Page 33 of A Crane Family New Year

Zander ran a hand through his hair in irritation and began pacing. Was he that transparent? “No, I don’t.”

“Yeah, you do.” Brody’s smile widened. “You did it, didn’t you? You met someone.”

“Uh—”

“Son of a bitch, you did!” His brother let out a whoop loud enough for the entire city to hear. He was an urban cowboy. A young Indiana Jones. He’d always been adventuresome—not one for formality or appropriateness. Sometimes Zander envied that quality, but not now, when he was being called out.

“Goddamn, Zan. I fucking love that. Who is she?”

And he wasn’t letting it go.

“I met her online. In person for the first time tonight.” What the hell, might as well tell him what he wanted to know. Jaylyn would if Zander didn’t. “She takes these amazing black and whites of Chicago.”

“A photographer. That’s apt.”

“Yes, I suppose it is.” As if drawn to them, Zander found himself standing in front of the framed photos once again. “She’s incredible— Uh, incredibly talented.”

“Sure, she is.” One arm wrapped around his chest, Brody was still grinning. “And you asked her out. I’m impressed. Emily wanted that for you.”

A smile pulled the side of his mouth. Brody wasn’t wrong. Emily had wanted him “taken care of,” as she used to say. She hadn’t been proprietary at the end, only adamant that he find happiness without her. It’d taken him a long time to accept that, but, like she’d been so often when she’d been alive, Emily was right. Staying alone for the rest of his days would make him miserable.

“You gonna kiss her at midnight? Get that task scratched off your list?” Brody knew about that too. What Jaylyn knew, his brothers soon found out about.

“We scratched that off already.”

“Shiiiiit. Nicely done.” Abruptly, Brody’s smile disappeared. “Listen, don’t do anything stupid like ask her to move in with you. Take your time. Keep chatting with her online. Get your rocks off, but don’t turn this into something permanent. You just got back out there.”

“Brody—”

“I’m serious. You can’t settle down. Not yet.”

The warning wasn’t surprising considering its source. Brody wasn’t terminally single, but close. Time to change the subject.

“Jaylyn said you had something to tell me.”

“I have good news.” His brother’s mustache shifted as he smiled again. “I am moving to Chicago. Not in a penthouse or a high-rise.” He gestured around him generally. “I’m over this. I want to live in a house. With a yard. I want to mow the lawn.”

“You want to mow a lawn?”

“Yeah. My lawn. And I want a mailman who comes to my door. I want to say hi to my neighbor instead of taping a note on the door telling them to keep the noise down.”

“Does this have anything to do with your novel? The one you’re six months late turning in to your editor?” He couldn’t help needling him a bit. If Zander was that late on anything involving his work, he wouldn’t have a career.

“I need a change of scenery,” Brody hedged. “Somewhere I can concentrate.”

“Well, you can’t stay with me. Jaylyn said she’s staying for a few more weeks, and we’re on top of each other. I need to find a bigger apartment. Or a warehouse like Eli’s.”

“A warehouse?” Brody shook his head. “That’s not your style. You need a property that is more audacious. Ask Tag if there’s availability in Crane Tower.”

Tag owned Crane Tower and lived on the entire top floor of the building. Zander had thought about asking him about it. “I’ll figure it out. How soon are you coming to town?”

“Brody!” a woman’s voice called out.

“Just a second, sweetheart.” His brother’s syrupy delivery suggested that he wouldn’t be going home alone tonight. No surprise there. To Zander, he said, “Not sure yet, but you’ll be my second call—after my Realtor.”

“I look forward to seeing you more.”

“I’m looking forward to seeing you out and about. Seriously, man. Hearing that you kissed a woman on New Year’s Eve is some good fucking news. Just?—”

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