Page 33 of Plain Sight

“I didn’t. He might’ve learned that all by himself. He’s very smart.”

“I know.” Gabriel’s shoulders droop.

I choose that moment to push the slider open a little farther and step out onto the balcony. Both brothers turn to look at me. Neither one seems particularly surprised to see me.

“Hey, Lily,” Gabriel says. “Couldn’t sleep?”

“Neither could Jameson.” I shut the door behind me and join Mason and Gabriel at the balcony. Below is Central Park at night. Pools of light waver behind leaves and fall on the walking trail. From up here, the park looks like a fairy tale. I can personally attest to the fact that it’s not always like that. It wasn’t that long ago that we nearly got stabbed. “You couldn’t, either?”

Gabriel grimaces. “I had a feeling.”

“That Jameson might be sneaking out? Was that big for him in his more rebellious years?”

“More rebellious?” Mason huffs a laugh.

“So…” I lean against the balcony, look out, and remember that I’m pregnant. It’s such a weird thing to keep remembering. That’s why I’m so tired, and so…hungry. Yes. I’m hungry. Being awake means being hungry, apparently. “You guys knew he was leaving? Or you just guessed?”

“Figured it out a few nights ago,” Mason answers. “I got up with Robin while Jameson was leaving. I don’t think he knew I was there.”

“He’s back every day before I wake up.” More worry tightens my throat. “I don’t think he’s sleeping very much. It feels like he’s awake all night, every night.”

“Well, that…” Gabriel sounds like he might say would be impossible. “That sounds like him.”

“Has he always had trouble sleeping like this?”

The water in the pool slaps against the side, rippling with the breeze. Traffic moves down below, headlights bouncing on concrete. There’s no sign of Jameson. Nobody leaves the parking garage and makes a quick path down the sidewalk. Nobody’s down on the street right now at all.

“Not always,” Gabriel says softly. “It must have started when our parents died. I remember him sleeping in a lot before that happened, and now…”

“Now he sleeps in, but only if he’s been up all night.” Mason’s not bothering to hide the concern in his voice. He pats Robin’s back again and then his big hand rubs in a slow circle. “And I’m a jackass, because I don’t actually know if he’s sleeping when he comes home. All I know is that he’s in his room with the door shut.”

“He’s not doing that.” I fold my hands together, then unfold them. “Sleeping when he gets home, I mean. His side of the bed is always cold when I wake up, and he’s showered and dressed. Maybe he, like, naps for a little while, but then it’s time to go to the office.”

The silence between the three of us isn’t really silence. It never is, in New York City. There’s traffic below and a distant siren and the wind, and the guilt between Jameson’s brothers is almost audible, like the buzz of a lightbulb on its last legs.

“I take it this is a bad sign,” I say, when I’ve waited as long as I could. “I mean, it’s obviously a bad sign.”

“Yeah,” Gabriel says. “I would agree with that.”

“Lily.” Mason’s tone is soft and careful. I think that’s partially for the baby and partially for me. “Has Jameson mentioned anything about his plans?”

“No. He hasn’t said anything to me about it. It seems obvious that he—you know. He doesn’t want me to know he’s gone. Otherwise he’d just tell me.” It feels very intimate to be having this conversation with Jameson’s brothers in the middle of the night, but it’s also a relief that other people care about him as much as I do. I knew that already. His family came together to throw him a wedding while he could barely move from being so beaten up. “We’ve been through a lot together in a pretty short time. But he doesn’t want me to be part of this.”

Gabriel makes a noncommittal sound. “I don’t know if that’s true. Maybe he does want you to be part of it, but—” He shrugs. “I’d go out there with him myself if he asked. Is this about the judge, do you think?”

The last question seems directed to both me and Mason.

“The judge is making noise at the court,” Mason says.

“Noise?” That has my heart racing. “Like, more charges?”

“More charges. Old charges. My lawyers have managed to hold him off for the time being. I don’t think your grandfather wants to go public.”

“Good call, because then we’d tell everyone how he sent a man to kidnap me.” Robin fusses when my voice gets loud, so I murmur a quick sorry. Mason bounces a bit more enthusiastically, and the baby settles. “Should we do that anyway? Just…announce? That he’s the worst person ever?”

A thoughtful silence.

“I don’t know. Not when Jameson’s…like this,” Gabriel finishes. He looks at Mason, his brow furrowed. “You don’t think he’d go to the judge’s house, do you?”