Page 44 of A Real Good Lie

“When we get back home?” Callahan tried, ever hopeful, ever…unlike himself.

“We should get back inside,” Jace said, ignoring the monumental ask Callahan had just made of him. “They’ll wonder where we went.”

Chapter Thirteen

Callahan Thinks He Has a Brilliant Plan

He followed Jace back into the restaurant. Rhys and Ashley were gone when they took their seats and remained missing through the rest of the meal. Jace didn’t say much to him, but also didn’t rebuff him when he tried to be affectionate, and if Callahan spoke to him, he answered.

After a tart sorbet, dinner ended and they both stood. Callahan hadn’t let go of Jace’s hand because he was terrified of Jace bolting back to Myers Bluff the first chance he got, and he wanted to have a chance to talk, or to explain, or tosomethingat least.

“Do you want to get a drink?” Sebastian asked, coming around the table with his wife on his arm.

Callahan tried to not sigh in Daniella’s direction, but she was so much like Ashley and Sebastian was so muchnotlike Rhys, it was hard for him.

“I’ll see you.” Daniella kissed Sebastian’s cheek, gave Callahan a long look, then slipped past them.

“You did well,” Sebastian said to Jace, who rolled his eyes and wiggled his fingers until Callahan let go of them. He shoved his hands into his pockets.

“Your brother is a piece of shit. No offense.”

“None taken. I’m inclined to agree with you most the time.”

“Well, if you guys don’t need me for anything, I’m going to get some champagne from the bar and head up to the room.” Jace pointed toward the ceiling.

“I’m going out for a walk if you don’t want company,” Sebastian said. “You can have Callahan.”

Callahan snorted, the idea preposterous no matter how much he found himself wanting it, even more now than before.

“Mmmn.” Jace raised his eyebrows and exhaled, then turned to head toward the bar.

“Is he mad about Rhys or mad at you?” Sebastian asked, watching Jace go.

Callahan watched him leave, too, his focus fixated on the small but firm globes of Jace’s ass and the way his black slacks hugged him like they were bespoke. He didn’t know how to fix this, but worse, he wasn’t even sure if there was anything to fix. It wasn’t like he and Jace had a bad first date and he could have another opportunity to make a first impression.

His impression had been made and stamped and covered in a wax seal with Rhys’s smug entitlement all over it. Jace had seen the worst parts of him in the first twenty-four hours of the trip. He didn’t have a chance.

“He’s not mad.”

“He’s not happy.”

“You shouldn’t have asked him to do this.” Callahan folded his arms across his chest.

“He’s an adult.”

“It’s unfair.” He shook his head. “We’re all horrible people.”

“Speak for yourself.” Sebastian scoffed.

“That was conversational foreplay for Rhys and you know it.”

Rhys had been in his life for long enough he’d never be able to forget the skill with which Rhys was able to create barbs and manipulations with his tongue. He clearly recalled all the honey-sweet nothings that Rhys had poured all over him for the first year of their relationship when things were fresh and new and Callahan worshipped the ground Rhys walked on. At the time, he never imagined he’d end up on the receiving end of Rhys’s vitriolic tirades, but the tides had turned a long time ago.

“I have to admit, I had higher hopes for you.”

“What?” He squinted at Sebastian in confusion. “I own a multi-million dollar company. What more do you want from me?”

“I meant with Jace.”