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“And that excuses his behavior; how again?”
“It doesn’t. I just think you should cut him some slack.” Yasmin gives me a pointed look. “Somebody could say the same thing about you, you know.”
“You saying I’m a shitty friend, Yas?”
“No, of course not, but you’ve been edgy lately. What’s going on with you?”
I press my mouth together. The last things I want to talk about are me and my demons. God knows there are so many of them that if we open that particular box, I’d be overwhelmed by it all, drowned in my own darkness. Can’t blame a girl for wanting to keep it all tightly locked.
“I’m fine,” I shrug.
“Don’t trust her,” Grace says. “That’s what she’s been telling me for weeks now.”
I shoot a dirty look at my best friend. Of course, she’d go and spill my secrets. “Maybe because it’s true. Ever thought of that?”
“No, you’ve definitely been off,” Penny chimes in.
“What’s this today? Everybody against Jade day?”
“See? Everybody can see it. If I didn’t know better, maybe I’d trust you.” Grace shakes her head. “And don’t go scowling at me like that. The only thing you’ll accomplish is getting wrinkles.”
“Why are you not with your boyfriend again?”
Along with my brother and Yasmin, both Rei and Grace invited their boyfriends to come and help us move into our apartment.
“He and Matteo are putting together my bed, or at least they’re trying to,” she shrugs. “I figured it’s best for me to stay out of their way.”
The three of us exchange a look before bursting into laughter. “Boys…”
“What boys?”
I turn around to find Nixon standing at the door, a couple of boxes in his hands.
“You, who else?” I glance over his shoulder. Prescott is standing behind him, carrying more boxes.
“I’ll have you know. There are no boys here, only men, little sister.”
“Mhmm… Of course, you are.”
Nixon’s eyes narrow on me. “Where do you want me to put these?”
“What does it say on the box?”
“No idea, Smalls. I didn’t check.”
I roll my eyes. Of course, he didn’t. “Just put it wherever, and we’ll sort through it.”
“Wherever it is.” Nixon drops the boxes next to the coffee table, dusting off his hands on the side of his legs.
“You done?” Yasmin asks him, pulling the plates out of the box and taking them to the cupboard.
“Almost.” Nixon goes to her, wrapping his arms around her middle and pulling her to him, his lips brushing against the top of her head. “There’s still stuff at Maddox’s, so we’ll go and grab them.”
I watch as Yasmin turns in my brother’s arms and smiles up at him. An ache spreads through my chest, making my lungs squeeze. I turn around, only to come face to face with Prescott. He drops the boxes on the floor before straightening to his full height. And damn, the man is tall enough I have to tilt my head back to be able to look him in the eyes.
Our gazes meet, and I swear I can feel his arms wrapped around my waist, feel his body heat enveloping me. A shudder runs through me.
As if he can read my mind, he quirks one of his brows at me, amusement dancing in his dark brown eyes. The corner of his mouth lifts in a smug smirk. The only kind of smile he has these days. But I remember that one time, three years ago, when he had a genuine smile that made my heart stop.
