“Goddamn women.” Nick grabbed the chair Lila had vacated and linked his fingers between his knees. “So about what you saw the other night—”
“I know it wasn’t like what I thought. I wasn’t exactly in my right mind.”
“Yeah, and that news about your brother…I’m sorry, man.”
“Me too. Not that the fucker’s dead, mind you, but that I had to find out like that. That she knew and didn’t tell me, probably because she thought it would send me headfirst into a mirror.”
“Was she wrong?”
“Christ, I don’t know. If a line was in front of me right now…” Gray shook his head. “I am sorry he’s dead, and I feel like I’m betraying Jazz.” He glanced at Nick. “You know what happened?”
“Yeah.” Nick locked his linked hands behind his neck. “You only get one brother. I get it. My sister and I aren’t exactly the Olson twins, but she’s still my fucking sister. I still shared a freaking womb with her.”
Gray snorted out a laugh. “Olsen twins gone really wrong, maybe.” He sobered and rewound something in his head that Lila had said earlier. “Have you been around much the past few days?”
“Aww, worried that I don’t care?”
“I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t.”
Nick jerked a shoulder. “I’m tired of looking back. Time for us to look forward, don’t you think?”
“Yeah.” Gray scrubbed his hands over his face and smothered the groan that nearly escaped him. A bit early for moves like that just yet. He dropped his hands and decided he didn’t have much to lose.
Lies. All fucking lies. He could lose everything.
“Did my parents come?” he asked quietly, not meeting Nick’s eyes.
“Yeah. I saw Jazz talking to them.”
“Okay.” He forced out the breath that had gotten lodged in his throat. “Okay.”
“You could talk to them yourself, you know. It doesn’t mean you don’t love her.”
“What does it mean then?”
“It means you’re human, and sometimes you need someone. That simple. And that complicated.” He paused. “She’s still wearing your ring, you know.”
“Christ.” His breath left him on a shudder he couldn’t stop. “I shouldn’t want her to be.”
“You know, it seems like you’re not real comfortable with feeling how you actually feel. You could try relaxing and seeing what happens.” Nick lifted his hands, his smile slipping into his trademark smirk. “Just a suggestion.”
“I’ll take it under advisement. I, ah, heard you covered for me at the show.”
“She covered for you, and she kicked ass. If you’re nice to me, I might hook you up with some really hot footage of your really hot fiancée playing your guitar.” Nick waggled his brows.
Gray tried not to grin. “You’re a frigging perv.”
“So?”
Gray extended his fist, waiting until Nick bumped his knuckles to his. “Thanks.”
“Yeah. You know, since you owe me, we could always try that threesome again…”
If anyone had ever told Gray he’d be able to laugh someday about one of the darkest nights of his life, he would’ve told them they were crazy. But somehow he managed it, even if it hurt like hell—at least physically if not emotionally. “Yep. Perv.”
Nick grinned. “You know it, brother.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Then
A knock on the door had Gray lifting his head. Jazz stood in the doorway, her normally bright colors and funky jeans exchanged for black shapeless pants and a black turtleneck. Ever since that day three weeks ago when Brent had attacked her, she’d worn little else. Her crazy braids and ponytails had been exchanged for a style that hid her face.
She was in self-protection mode and he couldn’t stand the part he’d played in pushing his brother to that point. He’d known he was prodding a bear with his taunts, but he’d just never guessed Brent was capable of going that far.
He’d regret his mistake for the rest of his life.
“Hey there.” She gave him a weak smile. “You ready to head back?”
“No.” He pulled the zipper closed on his duffel. “I don’t want to go.”
“You’ve already been here way past your spring break.” She shook her head and came into his bedroom, pulling the door shut behind her. “What are you going to do? Drop out of school so you can keep an eye on me?”
“Yes.” He didn’t hesitate. “But not to keep an eye on you, just to be together. I have a good amount of money set aside from birthdays and Christmas, and that’s enough to get us started. We can move to San Francisco. We’ll both get jobs—”