Page 65 of AJ’s Fire

I leaned my head back, ensconced between two coats, one of Vera’s smaller ones above my head. I closed my eyes, and damned if one of those floating dream images didn’t flitter across my brain. Jackson and me, tuxedo clad, Vera dancing around us, family looking on. Of course, as I pictured it, Jackson’s parents stood next to mine, only they were scowling.

I heard footsteps coming up from downstairs, and Josh’s friend found me sitting in the small foyer.

“Hey, AJ. Good to see you again. Jamie should be …”

The guy seemed jittery, which is not how I remembered him from Thanksgiving. Though granted, hungover is mostly how I remembered him from Thanksgiving and probably mostly how he remembered me.

“He’s grabbing a sweater,” I said. “Should be …” I didn’t need to finish as my brother bounded down the stairs with an excited energy that was unfamiliar to me.

“Okay.” Jamie was all smiles, looking from me to Devon. “Let’s do this.”

I slunk into O’Doyle’s behind my brother and Devon. The two had walked a few paces ahead of me the whole trek over, shoulder to shoulder, talking about who knows what. I hoped, for Jamie’s sake, it wasn’t international finance.

I was taller than Devon, so I could see our party, including Jackson, at a large round table near the bar. Jamie pointed them out to Devon, and we headed over. Introductions made, Emily and Ruth immediately took Devon under their wings, peppering him with questions about his internship and time in New York and burying him in recommendations of things to do and see and eat while he was in town.

He looked from the women to Jamie. “I’m only here a few more weeks, and work keeps me pretty busy, but I’ll keep it in mind. I plan to come back this summer, and I start my MBA at NYU in the fall.” The women squealed in excitement and continued to monopolize the younger man.

By process of elimination, I’d ended up seated next to Jackson, who quietly slid my phone to me and muttered, “All charged up.”

I gave him a terse, “Thanks.” I could barely look at him, still feeling like I had at the fire station, like hearts would literally burst out of my eyes, but with this layer of stress and heartache over the top of my attraction. My feelings, all the good and all the bad, were right at the surface, ready to simmer over. I hoped Jackson would join in on the tourist lesson for Devon, and I turned to my brother instead, ignoring my best friend.

“Seriously, bro. How has your week been without Vera? Nat’s worried about you.”

Jamie rolled his eyes. “When is Nat not worried about us? It’s a wonder she has time for anything else. I talked to her today. She said a scout might come talk to them about Hunter. I don’t know, man, he’s only seventeen.”

I allowed my brother to change the subject. “He’s really fucking good, Jamie. I think we’re all just going to have to get used to the fact that he’s destined for the majors. He seems ready for it.”

“Vance has been spending time with him. He asked me for a few pointers in helping him. You know, emotionally.”

I tilted my head and let sarcasm pepper my voice. “You ever mention that Vance could use those pointers on himself as well?”

“You and I both know that Vance hardly ever talks about himself. I’m not even sure he’s going to that therapist anymore. But he seems … better?”

“Is that your professional diagnosis?”

“He’s definitely better than when he started college, back when Vee was born. Do you remember how miserable he was?”

“When he wrote his first book? Yeah, you’re right. He’s definitely better now,” I agreed.

I lifted my chin in the direction of the excited trio across the table from us and caught Emily leaning over to talk to a scowling Jackson. “Tell me, though, for real. How’s it going with the roommate? Still weird, talking about Welling?”

“We don’t talk about Welling,” Jamie said slowly, then he smiled into his beer before taking a sip. “At least not much. It’s been nice having someone around. He’s great with Vera, rinses his dishes. It’s been fine.” He’d said fine, but his voice did an odd little uptick thing at the end, and he smiled into his drink again. Something about it caught Devon’s eye, and they smiled at each other. I side-eyed my brother.

Meanwhile, Emily had yanked Jackson from his seat and dragged him to the dance floor. They were barely moving to the music but seemed to be having an intense conversation. I should have been pleased that Jackson had one good friend to talk to, but all I could see was green, whether I looked at them as two friends talking or as two possible lovers, both rich enough for each other, thrown together at the behest of their powerful parents.

I swiped up my phone, muttered, “Bathroom,” and stormed off, slamming the door open to the surprise of the two guys using the urinals. I closed myself in a stall and tried to calm down, waiting for the guys to leave before venturing out and splashing water on my face and neck.

“This fucking sucks,” I informed the distressed AJ in the mirror before heading back out, where I was temporarily distracted from my drama when I noticed that Jamie had his arm casually draped over Devon’s chair. It was only when I was seated back in mine that I could tell for sure that they weren’t touching; still, my brother seemed very comfortable in Devon’s space.

I stared at Jamie as I sat back down, and the fucker had the nerve to shrug at me, his arm still firmly planted atop Devon’s chair. My gaze returned to the dance floor, where Jackson and Emily were still deep in conversation, tangentially moving to the beat. I could sense Jamie following my gaze before he turned back to me.

He leaned my way. “You okay?”

“Are you?” I spit back. We agreed to have drinks later in the week, just the two of us.

Jackson and Emily returned fairly soon after, but Emily collected Ruth, and the two left with hugs and promises to stay in touch with Devon so they could show him around when he had more time.

Devon sat back down.