“No.” Her brows scrunch together. “When does he leave?”
“Next week.”
“Next week?” Zahra squeaks. She and Iris share a look.
The hairs on my arms raise from how strange they’re acting. “What?”
“Nothing. It just seems…” Zahra’s voice drifts off.
“Sudden,” Iris finishes for her.
“I’m not putting up with his drinking anymore. He can either get his life together or see himself out of mine.” I lift my water glass in the air.
Whatever nervous energy that was building in the air disappears with everyone breaking out into laughter.
“I like you already.” Iris’s eyes glitter.
“Same.” I grin.
Zahra raises her glass. “Let’s toast.”
“To what?” I ask.
Zahra taps her glass against mine. “To three strong women who refuse to put up with the Kane brothers’ usual bullshit.”
“I can cheers to that.” Iris does the same.
The three of us share stories about each of the brothers. Between Zahra and Iris, I spend the rest of the next hour laughing and crying until my belly hurts and my voice is hoarse. The two of them remind me of Violet and Delilah, and I just know that the five of us need to get together one day.
Once Cal gets sober, that is.
Iris and Zahra are splayed out on the couch, their wineglasses as empty as the bottle of expensive white wine on the coffee table. Neither one moves to go get another one, although they both expressed wanting another glass, so I volunteer to grab one from the wine fridge in the kitchen.
I use the bathroom before going to retrieve the bottle. As I’m grabbing the corkscrew, Declan’s voice catches my attention.
It takes me a moment to realize his voice is coming from outside rather than inside. The kitchen window is open with the faded scent of cigars lingering in the air, making my nose wrinkle.
“I saw you put the lake house on the market,” Declan says in that gruff, no-bullshit voice of his.
“Yup. I doubt it will last more than a few weeks before someone buys it.” Cal speaks with confidence.
Stop eavesdropping and go.
The corkscrew shakes in my hand. I’m about to start walking away and give them privacy, but something Declan says has my feet staying glued to the floor.
“I’m surprised you got Alana to go along with it.”
What. The. Fuck. Go along withwhat?
“She was the one who suggested we put the house up for sale sooner,” Cal says.
“Shouldn’t be long now before you receive your part of the inheritance, then.”
Inheritance? What inheritance?
“About that…” Cal’s voice drifts off.
“Here we go,” Rowan grumbles before ice rattles in a glass.