Page 57 of Jett in Jeopardy

“I’ve been better,” I said, dryly, dropping onto the sofa. I needed to take a slight break before continuing to the kitchen.

Will had jumped to his feet when he noticed me, and he was practically vibrating in place. “We’ve been doing quiet things, so we didn’t wake you up?”

I grinned in spite of the pain gripping me. “That was really nice of you. I know how hard that can be.”

“Yeah,” Will agreed, darting for the couch next to me.

“Remember what I said,” Alistair said, sounding just a little panicked.

“I remember,” Will told him, kneeling on the cushion next to me. He turned his attention from Alistair to me. “I’m supposed to be careful, and no jumping on you because you’re hurt.”

Given that I’d spent the better part of Thanksgiving Day with Will clinging to my back while giving him piggyback rides around the house, I was more than a little relieved that Alistair and Finn had set up that rule ahead of time.

“Yeah, but we can still hang out and watch TV together.” I really liked Finn’s son. At five years old, the kid had no filter and was hilarious but also really sweet. Finn and Alistair were great with him.

“What happened to you?” Will’s small voice was suddenly very serious.

“I fell,” I lied. No need to traumatize the kid with the bullshit going on in my life.

“Do you need anything?” Alistair asked, getting to his feet.

“I just took my meds, so I should probably eat something,” I told him, while trying to work up the energy to stand and make my way to the kitchen.

“Grier and Sawyer went to pick up Thai food from that place you like, and Finn ran out to get you ice cream, strawberry, in case your jaw hurts too much to eat.”

A wave of emotions rolled through me. I was touched that my friends would go through so much trouble for me, and if I hadn’t cried myself dry before falling asleep, I probably would have felt the same warm tingle behind my eyes.

“They should be back any minute,” Alistair continued. “Do you think you can wait, or do you want me to get you something now?”

“I can wait, and you don’t have to get anything for me.” Alistair shouldn’t have to wait on me. I was sore, but I could still make myself a sandwich if I needed to.

“I know I don’thaveto. I’m your friend, and Iwantto. Besides, you should be taking it easy.” Will, who had likely grown bored listening to the grown-ups talking, vacated the sofa next to me and returned to his coloring, while Alistair took his spot.

“Did you hear anything from Brody now that you’re home from the hospital?” he asked.

I had told him a little about what was going on between me and Brody when Alistair saw me at the hospital. He’d been surprised that Brody hadn’t come to see me. I’d told him I wasn’t. That whatever we’d been doing was done now.

I shook my head. “I doubt I will.”

“What a dick.”

I shrugged. “He didn’t promise me anything. He said right from the start he wasn’t looking for anything serious.”

“Do you think it was the age gap?” Alistair asked, then lowered his voice so Will couldn’t hear. “Finn had a real thing about the age difference when we first started seeing each other.”

I smirked. “I remember.”

Alistair rolled his eyes.

“And no, I don’t think he was bothered by it. He just didn’t want anything serious.”

I left out the part where Brody had been married to a man he’d clearly loved, only to lose him. In part because it was Brody’s private business, and I didn’t want to go into how I’d never be able to measure up to a dead man.

“Did you?” Alistair asked. “Want something serious?”

I forced a smile I didn’t feel. “You know me… I never takeanythingseriously.”

Alistair opened his mouth as if he was going to say more, but the front door opened, cutting him off. Finn walked into the house with a grocery bag on each arm. He’d clearly bought more than just ice cream.

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