Keller rises from the couch. “Brimar, watch your tone.”
“Don’t tell me to watch my fucking tone. I’m the head of security. I’m the one who should be calling the shots here, and staying here in Harrogate is not smart.”
“Brimar, I’m warning you,” Keller says, his voice evilly controlled.
Brimar, on the other hand, curls his fists at his sides as he continues, “Do you truly think the public is dumb enough to assume we’re not here?”
“I think as long as we keep quiet and maintain a level of peace here, no one will realize. Harrogate hasn’t been occupied for years.”
“You just want to keep her here because you know when you’re at Strombly, you’re not going to be able to fuck her.”
“Brimar,” Lara chastises, standing as well.
Oh shit. My eyes bounce back and forth between Brimar and Keller.
Keller’s hands clutch at his sides and the muscles in his back flex as he very quietly says, “Your room, now.”
Rolling his eyes, Brimar snaps the towel off his shoulder and takes off toward his room, Keller trailing behind him.
When they’re out of the room, Lara takes a seat next to me. “I’m so sorry he said that. That was completely out of line. What you and Keller do is your business.”
“We’ve done nothing,” I say, still stunned from Brimar’s outburst. “Keller won’t go there.”
“Oh.” Lara glances down at her hands. “That’s surprising. I guess with the way he looks at you, the way he touches you on occasion, I assumed differently. I think Brimar assumes the same. Either way, it was uncalled for.”
“Why are you apologizing for him?” I ask. “You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I know, but . . . I just want you to know that I’m sorry he said that and that I don’t condone what he said. He’s just . . . he’s very stressed lately. He wants to leave here.”
“Do you think we’re sitting ducks?” I ask her.
She shakes her head. “No, I trust Keller. He knows what’s best, and if he thinks we’re safe here, then we’re safe.”
“Okay.”
A door slams, causing both me and Lara to flinch. Keller comes storming into the living room shortly after. Not saying a word, he grabs his computer and heads up to his room.
When he’s gone, I turn to Lara and say, “Well, dinner should be fun.”
The wind howls against the stone of the castle, whipping so hard that the long blades of grass outside are running parallel to the ground. Dinner was a disaster. No one talked. We just ate our food and listened to the wind outside. When I took my plate to the kitchen, Brimar followed me and offered an apology for speaking out of turn. I thanked him for apologizing, and when I returned to the dining room, Keller was gone.
Lara and I sat in front of the fireplace again and worked on our napkins until my eyes felt blurry and I decided to retire for the night. My excuse for leaving was partially true, but I was also very concerned about Keller.
That’s why I find myself now at Keller’s door, my knuckles knocking on the hardwood.
“Yeah,” he calls out.
My finger runs across the ancient wood as I say, “Keller, it’s me. Can I come in?”
I’m met with silence, and right when I’m about to call out to him again, the door to his bedroom opens. He leans against it, wearing only a pair of sweatpants.
“Everything okay?” he asks me.
“Yeah, I just . . . I wanted to make sure you were okay. You haven’t spoken to me since, you know, the blow-up, and I wanted to make sure you weren’t mad at me.”
His tense brow knits together. “Why would I be mad at you?”
“I don’t know.” I play with the hem of my shirt. “But you just seemed like you were.”
“No, Lilly, I’m not mad at you. I’m just trying to figure out the logistics to your welcoming and what we have to go over in the next week or so. I’m busy.”
“Oh, okay.” I look up at him. “Just seems like you’re pulling away after what Brimar said.”
Keller’s jaw grows tight. “What he said was completely out of line.”
“I know, and he apologized. I just think tensions are high and I understand that. We all want to stay safe, but I don’t want you pulling away,” I say as I reach out for his hand, but he steps away. “Keller . . .”
“I have work I have to do, Lilly. It’s late, why don’t you get some sleep?”