Page 50 of Booked on a Feeling

“Yeah, it does.” Jack took a deep breath. He hadn’t really had a chance to talk to his brother the last couple of days— hehadspent every spare minute with Lizzy—so now was as good a time as any to share the news with him. “We’re seeing each other.”

“I know.” Alex joined him behind the bar and poured himself a glass of water.

“No, I mean we’reseeingeach other,” he repeated meaningfully. His brother probably didn’t understand because it was so unexpected. “Lizzy and I are dating.”

“I know.” There wasn’t so much as a ripple on the serene surface of his twin’s visage. “It’s about time.”

“How can you have known?” Jack deflated a little. “We went on our first date last night.”

“You’ve been wearing that goofy grin on your face since yesterday afternoon.”

“You can tell by my smile that I’m dating Lizzy?” He shook his head. “I’m calling bullshit on that one.”

“Only a very special woman can produce a smile that ridiculous in a man.” Alex sipped from his glass, every line of his posture screamingsmug.“Like the woman you’ve been carrying a torch for since the tender young age of ten.”

“That was a childish crush. I got over that in one summer.” He thought he’d hidden his feelings so well from everyone. Thank God Lizzy didn’t suspect anything. “This is a completely unexpected,newdevelopment.”

“Of course it is.” His brother’s voice was soaked through with sarcasm. “I super believe you.”

There was no use arguing—his twin knew him better than anyone else—so Jack quickly changed tactics and went on the offensive. “How can you be so nonchalant about the whole thing?”

“How else should I be?” Alex laughed.

“A little surprised at the very least. I mean, I’m shocked as hell that Lizzy and I are actually doing this.”

“Okay. You want me to act surprised? I’ll act surprised.” His brother cleared his throat. “Holy shit. Are you fucking shitting me? No fucking way. I would never have guessed in a hundred billion years.”

“Fuck you,” Jack said, chuckling.

“I’m really happy for you guys.” Alex took out another peelerfrom the drawer and grabbed an orange from the pile. “But I’m a little worried, too.”

“Worried?” Jack’s eyebrows furrowed above the bridge of his nose. “Worried how?”

“Well, Lizzy’s going back to LA soon, and you’ll be here. With both of you so busy with work, the long-distance thing won’t be easy.”

But Jack might be moving to Los Angeles, too. God, he hoped he got the job. He felt guilty as soon as the thought entered his head. Even his brother didn’t know that he’d been interviewing for a new job. Alex thought they were a team. Jack didn’t know how he would take it if he left Weldon Brewery to work in LA.

“We haven’t thought that far ahead yet.” Jack shrugged and resumed shaving orange peels. “Like I said, we’ve only gone on one date.”

“Have you kissed her?” Alex playfully elbowed him in the ribs.

He lightly shoved his shoulder. “Maybe.”

“Damn. That must be so weird after being friends for so long.”

“Not as weird as you’d think.” Jack grinned.

“Annnnd there is that absurd smile again.”

“Shut up, asshole.”

“Now, now, boys.” Tara came out of the kitchen, tying an apron around her waist. “When are you guys going to learn how to get along?”

“Assholeis a term of endearment between us. Isn’t that right, Alex?” Jack slung an arm around his brother’s shoulders.

“Sure. Whatever you say, asshole.”

Their little sister rolled her eyes at them and went to turn on theOPENsign. When she came back to the bar, she cockedher head to the side and stared at Jack. “Why are you smiling like that?”

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