Page 48 of Freshmeet
Jamie’s head swiveled between us, his eyes finally narrowing at me. “What’s up with you two?”
“Nothing.” We both said at the same time.
We eyed each other, then Sarah shifted toward Jamie, cutting me out of their conversation. “Since he’s here, I’m going to head home.” She pointed at the ceiling.
“Noooo,” Jamie whined, bending down to get eye to eye with her. “We’re supposed to get pancakes.” He looked at me over her head, his eyes pleading. “You’ll take us to Pancake Town, right?”
I had no idea I’d signed up for pancake duty, but after the night I’d had, pancakes actually sounded great. If it meant cornering Sarah into a conversation she might hate? Even better.
“Sure, why not?”
Sarah spun, her long hair whipping both Jamie and me in the face. “Huh?” She wobbled, so I grasped her elbow to steady her.
“We’re getting pancakes. You in?”
She frowned. Her little button nose scrunching up as her lips pressed into a tight line.
Jamie leaned on her shoulder and begged. “Please, Sarah. Don’t leave me with him. Alone.”
Her lips curved up as she cocked an eyebrow at my brother. If it took him talking shit about me to get her in my car, then I didn’t care how much trash Jamie spewed.
“Fine. I’ll go. Let me run upstairs and get my purse.” And then she was gone. For a drunk girl, she moved fast.
A lot slower, Jamie followed her outside. We stood in the gravel driveway, listening to the party and the sharp laughter of the girls on the roof, until Jamie looked at me with unfocused, bloodshot eyes. “Did you fuck Sarah?”
“Whoa.” I jerked my head back. “No. And why are you talking about her like that? I don’t think she’d appreciate you asking if I fucked her.”
He blew out a breath. “Relax, I don’t mean it like that. Poor choice of words. I’m just catching a weird vibe between you two, and I want to make sure I have all the facts.”
“You like her?” My gaze naturally drifted to the back of the house, waiting for her to resurface. It didn’t hurt that I didn’t have to watch Jamie as he answered.
“I do. But it’s not going to happen. She’s been pretty clear about that since minute one. I get the feeling she doesn’t date much, let alone do casual. Hell, I don’t think she knows how to have fun. Right now, I’m just trying to be her friend.” Jamie turned away from me at the sound of crunching gravel.
“Ready to go?” Sarah looped her arm around his and smiled my way. And fuck, did it do something to me.
“Yep, we need?—”
“Don’t be out too late, Sarah!”
“Two brothers? How scandalous!”
“I’ll take whoever’s left over!”
“Oh, shut up and go back inside.” Sarah’s cheeks turned red as she yelled back at the girls on the roof. “Sorry about that. A girl gets herself invited to late-night pancakes with a couple of hot guys, and they can’t control themselves.”
Jamie waved at them and then snuggled Sarah to his side. “If you’re going to choose him over me.” He glanced over his shoulder as we went down the alley. “I don’t think I mind being a leftover.”
Sarah laughed and slapped his arm. “They’d eat you alive, young man.” Walking in a line, she had to lean around Jamie to see me. “So, where are we going?”
Finally, it was my turn to be part of the conversation.
“To Con’s car. His apartment is next door to the Wel,” Jamie answered, his speech garbled.
Never mind.
“Cool.” Sarah leaned back, and I was once again forgotten.
We walked the few blocks in silence. Their steps were irregular and clumsy while I tried to keep them on the sidewalk.
