“You got her back, I presume?”
“Yeah, but only because I figured it out before it was too late.” Ethan leaned forward. “Is divorce what you really want?”
Gavin forced a tight smile. “It doesn’t matter, does it?” He rose and poured himself a finger of bourbon. He needed it if he was going to talk about Amandine. “Want some?”
“No, thanks.”
Gavin took a seat on the other couch and faced Ethan. “She wants it. And after she told me how miserable she was living together, I had to let her go. It would’ve been sheer torture to try to keep her, knowing how unhappy she was.” Elbows on his knees, he buried his face in his hands. “It kills me that I made her so unhappy.”
“You love her,” Ethan said quietly.
Gavin nodded.
“Have you told her?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does. She has the right to know before doing something she might regret.” Ethan sighed and rubbed his face. “I’m partially responsible for how things turned out between the two of you.”
“You? Why?”
“Well, you know. Back in the day, I bailed and left you with Jacob. I never got along with him, and he didn’t like me for various reasons, but I didn’t think he’d take it out on you.”
“Eh.” Gavin made a face. “He was always a dickhead.”
“Yeah, but if I’d been around more, he might not have picked on you so much. I would’ve never let him get away with stealing your girlfriends, or bullying you with his idiot buddies…” Ethan shook his head. “That’s not what a big brother should do.”
“I’m not sure your staying around would’ve made any difference. Just as well you were away at boarding school. Jacob didn’t need two younger brothers to mess up. Growing up with him was toxic. Even Mom wasn’t sure what to do with him at times. I doubt you would’ve known either.”
“Don’t let Jacob win,” Ethan said. “Don’t let the things he’s done shape your actions and take away what happiness you can have. He’s not worth it.”
Was that what the divorce was? Letting Jacob win? “I—”
Suddenly there were sounds of a scuffle outside.
“Hey! Don’t you dare…!” came Hilary’s shrill voice. Hilary was never shrill.
The door to his office opened with a bang, and Brooke charged in. She was in her usual bright outfit—a hot pink t-shirt, neon blue jacket and shorts plus black boots. Utterly unprofessional. Hilary was right on her tail.
“I need to talk to you!” Brooke said, pointing a purple-nailed finger at Gavin. Then she stopped and said, “Who is this?”
“Hi.” Ethan gave her a broad wave. “I’m Gavin’s older brother.”
“The bigamist?”
“No,” he said dryly. “The other one.”
“I’m calling security now,” Hilary said, phone out and her face a shade of red Gavin had never seen before.
Gavin raised a hand. “Okay, calm down! It’s all right, Hilary. I’ll speak with her.”
“See?” Brooke smiled extra sweetly. “Shut the door, why don’t you?”
Lips pressed until they were almost invisible, Hilary glanced at Gavin, and he nodded. Only then did she leave, pulling the door closed behind her.
Gavin steepled his fingers and leaned back in his seat. Though he didn’t offer Brooke a chair, she took one anyway, next to Ethan, who merely raised an eyebrow. She’d always been slightly impudent, but barging into his office was overboard even for her.
“What’s this all about?” Gavin said, keeping his voice as inviting as the Alaska winter.