Page 28 of AJ’s Fire

“Vera seemed fine when we left.” I gestured toward his phone. “Everything okay?”

“Oh, yeah. No. She’s fine. I was just … That friend of Josh’s is coming in a few days for his internship, and I was just checking to see if he’d texted his travel plans yet.”

Jamie was still holding his phone up, so I guided his wrist down to the table. “Man, it’s New Year’s Eve. I’m sure that kid is out partying and not thinking about his internship tonight. Put the phone away. Emily told me her cousin is thinking about moving to New York. Tonight could be the start of something for you …”

“No!” Jamie’s emphatic tone surprised me. He continued with, “I mean, I’m sure she’s lovely. It’s just … I’m just …”

I nodded in understanding. “Not ready?” I was surprised when my brother paused before answering.

“It’s not that, exactly. I’ve just got some things going on …” I waited for Jamie to elaborate, but instead he changed the subject. “So Jackson is or isn’t coming tonight?”

I squinted my eyes at him, which he ignored, though I’m sure he knew full well it meant I was calling bullshit on him about changing the subject. “He is. He asked that waitress from Lucy's Taphouse to join us. Or actually, I think Emily might have set them up? I told her she’s barking up the wrong tree. Over the years, Casey has had many opportunities where Jax and I are concerned and has never been interested, but Emily insisted.”

“So, you and Emily?”

“Yeah, no. I mean, she’s really sweet, and she adores Jackson almost as much … Well, she really cares about him, so I know she's a good person. But …”

Jamie put a hand on my shoulder. “My brother, the ladies’ man. Not ready to give up your wild ways just yet?”

He was laughing as he said it, but he quieted down when he saw that it was my turn to ruminate. “Actually, Jamie? Lately I’ve been thinking maybe I’m getting a little old for all that. Or I don’t know … Jackson stopped going out with me, like, months ago. And it’s just not the same, you know, without …”

“Your wingman?”

“My best friend.”

“Oh.” Jamie paused for a minute as if he was hesitant to ask me something, which was surprising because pointed questions were part of his job description as a therapist, and he’d never been shy around me. Eventually, he worked up the nerve to ask, “Did you two ever … you know … together?”

“Jesus, Jamison!” Jamie’s question surprised me, and I barked out a laugh, but I answered him honestly. “We’ve been propositioned together, more than once, but, no, never. We always go our separate ways.”

Jamie’s phone buzzed, and he was quick to pick it up. There was a brief second of what looked like disappointment on his face before it lit up.

“Vera and the babysitter made crowns for New Year’s.” He flashed the photo my way and was fiddling with his phone when two women in slinky black dresses approached our table, the maître d’ behind them. I knew I was off my game when my first thought was how cold they must be. One of the women was Casey, so I elbowed my brother in the ribs, and we both stood as they headed our way.

I was buttoning my jacket when two other figures appeared. Emily’s black dress had some kind of shimmer to it that made it stand out from the other two, and next to her my best friend stood in a light-gray suit, impeccably tailored to frame his fit body. He’d coupled it with a green tie that I knew would highlight the green in his expressive eyes. His blond hair had grown out since the summer, and he’d styled it to frame his face, parted to one side and firmly in place, held there with the high-priced, high-quality hair-care products I’d teased him about over the years. He looked … stunning.

He was staring our way, arm in arm with Emily but not moving toward us. The two other women, on the other hand, had arrived at the table. Casey looked behind her and shrugged as Emily and Jackson appeared to be deep in conversation, leaving her to make the introductions.

“AJ, Jamie. Happy New Year. This is Emily’s cousin, Ruth. Ruth, meet AJ and Jamie.”

“I’ve heard so much about you both. It’s nice to meet you.” Ruth was poised and polite and clearly checking my brother out. Maybe Jamie would make it two for two on New Year’s Eve hookups.

I, on the other hand, would definitely not be hooking up that evening.

Wait, whoa? When had I ever gone out for the night, and New Year’s Eve of all nights, and decided ahead of time that I didn’t want to hook up? I really should have explored that feeling, but at that moment, Emily and Jackson joined us, and by some subtle sleight of hand on Emily’s part, I ended up sitting next to my best friend, with Casey next to him. And my date? She ended up across from me and between the two other women.

Jackson sat down and nodded stiffly at me. He was clearly anxious, and it made that knot in the pit of my stomach return. Maybe this was the night I would finally be able to figure out what was really going on with him. I convinced myself that was why I didn’t have any intention of hooking up that evening. I needed to focus on my best friend.

We talked as a group while we reviewed the menu, and our waiter came by and poured us each a glass of champagne.

We clinked glasses, and Jackson and I were last to tap each other’s glass.

“Happy New Year, Jackson.”

“Happy New Year, AJ.” I looked into those hazel eyes as if I could ferret out the truth, and Jackson caught me staring. How had it taken me so long to notice how remarkable the color was? Maybe it was the tie, bringing it out more.

“What? Do I have something in my teeth? A hair out of place?”

I shouldered him, almost causing his drink to splash. We both watched it settle before he took a sip and I said, “Nah, man. You look great. Really … really nice.”