The Beauty of Us (Fusion #4)

“I’ve been dating,” she says, not meeting my eyes now, and before I can grill her further, the waitress stops at our table to take our orders.

After she leaves, Colleen sighs. “I don’t want to argue. That’s not why I wanted to meet up with you. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too.” And it’s the truth. She may not be on the fast track to a career in medicine, but she’s a hard worker, and takes care of herself very well. She never asks me for help, even though I have a feeling that there are times she could use it, and I have to respect that.

Colleen tilts her head to the side, watching me, as she takes a sip of her soda. “You look different.”

“I might have lost some of my tan up in Portland,” I reply.

“That’s not it.” She shakes her head, still watching me. “You look . . . happy.”

“I was unhappy before?”

“God, you’re a pain in the ass.” She throws an ice cube at me. “You seriously look different.” She pauses, and then her eyes widen. “Oh my God, did you meet someone?”

“Am I wearing a sign?”

“I’m your sister. I know you. You did. Who is she? What does she look like? Do I know her?”

I grin and pull up a photo of Riley on my phone, then turn it to Colleen. “Her name is Riley, and I met her in Portland.”

“Oh, she’s pretty,” she says, and smiles at me. “I’m so happy for you.”

“Thanks.”

“Wait. She’s in Portland?”

“Yes.”

“You can’t move to Portland.” Her eyes fill with tears at the idea, making me soften a bit.

“I’m not packing yet, C.”

“No, I mean it. I barely talk to Lisa. I don’t see the ’rents at all. You’re all I have, Trev. You can’t move away.”

“Portland isn’t far.”

“Uh, have you looked at a map? Yeah, it is.”

“You never know, you might decide that you want to move up there too.”

“I’m Cinderella.” She rubs her forehead as if she’s completely frustrated at me, and I can’t help but smile.

“Well, if the whole Cinderella gig doesn’t work out, and if I move up to Portland, it might be an option.”

“You’re stressing me out,” she mutters, and digs into her fries when our meals are delivered. “And speaking of stressing out, you need to do something about Stephanie.”

“I was hoping you’d forget about that.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t forget about her because she’s been blowing up my phone like a bill collector.”

“Do you have a lot of bill collectors calling you?”

“Jesus, it’s a figure of speech. And no, I don’t. Focus, Trevor.”

“What does she want?”

“She’s been getting all sentimental and whining that she thinks she made a mistake with you.”

“She gets sentimental every year when it’s about to be our anniversary,” I remind her. “She usually sends a text, and that’s the last I hear from her.”

“I know, but why is she calling me and not you?”

“Probably because she knows I won’t take her calls. I don’t have anything to say to her.”

“Well, she’s getting more persistent. She called me four times last week, and she texts at least once a day to find out if I’ve talked to you.”

“Christ,” I whisper, and set my half-eaten burger on my plate, suddenly no longer hungry. “You should block her.”

“No, I did that last year and she showed up at my house.”

I raise a brow in surprise. “You didn’t tell me that.”

Before she can answer, my phone rings, shocking me.

“I’m going to take this. I thought my phone died. Hello?”

“Hi,” Riley says. Her voice sounds tired.

“Hi, sweetheart. How are you?”

“Fine.” She sighs. “I kept busy today. I didn’t think I’d be able to get through on your cell, but I thought I’d leave a message.”

“It’s a miracle that your call came through. Listen, can I call you back? I’m having dinner with Colleen.”

She’s quiet for a split second, and then, “Who’s Colleen?”

“My youngest sister.” I wink at Colleen, who looks mildly annoyed that I never told Riley her name. “We’re catching up for a bit, and then I’m heading home.”

“Okay. I’ll be here.”

“Thanks. I’ll talk to you soon. Love you.”

“I love you too.” The smile is in her voice now as we both hang up and I turn my attention back to my sister. “Before you complain, I did tell her I had sisters, I just don’t think I told her your names.”

“You told her you love her.” Her eyes are wide and her voice cracks a bit when she says “love.”

“I do love her.”

“I’m seriously so happy for you,” she says, and reaches over to squeeze my hand. “And for the record, I’m not going to tell you that I think you should talk to Steph.”

“Good because I’m not going to.”

“I know. I told her I’d talk with you. She seems really sad.”

“And you’re a sweet woman who feels sorry for everyone.” She smiles and shrugs one shoulder. “Do I have to remind you that she fucking cheated on me, married the dude as soon as the divorce was final, and took me for quite a bit of money in the process?”

“No, you don’t have to remind me at all. I don’t like her. I didn’t like her when you were married to her.”

“I know.”

“But you should know that she might show up at your house or something.”

“She won’t, and this will blow over, C. It always does. She’s not even a blip on my radar anymore. It’s been over for a long time, and I’m finally at a point where I’m moving on. Riley’s great. She’s smart and funny and so fucking beautiful it almost hurts to look at her.”

“Wow,” Colleen whispers. “This is the healthiest I’ve ever seen you. I hope I get to meet Riley, because I’d love to thank her.”

“For what?”

“For that sweet look on your face. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before, even when you were first married. You deserve this, Trev.”

“Let’s not get too mushy.”

“Oh, that’s right, you’re a guy.” She rolls her eyes. “Send her flowers.”

“Who?”

“Riley. Send her flowers. I’m sure she misses you, and it would make her feel better if you sent her some flowers.”

“That’s not a bad idea. I’ll do it in the morning.”

“When are you going to see her again?”

“I don’t know,” I reply honestly. “We both have demanding jobs, and I took last week as vacation so I could spend some extra time with her, so I’m not sure when we’ll make it happen. Hopefully soon.”

“Well, if she comes here, let me know and I’ll get you guys into Disney. I get family passes.”

“That’s a cool perk.”

“I’m a princess,” she says with a smug smile.

“We always knew that.”

“Damn right we did.” She nods once and steals the check when the waitress sets it on the table.

“I can buy dinner.”

“So can I,” she says. “Let me treat you.”

“Are you sure you don’t want anything? You’re being awfully nice to me.”

“I just missed you,” she replies quietly. “Sometimes a girl just needs her brother.”

“Okay.” I hold my hands up in surrender. “Besides, how many guys can say that a princess bought them dinner?”

“That’s the spirit,” she says with a laugh. “I’m happy you’re home.”

“Me too.”





Chapter Seventeen





Riley