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“Why isn’t your brother here fixing it?”
“You don’t want my brother fixing anything, trust me.”
I dump the contents of the dustpan into the garbage and watch James while he works. He presses the cardboard to the window and secures it with tape around the edges. That’s when I notice the skin on his knuckles, red and swollen from pummeling his brother’s face.
I snatch the dish towel hanging from the handle on the stove and dig into the ice bucket in the freezer. “Give me your hand.”
He hesitates, so I step closer and take his right hand.
He jerks it back, but I grab it again and press the ice against the top of it. “Hold still. Don’t be a baby.”
“You’ve helped enough.” His eyes meet mine for all of two seconds before dropping to the towel. “Thank you, by the way. For dealing with my brother.”
“Your dad seems nice. I didn’t want him to see the two of you fighting like that.” I pause before asking, “Where’s your mom?”
“She passed.”
I drop the conversation because I know all too well what that’s like. No wonder he’s fighting so hard to keep his family together. These Russo men are all each other has.
I shrug and try to lighten the situation. “Just figured I’d ask in case there are any other Russo members I should expect to come crawling through my window. What is it with your family and breaking into people’s houses?”
The corner of his mouth twitches.
“I mean, I should just make each of you a spare key. That way, you don’t have to keep breaking my shit.”
His warm honey eyes meet mine. “I promise it won’t happen again, Phoenix.”
My body stills at the sound of my full name. His father must’ve told him after he saw it on my license last night. “No one calls me that. It’s just Nix.”
He cocks his head to the side, watching me for a moment. “You don’t like Phoenix?”
“I don’t.” I take the ice and dump it back into my freezer, needing to turn around so he stops looking at me like a science experiment. “Thanks for boarding up the window. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He takes the hint, and I wait until I hear the front door click shut behind him.
Only later as I lie in bed does it dawn on me that I have no idea why he was standing on my porch tonight in the first place. I’m grateful he was there to handle his brother when he came through my kitchen window, but…
What was James doing here?
3
Phoenix
Daily Affirmation: “I let go of thinking about the past and the future and trust my inner wisdom to guide me in the present moment.”
“Are they hot?”
I roll my eyes. “Does it matter?”
Drew clicks his tongue. “Of course it matters. Looks always matter.”
“And why is that?”
“Think about it. If an unattractive Shrek-like woman breaks into my house, I’m calling the cops. But if she’s good-looking—let’s say a smoking brunette with big boobs—then I’ll be more apt to play break-and-enter before I enter her.”
A loud laugh rips out of me. “Oh my god. You’re sick. Are they even doing anything for you in that place?”
He chortles. “You know I’m right. That’s why you’re laughing.”
