Page 80 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 1

Jackson grunts, “Nothing.”

“Well, you’re not Dad, so lower the temperature of overprotectiveness and stop trying to intimidate Nick.”

“He’s not intimidating,” Nick clarifies before I finish.

Jackson huffs. “What the fuck is going on? This is your new boyfriend? Was this a setup all along?”

“What?” I’m hit with the words, but none of them make sense. “What are you talking about?” He signals to Nick, who I catch vigorously shaking his head. “And what are you doing?” I rub my temple, wondering if I’m going insane.

Sliding away from Nick to the other side of the seat, I complete the triangle of us, but now I can see both of them. Like they’re speaking their own language, their eyes never deviate from each other. I throw my hands in the air. “Oh my God, somebody tell me what’s going on.”

That tantrum gets both of their attention. Jackson eyes Nick like he’s about to pull a fast one and then sits back. My brother says, “Clearly, she’s in the dark. Good job keeping that secret, but I’m certain she’s not going to be too happy to hear how she was used.”

“Jackson! Stop being rude. Nobody’s using me.”

He continues to eye Nick, and then asks, “Do you want to tell her, or do you want me to do the dirty deed?”

A hard stare softens when Nick looks at me. A hard swallow and fidgeting with his watch don’t bring me any comfort. With my heart in my throat, I say, “Nick?” He reaches over to take my hand from the seat between us, but I pull back, needing the truth instead of being touched. “Tell me what he’s talking about.Please.”

Giving my brother the side-eye again, Nick then turns to me, and says, “I know Jackson?—”

“I think the two of you have made that obvious. What happened that you’re sitting here in a car unexpectedly together, and I’m being told you’re using me?”

His words are tentative when he says, “I can explain?—”

“I’m listening.”

Jackson sits forward, and says, “It’s no big deal.”

“Then why are you acting this way?”

He huffs. “We’ve met in passing through work. That’s all.”

“Really? When?” My gaze slides over to Nick, who’s sitting quietly listening. When I look back at my brother, I say, “This is a small world.”

“Yeah, tiny,” my brother adds.

I move toward Nick again, just a little. “That’s pretty incredible that you guys have met before. You didn’t know he was my brother?”

Clearing his throat, Nick says, “No, not until I got into this car. I guess it’s not that out of the ordinary when you both work in the financial sector, but there aren’t many St. Jameses who have made a name like my family has.” I elbow him playfully. “Despite what you seem to think.”

“Yeah, I’m finding that out.”

Giving Jackson my attention again, I ask, “Why are you so bothered, and how is he using me?”

“Just surprised.” He shrugs. “Like you said, overprotective of my sister.”

My heart squeezes. We’ve always gotten along well, but he’s still my little brother although he acts like the eldest. “That’s sweet, but you don’t have to worry about Nick. He’s amazing. You’ll see.”

“Incredible,” he mumbles under his breath.

Being the bigger man, Nick holds out his hand in a peace offering because he’s the best. “Maybe we can start over, man.”

Jackson takes hold, and they shake on it. “Yeah. Sure. No hard feelings.” Sure, now he’s all nonchalant about it.Annoying.

I will never understand guys. I have to talk everything out, but they just shake hands and move on like everything’s hunky-dory.Whatever.I don’t have the energy for this. “Have you gotten an update on Dad?”

“Yeah, Mom said he’s out of surgery and in recovery.”

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