Page 17 of So in Love
Jamie stared at them.“Yeah, well, we played Never Have I Ever, Truth or Dare, and had sex all over the downstairs.Satisfied?”
Cam and Luke exchanged looks, then burst out laughing.“No, really.What happened?”
Jamie doubted they’d believe him, and he was quite relieved to realize he was correct.That had been a stupid thing to say, even if it was accurate.Especiallybecause it was accurate.“We just hung out, nothing big.”
“I’m not sure I believe that,” Cam said, “but then you’ve always been incredibly private.”
“Which is why I call bullshit on that line you just tried to feed us.Even if youhaddone that—and I don’t think you did—you’d never say so.”
Jamie snorted.“And yet you both still ask.”
“Oh, like you haven’t teased us about women,” Luke said.
He flashed them a smile.“It’s a younger brother thing.”
Cam rolled his eyes.“Well, I think you should ask Crystal out.Seemed like you guys maybe had some chemistry.She’s great.”
“Can’t disagree with you there,” Jamie said.Aside from the mind-blowing sex, he liked her.They’d had a good time together.Which was why he’d texted her—to see if they could do it again.
“Kelsey thinks you should too—if you’re gathering opinions.”
Like they mattered.The only one that counted was Crystal’s, and so far she’d sent her message loud and clear:not interested.“I’m actually not, but thanks.”
“I never thought I’d be the one to say this, but a relationship might do you good.”
What the hell was that supposed to mean?Jamie shook his head.“I never thought you’d be the one to say that either.”Cam had been a player for years after his girlfriend had dumped him just before he’d proposed.She’d been cheating on him for months and had married the other guy instead.Jamie knew what it felt like to be dumped—not that his brothers were aware of that.“What’s wrong with me that I need a relationship?”
“Nothing,” Cam said.
Jamie narrowed his eyes at Cam.“But you said it would do me good.I took that as an implication that things aren’t good.”
“Don’t overthink it,” Luke said.“I think Cam and I are maybe just trying to share the contentment we’ve found.But really, it’s none of our business.”He slapped Cam’s knee.“Come on, let’s leave him alone to crunch numbers.”
Cam stood.“I still think you should ask her out.”
Luke rose and pulled Cam toward the door.“Leave it.”
“Thanks for stopping by,” Jamie called after them as they left.
Cam had partially closed the door, leaving it the way he’d found it.Jamie stared straight ahead, thinking about what Cam had said, that a relationship would be good for him.He didn’t agree, at least not in the serious, long-term sense.He’d tried that once with great failure.
He’d met Sadie in London.She’d been gorgeous, vivacious, and totally out of his league.Her father had been a knight, for crying out loud.But he’d fallen hard and fast, and for six glorious months, they’d spent every possible moment together.Then she’d taken him home to meet her parents.
Sir Geoffrey hadn’t liked Jamie.One would have thought Jamie’s brilliance and his pursuit of dual master’s degrees at the London School of Economics would’ve impressed him, but no.Jamie was American, had no fortune, and he was…odd.Or so Sadie had told him when she’d explained why she had to break up with him.That they’d loved each other hadn’t mattered.In retrospect, Jamie was pretty sure she hadn’t loved him at all.He, on the other hand, had been completely smitten.
He blinked and dropped his chin, shaking his head to clear the dismal thoughts.Best to leave them where they belonged—in the past.
His phone vibrated on his desk, drawing his attention.But the text on the screen wasn’t from Crystal.It was a reminder about the service appointment for his car the following day.
He rested his elbow on his desk and rubbed his fingertips along his forehead.What the hell was he doing?He didn’twanta relationship.
No, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want to get laid again.And he didlikeCrystal.Besides, she was the perfect person to see on a casual basis.She didn’t even live here.
None of that mattered, however.She didn’t seem the least bit interested in pursuing anything past their wild New Year’s Eve.Which was okay.It was a fantastic memory, and Jamie had learned to keep himself quite warm with those.
Things were far easier that way.
