Page 3 of Dex

But after sweating out my ennui, I step out of the gym, still feeling restless, and decide to go upstairs to the penthouse, to Jett’s place.I’ve got something on my mind, business, mostly, but I also just want a distraction.When I knock on Jett’s door, Cari opens it.

“Oh.Hey,” I say, surprised.

She’s always here.Feels like she spends more time at Jett’s place than her own.Not that I hate her.I don’t.But I do want my brother back.Before I can say anything else, my little niece runs toward me.

“Uncle Dex!”she squeals, before wrinkling up her nose.“You’re smelly!”

I scoop her up and cuddle her.“That’s because I’ve been working out at the gym, and now you’re going to be smelly, too, princess,” I tease, sniffing the air.

She giggles as I set her down.I glance at Cari.“Hey, Cari.How’s it going?You opened your new flower shop yet?”She quit as Jett’s assistant, and is now opening her own small flower shop inside a café.

“I’m still finishing off a few things.I’m opening next week.”

“Good luck.”

“Thank you.”

Before I can ask for Jett, he steps into the living room, looking half-distracted.He’s dressed casually but sharp.Obviously going somewhere.

“You’re dressed up,” I state.

“Hey,” he drawls, buttoning his cuffs.“We’re going to see Brooke’s school play.”

“Why don’t you come along?”Cari offers, her tone teasing.

“I’d rather scrape my nails along a blackboard.”I flash Brooke a smile.“What are you this time, sweetie?A chicken or some other farmyard animal?”

“I’m singing,” she says, shyly.

“She’s got a great voice.”Jett says with pride.There’s a warmth in his expression that wasn’t there a year ago.He’s happy.Stupidly, annoyingly ecstatically so.I’m happy for him, but right now, I just want to grab a few beers with my brother.I need to talk and find a way to distract myself from this feeling of restlessness that I can’t seem to shake.

I glance at the time.The night is young.I’ve still got a few more calls to make.“You guys look busy, so I’ll get out of your way.”

“You sure?”Jett asks.“Stay.Have a drink.”

“I was thinking of heading to a bar.”

“Can’t tonight.”Jett studies me.“Something bugging you?”

“Nope.Work is work.”I shrug.“Lexi’s still away.My evenings are mostly always free.Just wanted to see if you wanted to grab a drink.”

“Sorry, maybe another time.”

“It’s cool.Enjoy the play,” I tell him, but honestly, I feel worse now than when I first walked in.Jett playing happy family and exuding happiness leaves me feeling melancholy, and I can’t explain why.I’m over the moon for Jett.If anyone needed to find happiness, it was him.Losing his wife like he did, and having to bring up Brooke, has been hard.

Feeling agitated with the mundanity of it all, I call my youngest brother as I leave, needing to hear a familiar voice.He picks up on the third ring, and I can tell from the noise in the background that he’s outside somewhere.

“Hey, where are you?”I ask.

Zach laughs.“Nowhere you’d want to be.”

Now I definitely don’t want to know.“I called to see if you wanted to grab a couple of beers.”

“You called Jett first, didn’t you?”

I grin.“No.”

“I bet you did.”Zach knows I would.He feels left out, but he shouldn’t.I love him just as much as I love my older brother.Feels like I can talk to Jett more, though, about life stuff.

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