Chapter 4
Rhys's hand was still suspended between us.
He hadn't touched me.
But from the doorway, the distance between us probably looked much smaller than it was.
Callum's gaze moved from Rhys's raised hand to my face.
No anger.
No accusation.
He didn't even frown.
Instead, he smiled.
"Looks like I came home at the wrong time."
I stepped away from Rhys.
"It's not what you think."
Rhys offered no explanation.
He simply faced his brother.
For several long seconds, neither man spoke.
Then Callum removed his jacket, draped it over the arm of the couch, and walked into the kitchen as though nothing had happened.
He poured himself a glass of water.
"Rhys."
His back remained turned to us.
"Settling in all right?"
"Just fine."
"The guest room comfortable enough?"
"Better than a hotel."
"Good."
Their voices were calm.
Almost casual.
That only made the tension worse.
Callum took a sip of water, then turned to me.
"Elena, why are you still awake?"
"I came down for a drink."
He nodded.
As if he believed me.
Then his attention shifted to the coffee table.
The watch lay there.
The one Rhys had been holding moments earlier.
The birthday gift I had given him.
My face went cold.
Callum picked it up and examined it.
When he turned it over, his fingers stopped.
A single letter was engraved on the back.
E.
My initial.
I had asked the jeweler to add it all those years ago.
Callum stared at the engraving before lifting his eyes to mine.
"Elena."
"That initial is yours, isn't it?"
My lungs locked.
Rhys remained silent.
The room seemed to freeze around us.
After a moment, Callum handed the watch back to him.
"A gift from a girlfriend?"
Rhys took it.
His gaze flicked toward me.
"Yes."
"Someone important."
Callum nodded thoughtfully.
"So you must have cared about her a great deal."
"I did."
Rhys didn't hesitate.
"I still do."
My nails dug into my palm.
Enough.
Before I could stop him, Callum smiled.
"That's good."
"Since she means so much to you, bring her around sometime."
"Your sister-in-law and I would love to meet her."
Then he turned and headed upstairs.
I stood frozen until his footsteps disappeared.
Only then did I breathe again.
A second later, his voice drifted down from above.
"Elena."
My body stiffened.
"Come upstairs."
Callum had already changed into his pajamas when I entered the bedroom.
He sat on the edge of the bed and patted the space beside him.
"Come here."
I crossed the room and sat down.
He reached over and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
The gesture was as tender as ever.
"Did tonight frighten you?"
"A little."
"Rhys has only just returned."
"He may need time to readjust."
"Try not to take anything personally."
I nodded.
"All right."
Callum fell quiet.
Then he asked,
"Did you notice the way Rhys looked at you tonight?"
My stomach tightened.
There it was.
The question I had been waiting for.
"No."
I kept my breathing steady.
"Maybe he was just curious. We've never met before."
Callum watched me without speaking.
The silence stretched until it became unbearable.
Then he smiled.
"You're probably right."
"I must be imagining things."
I thought it was over.
Then he picked up his phone and held it in front of me.
An old photograph filled the screen.
The woman in it had her back to the camera.
Even from that angle, she looked almost exactly like me.
"Rhys used to be deeply in love with someone."
Callum's voice remained soft.
He swiped across the screen.
The next photograph showed my face clearly.
My breath stopped.
Callum watched me absorb it.
Then he asked,
"Do you know what's strange?"
I couldn't speak.
"This photograph disappeared from Rhys's room three years ago."
His thumb rested against the screen.
"And somehow, it ended up with me."
He smiled.
"Is there something you'd like to ask me, Elena?"