Shame nothing would ever cover the haunted look in her eyes.
* * *
Drew caught up with Liam at the island’s medical practice later that day. “Listen. April suggested we all get together for a pre-wedding dinner. She has a list of stuff to do a mile long. I’m freaking out already. What do you say?”
Liam poured himself a coffee and leaned against the counter. “Sure. Count me in. It’s not as though my calendar is filled with hot dates.” It was downright dismal actually. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a proper night out with a woman.
“Great. We’ll check with Aggie about her schedule and get back to you.” Drew took an apple from the fruit bowl April insisted they keep in the break room to snack on. It was an effort to balance out the treats Aggie often sent their way. “So, you and my sister. What do you think?”
I don’t stand a chance but what the heck, I’m going to go all out anyway and try to figure out why she’s avoiding me these days. “Yeah, could be fun.”
“Fun? Not sure that’s the kind of thing I want to hear when you talk about Aggie. Romantic might be a better choice of word.” Drew snorted. “You still have the hots for her—admit it.”
It was so annoying that Drew knew him so well. But after growing up together on the island, going through medical school together, and interning at the same hospital, they should be in sync. “So what? She doesn’t feel the same. It’s not like it’s a forgone conclusion that we’re going to get all super friendly again. It’s a wedding and we’re partners. It’ll be a good night regardless.”
Drew chewed on his apple while staring at him. Talk about put on the spot! He’d always been able to make Liam feel anxious just by looking at him with that raised eyebrow. Something he’d inherited from his father, Atticus Hope.
Liam had been on the wrong end of that look growing up and didn’t like it from either one of them. “What? Just say it. Get it off your chest.”
“I don’t know what happened to Aggie to make her change her mind about you, and I don’t know why she’s so moody these days, but don’t you think someone should find out? It’s been, what, two years since she came back and bought the bakery? She had a good job in Seattle, great friends, still spoke to you—then, poof! She turned into the grump she is today.” Drew shook his head. “I want my sister back, Liam, and she won’t talk to me. Keeps telling me to mind my own business.” Drew threw the apple core in the trash and wiped his hands together. “So much for being the chatty annoying kid she used to be. We told each other everything back then.”
Oh, how Liam would love to hear her never-ending conversations again as well. “I have the feeling she’d say the same to me, not that she gives me the time of day anymore. I don’t know what I did to upset her, but I wish she’d tell me.”
“Tell you what?” April walked into the break room, smiled at her soon-to-be husband and grabbed herself a cup of coffee.
“Aggie.” Drew put his arm around his fiancée’s shoulders. “I was telling Liam that a dinner might be a good idea so we can all discuss the wedding and what we’re planning for the day.”
“And?” Not much went past April.
He nuzzled her neck and stroked a hand down her back. “I suggested Liam and Aggie might be able to rekindle the old flame just like we did. What do you think?”
April rolled her eyes. “Don’t even do that to your sister, Drew. It was hard enough getting her to be my bridesmaid without you scheming to hook her up with Liam. You should’ve heard her when I said I was calling in that old childhood promise.” Her eyes clouded with dismay. “I mean, heck, it had been our plan ever since we were kids, and she looked as though I’d sentenced her to imprisonment without rations.” She shook her head and sipped the coffee before giving them both a stern look. “As to her and Liam getting back together, it’s not your business. If it’s meant to be, it’ll happen without you interfering.”
Drew’s mouth dropped open. “Hey, I’m her big brother. I get to mess with her life. Sibling rules, okay? She used to be besotted with Liam and we all thought they’d end up together. I bet you did too. But when she came back to the island, she’d changed.” He grabbed her cup and took a sip of coffee before handing it back. “Besides, I want to know what changed to make her the snappy, unhappy, unsociable thing she is now.”
April added a splash of cream to her coffee and sipped again. This time she seemed satisfied with it. “She’s not that bad. She went to that family barbeque out at Arlo’s place when he brought Hilary out to meet everyone. She was lovely that day.”
“That was months ago, and she’s done nothing since. She may as well be a vampire for all the daylight she gets.”
“Whatever.” April smoothed down her hair and gave them both a look that brooked no argument. “Leave her alone or you’ll have me to deal with.” She stalked out of the room with the remains of her coffee in one hand, her chin high.
“Well, that’s interesting.” Drew glanced at Liam. “If I was a gambling man, I’d say she knows something we don’t.”
“She’s your wife, almost. You’ll have better luck finding out what’s going on than I will. Any information gleaned will be gratefully received though.” Liam patted Drew on the shoulder
