Too Good to Be True - Kristan Higgins [121]
He started to say something, but I cut him off. “Here’s what I know about Callahan. He uncovered a crime and he tried to make it right. At the same time, he was trying to protect his brother. He risked everything for the person he loved best, and he got screwed in the process.”
“Well, that’s a nice spin, Grace, but—”
“It’s not spin, Andrew. Have you ever risked anything? You…” My voice grew choked with anger, my heart thudding, face burning. “You asked me to marry you, knowing I was head over heels for you and knowing damn well you didn’t feel the same way. But you figured it was time to settle down, and there I was, ready, willing and able. Then you met my sister, fell in love, never said boo about it. Instead you waited until three weeks before our wedding to call things off. Three weeks! Jesus, Andrew! Think you might have spoken up a little sooner?”
“I never—”
“I’m not finished.” My voice was hard enough to cause his mouth to snap shut. “Even with Natalie, you just sat back and did nothing. Yet she’s the love of your life, isn’t she? But if it weren’t for me, you would never have even spoken to her again.”
His face reddened even more. “I said I’m grateful for how you got Nat and me together.”
“I didn’t do it for you, Andrew. I did it for her. You, though…you didn’t fight for her, you didn’t try to talk to her…you just sat there like a fern or something, doing nothing.”
His shoulders slumped. “What was I supposed to do?” he said, his voice small. “I wasn’t about to date my ex-fiancée’s sister. I didn’t want to put you in a bad spot.”
“And yet here you are, a week away from marrying her.”
He sighed, slumping back against the sofa, and ran a hand through his pale blond hair. “Grace, you’re right. I never would’ve even spoken to Natalie without your blessing. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt you more. I thought it was the right thing to do. Wasn’t it?” He looked so genuinely confused that I wanted to shake him.
Then I saw the tears in his eyes. The sight took the fight out of me, and I drooped back against my chair. “I don’t know, Andrew. It was a complicated situation.”
“Exactly,” he said, and God, I was sick of him! For the past three years, I’d been obsessed with Andrew, happily and miserably, and enough was enough.
“Listen,” I said wearily. “I guess I appreciate your concern over Cal, but… well, you just don’t get a say, Andrew. I’m none of your business anymore.”
He smiled, a little sadly. “Well, you’ll be my sister-in-law soon. You are my business, a little.”
“Save it, pal.” But I said the words with a smile. For Nat’s sake.
He set his wineglass on the coffee table and stood. “I should go,” he said, looking around again. “The house is beautiful, Grace. You did a wonderful job.”
“I know,” I said opening the door.
He went out on the porch, and I followed, closing the screen door so Angus wouldn’t get out. Andrew turned back to face me. “You’ll always be special to me, you know,” he said, not looking in my eyes.
I paused. “Well. Thank you.”
He put his skinny arms around me and gave me a stiff hug. After a second, I patted his shoulder. Then, quite out of the blue, Andrew turned his head and kissed me.
It wasn’t a romantic kiss…not quite. Too puckery. But neither was it a brother-in-law peck on the cheek. In typical Andrew fashion, he hadn’t been able to decide. Idiot.
I jerked back. “Andrew, are you out of your mind?”
“What?” he said, his quirky eyebrows raised.
“Well, call me crazy, but I don’t think you should ever do that again, okay? Ever.”
“Shit. Sorry,” he said, grimacing. “I just—I’m sorry. Force of habit. I don’t know. I just… forget it. I’m really sorry.”
I just wanted him gone. “Bye, Andrew.”
“Good night, Grace.” Then he turned and walked down the steps to his car. He opened the door, got in, started the car and waved, then backed down the driveway.
“Good riddance,” I muttered. I turned to go into the house, then started in fright.
Callahan O’Shea was standing at the border of our yards, looking at me with an expression