.” There was a feisty spark beneath her composure.
I rather liked that.
The server returned with Henry’s drink.
“Can you imagine Lex being the only point of reference?” Henry said, setting his glass down.
He barely paused before adding, “Actually, just bring me another one right away.” That pulled a loud laugh from me.
“Sorry, Lex.” “Go smoke somewhere else,” Lennox demanded, leaning toward Remy and whispering something in her ear, probably an apology.
I pushed my chair back.
“I’ll come with you,” Torren said, standing.
Perfect.
We walked away from the terrace, and I lit a cigarette as he pulled something from his pocket.
“What’s that?” I asked, sliding my sunglasses back on.
“It’s a vape.
Have you never had one?” “I like these better.” I took a drag and blew the smoke away from him.
“Do you want to try it?” He offered it to me.
I gave it a try, but couldn’t hold back my grimace.
“Why does it taste like that?” “It’s mint flavored.” “That’s not fucking mint.
It’s fruity.” “Minty watermelon.” “Why would you want to smoke a watermelon?” He chuckled, taking another drag.
Torren looked great.
His lips wrapping around it, hair falling over his forehead as he leaned forward.
“I don’t know.
It tastes better than that,” he said, nodding at my cigarette.
I offered it.
He shook his head.
“I’ve never met anyone who still smokes those.” “Well, we do have a significant age gap.” I watched him carefully.
He looked up at me, holding my gaze.
“How old are you?” “Thirty-four.” Surprise flickered across his face.
“Do I look younger or older?” “Younger.
You’re the oldest, then?” “The firstborn.” Torren kept his eyes on me, and his shyness slipped away with each passing second.
Beautiful to witness.
I’d been right about that.
“I like your glasses,” he said, the corners of his lips curving upward.
I pulled them off and placed them on his face.
“How do I look?” “Dashing,” I said honestly.
He removed the glasses and looked them over before handing them back.
“I’m not gay,” he stated bluntly, pressing his lips together to hold back his smile.
Definitely not shy.
“Yes, Lex mentioned that.
I wasn’t gay when I was nineteen, either.” An enticing laugh escaped his lips.
Then my phone vibrated.
Warren’s name on the screen.
“I have to take this.” Torren made to go, but I grabbed his wrist before he could leave.
“Can you be a dear and fetch me my drink?” I didn’t wait for his reply before answering the call.
From the corner of my eye, I saw him hesitate before nodding.
Good boy.
“Has Ida picked a hotel for us yet?” I said into the phone, smirking at Warren’s sigh.
Torren came back with my drink.
I smiled and winked at him in thanks.
He ducked his head with a small grin and made his way back to the table.
He was flattered by the attention.
First step in the right direction.
The call with Warren took longer than expected.
I watched them order and start to eat while I stayed away.
Torren glanced my way twice.
Nothing more than that.
A while later, he got up from the table and hugged them goodbye.
“Hold that thought, Warren,” I said, holding my phone away from my ear as Torren approached.
“Are you leaving?” “Yeah.
It was nice meeting you, Theron.” He held his hand out, but I grabbed his wrist and pulled him in, kissing his cheek.
He tensed before stepping back, a smile playing on his lips.
“Please, call me Ash,” I said.
I leaned in closer, lowering my voice.
“Or Mr.
Kane, if that’s what you’re into.” He chuckled, moving away from me.
“Bye, Theo.” I watched him walk away, admiring the flex of his muscles.
I missed the tennis shorts.
Returning to the call, I finished up and sat back down next to Remy.
They all gave me a look.
“What?” I asked, laughing.
“You’ve been gone the entire time,” Lennox complained.
A server placed a plate in front of me.
“I have a business to run, your business, the one that pays for the steak you just had, and just about everything else in your life.” “I have a job,” Lennox pointed out.
“Sure you do.
Just like Henry makes his own living.” I dug into my food.
“Hey.
I run a very successful business,” Henry argued.
“You own nightclubs.” He scowled.
“They’re very successful.” “I’m sure they are.” I rolled my eyes before shifting my attention to Remy.
“You work at an art gallery, right?” “The Montclair Contemporary.” I arched a brow, impressed.
“Art history major?” Lennox narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
Remy’s smile brightened.
“That’s right.” “Remind me, are your parents still married?” Lennox started shaking his head.
Henry shot me a curious look.
“They got divorced a while ago.” I glanced at Lennox before leaning in slightly toward Remy.
“And would you say your brother has a good relationship with your father, or are there some unresolved issues he should be working through?” Lennox muttered a curse under his breath as Henry burst out laughing.
“For fuck’s sake, Thep,” Lennox groaned.
“You’re terrible,” Remy informed me, though she was laughing too.
“Don’t joke about that.
He’s half your age and straight.
I’m guessing you can get anyone you want, maybe not this one.” “Is that a bet?” “It most definitely isn’t.” “I’d bet on Theo,” Henry chimed in.
“Whenever I bet against him bedding someone, he wins.” I lifted my glass to him.
“Please stop this.
He’s a child and your future brother-in-law,” Lennox said.
I frowned.
“He’s your future brother-in-law.
If I’m your brother, that doesn’t make him mine, does it?” They all nodded.
“He’s your brother-in-law because of our marriage,” Remy told me.
“Is it weird if that makes it hotter?” Henry barked a laugh.
“It’s very fucking weird.” “It’s not my fault your little brother’s a snack.
Are you going to give me his number?” I asked Remy with a grin.
She shook her head, and I pouted.
Her laugh rang through the space again.
At least she had a sense of humor about this.
Lennox, on the other hand, was still looking at me like he wanted to murder me.
My phone vibrated.
I flipped it over.
Teddy Kane.
Fuck.
Lennox met my eyes, and his expression shifted from irritation to disappointment.
Another pang of guilt.
I needed to make time for him and Remy, I’d canceled this lunch more times than I could count.
But not today.
Today had been productive.
With a sigh, I set my napkin back on the table.
“I have to take this.
If Father launches into a rant, consider this my parting gift.
it was lovely seeing you, Remy.
Even lovelier than seeing your brother in tennis shorts.” I smirked, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it.
“See you soon.” Lennox scowled.
I blew him a kiss before answering the call and pulling another cigarette from the box.
I’d set something in motion today.
And I was going to enjoy every second of it.