Page 66 of If You Were Mine

“Keep laughing,” I muttered as Theo’s shoulders shook.

“It’s good to see you out and about,” he said, his voice getting serious.

I shrugged, not wanting to make a big deal of it. “Sorry we’re not making it to your restaurant for dinner. We have these clubs and then breakfast at Aston’s before we have to go back. Wellesley over here has a job she actually likes and can’t miss too many days.”

Theo smiled. “I do love your bakery.”

“Are you doing okay though?” I asked.

Theo nodded. “Long hours, The Teal Door is kicking ass.”

“And Luke?” I asked, speaking of his business partner and best friend.

Theo shrugged. “You know.”

I didn’t, but if Theo didn’t want to mention what was going on with his best friend, I wasn’t going to ask. At least not right now.

“Anyway, I’m joining you for breakfast tomorrow.”

“Really?” Harper asked, clapping her hands together. “It’s going to be so good to see all of you guys. I don’t get to spend nearly enough time with the Cages.”

“There’s only one Cage that matters here,” I grumbled.

“I like this look on you,” Theo teased.

“Fuck off.”

“No I don’t believe I will.”

My manager came up to me in that moment, her smile far too knowing. “Sorry to bother you, but we have a few things for you to look at. I know we can do them online, but if you’re here, it just makes things easier.”

Guilt swept up my spine. “I’m sorry. I should have come down more often.”

She shook her head, hand up. “No, the fact that you’ve trusted me to do all of this for this long? It’s the best thing you could have done. You honestly never need to step foot in here again. But it’s good to see that you can.” She winked at Harper, as I had introduced them beforehand.

“I’ll make sure he doesn’t overdo it either,” Harper purred.

“I knew I loved her,” Theo teased.

I was going to have to kill my brother later. It would be sudden, swift, but he wouldn’t even know until it was too late.

“I’ll be right back,” I said softly as I leaned down and brushed my lips along Harper’s.

“I’ll be here with Theo.”

“Damn right she will be,” Theo teased as he wrapped his arm around her shoulder.

“I’ll deal with you later,” I growled.

The two just laughed, and I followed my manager to the back.

“It’s good to see you happy.”

I shrugged. “I have been, other than the obvious.”

“I’m not talking about the last year. If you never wanted to step foot in here again or talk to anyone after what happened, I wouldn’t blame you. But you seem lighter now. I like this girl for you.”

“You’ve known her for all of ten minutes.”