Page 30 of Boyfriend Maintenance

Jake whips around to face me, looking stunned at first until he catches my smile. His shoulders sag in relief. “You heard all of that, didn’t you?” He leans back against the wall, I come up next to him and do the same. We are shoulder to shoulder. I don’t know when it happened, but it’s like our bodies are magnetic.

“I did. Not all of it, just the part where you told her to pretty much back off.”

He sighs. “You don’t sound surprised.” He turns his head toward me, one eyebrow raised.

“Unfortunately, I’m not. I went to school with Darcy. She has a reputation. That’s why I couldn’t believe Levi was marrying her. Once a cheater, always a cheater.” I lean into him. “Good news is, it’s clear you are not. You’ve had what? Two women in just the past few days offering to … help you out? You going for a record or something?”

“Or something.” He grins.

Pushing off the wall, I grab his hand. “Come on, we have to tell Levi.”

“I was hoping you weren’t going to say that. Levi and I didn’t quite get off on the right foot when we first met. This won’t help matters,” Jake grumbles, but I pull him down the hall anyway.

Looking back over my shoulder I tell him, “It will be fine. Promise.” Then I wink.

“I have the sudden urge to pull you into the bathroom right now,” he grumbles in reply. I nearly halt and take him up on his offer just as a teenage girl that I recognize as one of my stepsister, Ashley’s, friends walks past us and disappears into said bathroom. Maybe later then.

As I weave through the small groups of people back in the parlor, Darcy is nowhere to be found. Levi is easy to spot though.

“Levi, can we talk?” I tap on his shoulder.

He turns and I can tell he's thankful for the interruption. His gaze flickers to Jake, his facial expression hardens just a smidge, but nods. Maybe I should be worried about his dislike for Jake. I lead us all out past the parlor through the house to the back. I always forget how big this place is in comparison to my shared apartment. I take us to a small study that Kitty likes to call hers. She has to have a place to plan all those fundraisers she handles for the Junior League.

Jake walks over to the leather couch and sits down. Well, he might as well be comfortable for this awkward conversation we are about to have.

“What’s up, sis?” Levi says, closing the door behind him.

“I just want to preface this by saying that I love you and your happiness means the world to me,” I tell him.

Levi chuckles and walks over near the big oak desk and leans against it.

I remain standing, because I’m about to deliver bad news.

“Right, got it.” He crosses his arms but still appears relaxed.

“So, just now … well, about fifteen minutes ago, Darcy tried to proposition Jake for a little tryst in the bathroom. He said no, obviously, but we felt you needed to know.”

He studies me then Jake. I fight off my urge to fidget.

“And he told you this happened?” He nods toward Jake, like maybe he doesn’t believe us.

“I saw it happen.” I cross my own arms because I’m not sure I like his tone. I love my brother, but I’m going to defend Jake if need be.

Levi doesn’t say anything right way, he just studies me. Then he looks down at his black, perfectly polished shoes.

“Are you going to say anything?” I can’t help my annoyed tone.

He lifts a shoulder, quite casually in my opinion. “I’m not surprised, it’s really not a big deal. Nothing happened, so we can move on.”

Uh, what?

I take a step back, feeling like I was just hit with a two-by-four. “I’m sorry, but why are you not mad?”

“Because I’m not?” His tone matches my questioning one.

“Why?” I’m mad for him, why isn’t he freaking mad?!

He sighs. “Look, Ems, thank you for telling me, but it’s really not a big deal.” There is an expression that I can’t read on his face. Is he defeated? Does he look relieved? I don’t know. I just don’t understand why …

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