“Don’t you think having a party with Eleanor still feeling under the weather is in bad taste? I mean, I’m not one to stand on formality or manners, but she is still recuperating. Maybe you should push it back again.”
Even as I say those words, I know they’re bullshit. Eleanor’s going to be fine. She’s been up and around yesterday and today, and this morning I saw her making breakfast. That doesn’t mean I’m above using her recent health scare to make sure this party doesn’t happen and Eden doesn’t have to spend any time with Rob from IT.
A knock on the office door interrupts us, and Ronan walks in beaming a smile. “Hey, was there a family meeting I didn’t know about, or are you guys talking about me?”
“What’s new, little brother?” I ask, pleased to see the youngest King so happy.
He plops down on the leather sofa and puts his feet up on the coffee table in front of it. “I came out to see how Eleanor is doing. Since I know she’s okay, I want talk to Matthias about something, but now that you’re here, I think I want to talk to you about it too. Either of you have time?”
I turn to look at Matthias and say, “This guy is busy running a dating service, but I have time. What’s up?”
Of course, that makes Ronan curious. “Really? What made you decide to buy one of those?”
Laughing, I shake my head at how naïve my youngest brother can be as Matthias explains he didn’t buy a dating app. “Marius is busting balls, as usual. Ava and I are setting her friend Eden up with a guy who works at the company. I have some time before I have to take a call from London. What’s up?”
“I wanted to talk about a charity I want to set up. It will be for people like me. I wanted to run it by you since you have attorneys on retainer.” Ronan stops and then says, “Marius, I was hoping you’d be part of it since you’re the only reason I’m still here.”
Hearing him say that and seeing him smile as he does makes me happier than I thought I could be today, especially after finding out about Rob the IT guy who’s going on a date with the woman I love. “I’m in! Anything for a good cause.”
“Cool! Matthias, can you direct me to someone we can trust to set this whole thing up?”
“Sure. I don’t think Mattson is the guy you want, but I think someone at his firm would work. I’ll look for their number.”
Ronan swings his long legs off the coffee table and stands up. “Great! I think I’m going to go say hi to my favorite sister-in-law and my nephews.”
He begins to walk toward the door but then turns around and looks at me. “Hey, explain something to me. Why haven’t you ever tried to get together with Eden? She’s been into you for years.”
“What makes you say that?” I ask, fishing for compliments when I should be keeping my damn mouth shut.
Both my brothers look at one another and then at me. “Seriously? Ava mentioned it before Theo died. I know you were there when she said it.”
I don’t recall that conversation, not that it matters. Trying hard to seem as disinterested as possible about Eden being crazy about me, I answer, “It just never felt like the thing to do.”
“Dude, you’re nuts. She’s beautiful, and she likes you. What else do you want?”
Waving away his idea, I begin walking toward the door. “She’s just not my type, okay?”
I leave Ronan and Matthias to talk about whatever this charity idea of his is because if I hung around in that office for another minute, neither one of them would ever believe I don’t give a damn about Eden. When the time comes to reveal the truth about the two of us, they’ll know. Until then, I’ll keep my business the way I like it.
Private.
On my way up to my room, I think about possibly telling everyone about Eden and me. It might be nice to share that kind of thing with my family. They all seem to like her, and I know they’d be happy for me.
And it’s not like I have to worry about any of my brothers hooking up with her like with Theo and Maia. Maybe coming clean with everyone could work.
I lie down on my bed and stare up at the ceiling as I try to convince myself that having everyone know Eden and I are together won’t ruin everything. It would make things easier, and I wouldn’t have to lie to my brothers and Ava anymore.
Not that I have an issue with lying. Not in this kind of case.
See, I don’t find lying as egregious as so many people do, especially when it comes to someone’s private life. Who the hell needs an entire family’s opinions on your love life? No, thanks.
Anyway, I love having Eden all to myself. It’s like a secret only the two of us share.
Even as jealousy bubbles inside me, I have to believe we’re going to be fine if she goes on that date with Rob, the IT guy. Staring up at the ceiling, I silently tell myself I’m getting upset over nothing.
“She won’t like him. He’s not her type. She’s as crazy about me as I am about her. It’ll just be one date. She probably won’t even want to have him at the party after going out to dinner with him.”
I bet right now you’re thinking I should just tell the world about us. Then Eden won’t go on a date with him, so I won’t have to worry.
