Page 13 of The Brothers Next Door

Chapter 6

Nate

“What’s your problem, man?”

I looked over at my partner, Anthony Robbins, and shrugged. “What do you mean?” I knew what he meant, my entire shift my mind had been on Layla and the hostile vibe I’d gotten from her the previous day. Sure, I could understand why she was upset, but on the flip side I’d told her the deal from the get-go. It was a little stress relief and fun, that was it.

“Don’t bullshit a bullshitter. You’ve got something on your mind and if I were a betting man I’d guess it was some chick.”

“You know I don’t get involved with my playmates. One time and goodbye.”

“That’s sad, man. You’re twenty-eight years old. If you don’t start taking women seriously then you’ll end up an old man, lonely with no one in your life.”

“Please. If I had a nickel for every time you bitch about your wife and kids, I’d be able to retire.”

“I never said marriage and a family is easy. It’s damned hard. Even though I love my wife, I’ll admit there’s days when I dislike the woman. Life isn’t a fairy tale, like I say it’s damned hard at times. But here’s the thing, no matter what, we always have each other’s back. After everything is said and done, everyone needs someone they love and respect to share this world with.”

“Yeah, maybe.” We’d had this conversation before. One woman for the rest of my life when there was a buffet of beautiful women just waiting to be plucked? No thanks. But that didn’t mean I couldn’t take Layla out. She was the first woman in a long time that I’d felt a desire to see beyond just one night. What would it hurt to explore that? Not a relationship mind you, just two people eating food.

“Still doesn’t explain what’s got you in a tiff.”

I pulled my phone from the inner pocket of my jacket and looked down at the display and frowned. No calls or texts. Why hadn’t she contact me yet? Okay, it had only been a day, but it was unusual to be blown off by a chick.

Anthony began to chuckle beside me as he pulled the squad car up in front of my apartment building. Anthony lived in Jersey so since I lived in Manhattan it was easier for him to do the pick-up in the morning and drop-off each evening. I lived in the same building as both my brother and Layla, just a few floors down.

“What?”

“I see what your problem is.”

“What is it?” I looked up from the phone to face him.

“The chick you were with over the weekend, she hasn’t fallen for you and it’s bothering the shit out of you.”

I huffed. “You’ve got an overactive imagination.” Grabbing the door handle, I opened the car door and stepped out.

“Sure, I do.”

Looking in, I grinned at my partner. “Nate Striker doesn’t fall for women. Period.”

“That’s what I told myself at one point in time. Now, I’ve been married for fifteen years and have three kids that I love and even like most of the time. Living the dream, pal, and one day that’ll be you.”

Laughing, I shook my head. Nope, not going to be me. “See ya tomorrow, man.” Closing the door, I started to walk inside my building when I stopped and thought twice. I decided to take a chance that Layla would be home and went to the deli across the street getting a turkey bacon club sandwich for both of us. Sure, it was almost ten at night, but hopefully she’d be up for some company.

I whistled as I rode the elevator up. Not to be deterred, I was going to get to the bottom of why she was blowing me off. Arriving at the proper floor, I went to her door, knocked, and waited. There wasn’t a reply immediately, but after a second round of knocking the door was flung open and Layla appeared in the doorway wrapped in a red satin robe that fell to mid-thigh.

My dick jumped in my pants and I cleared my throat. “Hey, I thought I’d bring an evening snack.”

She frowned and looked down at the silver watch on her wrist. “It’s nearly ten, Nate. I have to work in the morning.”

Okay, this wasn’t the reaction I was hoping for. This was awkward.

She took a deep breath and slowly released it, stepping aside and motioning for me to enter. “I haven’t eaten all evening and that does smell good.”

“They have the best sandwiches at the deli across the street. If you haven’t been there yet you need to go.” Walking into the apartment, I found she’d unpacked almost everything already. “You’ve done a lot in a matter of a couple of days.”

She shrugged and motioned for me to follow her into the living room. “I’m pretty task oriented, once I set my mind into getting something done, I do it. I start a new job tomorrow so it needed to get it done.”

I sat down on the sofa, opening the brown paper bag and pulling out the sandwiches that came with sides of hand cut fries.

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