Since You: A Novel by Sarah Hill

Author:Sarah Hill [Hill, Sarah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: anonymous
Published: 2023-06-29T16:00:00+00:00

I pull Maureen’s homemade dinner from the warm stove and place it on a hot pad in front of where Brinley is leaning against the counter. She closes her eyes and breathes in the aroma with a big smile.

“This smells so good!”

I laugh and set a couple of plates and forks beside it. “Dig in. Did you want a glass of wine? I have a moscato Maddie left on one of her visits. She always drinks it with pasta.”

Brinley eyes me. “Why would you steal your sister’s wine?”

I shrug, knowing I’m going to have to reveal another truth about myself. “I don’t drink. So I don’t stock my home with any alcohol. Any you may find in the house was brought in by somebody else. Maddie won’t mind.” I grab the bottle of wine from the bottom shelf of the fridge and place it in front of her. “Right now, this is all I have for you.”

“I don’t want to drink if you’re not.”

I grab a wineglass from the cupboard, pop the cork and do a standard pour before placing it in front of her. “You’ve had a day. You deserve a glass of wine.”

Brinley softly slides her index finger over the rim and watches me as I pour myself a glass of water. She hasn’t touched the lasagna. I slice into it and slide a square onto a plate, stick a fork in it, and push it toward her. “Bon appétit.”

“Thank you.”

After plating my own, I immediately take a bite. Brinley’s eyes are still on me. I slide my eyes up to meet her gaze and swallow. Running my tongue over my teeth, I take a drink of water before opening my mouth. “Something wrong?”

“Why don’t you drink? Are you recovering?”

“Recovering? As in, am I in AA?”

Brinley drops her hands into her lap. “It doesn’t bother me if you are. I just don’t want to drink in front of you if that’s the problem. It doesn’t feel right.”

A chuckle slides from my mouth. “I appreciate your candor, but I’m fine.” She doesn’t like my answer. I can see it all over her face. Putting my fork down, I clasp my hands in front of me and rest my chin on them. “I’m not, nor was I ever, an alcoholic. It’s just a choice I made years ago, because I don’t enjoy feeling out of control. I swear.”

“Yet, you own a bar.”

I nod and pick my fork up, cutting a piece to take a bite. “I do. Doesn’t mean I have to drink. I have nothing against others drinking and it doesn’t bother me if they do it in front of me. The desire isn’t there for me.” I shrug. “It’s that simple. Now eat your lasagna before it gets cold.”

“You are something else, Callum Finley.” She finally takes a bite and I watch with pride for my sister as her eyes grow wide. “Mmmm, oh my gosh,” she says, covering her mouth and pointing at the layered pasta with her fork.

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