Page 46 of Their Greatest Strength

I knewhe was out with his brother tonight. Not because I care that much about what he does in his personal life, but because in the few texts we sent this week, he mentioned it more than once. I didn’t know about the purses, though.

It is nice to see how deeply he cares for his brother. Or, really, his entire family. There’s a connection he has with them that I admire. It’s loyalty and love in the purest form. The same emotions that I feel for Nate.

My stomach tightens as I keep Jamie’s heavy arm around my shoulders and help him up the stairs. The apartment is on the third floor, and I’ve never wished we had an elevator more.

“Do you eat rocks for breakfast?” I ask between rough breaths.

He leans his head against mine and heaves himself up another few steps. “I prefer bricks. Crunchier.”

“Do you ever stop joking around?”

“Does it bother you when I do it?”

I grip the railing and cringe at how slick my palm is as it slides down with every step I take. Jamie yawns in my ear and stumbles hard enough that my side hits the railing.

I hiss in pain and grit my teeth, keeping us moving.

“I’m sorry,” Jamie slurs, reaching his arm around both of us to rub at my side. “Did I hurt you?”

My cheeks thump with a blush as he palms my side and his forearm pushes into my chest. His eyes are glassy but innocent, which is the only reason I haven’t let go of him and watched him tumble down three flights of stairs.

Carefully, I release the railing and take his hand from where it’s gently massaging the soreness away. He continues to watch me while I remove his arm and leave it lying limp at his side.

“I’m okay,” I say. “It was just a bump.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

“Did I wake you up?”

I guide us up the final step and into the hall. “No. I was already awake.”

“Sweet. I just didn’t want to go home without seeing my fiancée first.”

On instinct, I look at the doors we pass, making sure they’re shut. There are some nosey and not-so-great people in this place, and I don’t trust that they won’t try something if they see him here and recognize who he is.

My heart thumps harder and harder as we close in on my apartment. Nate was heading to bed when I left, so he shouldn’t be up to see Jamie come in. Still, it wouldn’t be the first time he’s changed his mind and decided to stay up on the couch for another few hours.

“Is fiancée going to be the new bandit?” I ask, keeping my voice hushed.

“Mm, I was thinking of skipping the whole fiancée thing and going with wife instead.”

I ignore the jump of my pulse and lean him against the wall. My keys dig into my palm as I unlock the door and toe it open.

“Nate’s sleeping, so try and be as quiet as you can,” I whisper, dropping his arm back over my shoulder.

He nods once, making sure it’s dramatic as fuck. “Got it.”

With my heel, I close the door behind us. It’s easier not to look at him for a reaction when he takes his time inspecting the place in the dark. Instead of dwelling on whether he thinks I live in a dumpster compared to his big fancy home, I turn my focus on getting him to the couch.

It’s already pulled out and dressed in sheets and a blanket. The ones that haven’t been washed in a week . . .

“I’ll change the sheets for you. Just sit for now and try not to make any noise. The walls are thin,” I ramble, on edge and growing more nervous the longer he’s here.

He furrows his brows, not giving me a vocal reply as he looks around the apartment. The shoes that he kicks off his feet are probably worth more than all the furniture in this place, and the polo shirt he left on the filthy street had one of those fancy logos on the upper-right corner that may as well be a big fat dollar sign.

I’ve never allowed anyone to make me feel small, but right now, even without him trying, I can’t help but wish I just hadmore. More money and space and someplace that I’m proud to show off.

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