by BJ Harvey
“Thank you,” she replies softly, and I feel that goodness in my chest.
“So, are you actually worried about Jamie? Because April assures me you’re worrying about nothing.”
“Jamie is… protective…” I say.
“Yeah, but he also knows you better than anyone.”
Of course she’s right. “Very true.”
“So why are you nervous?” she asks.
“I’m not.”
She snickers. “Yes, you are. And it’s cute.”
“I’m not cute.”
“Are you going to repeat everything I say?”
“Are you going to make me repeat everything you say?” My grin widens.
“Ugh. Jaxon Cook, you’re infuriating,” she says with a half-hearted growl.
“And you, Veronica Nelson, are adorable when pretending to be mad.”
She laughs. “You’re just lucky your seductive charm, sharp wit and spectacular cock make your smart mouth worth putting up with.”
“My spectacular cock is off the table, remember?”
“Only until you win the chase.”
God, I can’t wait for us to get to that point. “You bet your ass,” I say.
“Well I didn’t, but that’s an interesting proposition worthy of further discussion.”
“Fuck,” I spit out, my dick pulsing at the thought. Something she is all too aware of, because her laugh is all-knowing.
“I better let you go before Bry gets proof your cock is bigger.”
That makes me laugh. A quick glance at my brother catches him frowning. “I’ll message you when I get home if you want.”
“Okay,” she says softly. “Have fun.”
“You too. Well, maybe not too much since I’m not there to take advantage.”
“Eyes on the prize, professor. I’ll see you tomorrow. I’m sleeping in the guest room tonight…” She doesn’t need to say anything else because I know exactly what she’ll be thinking about when she slips between those sheets.
“Scrap that. I’ll call you when I get home, and be prepared to be descriptive,” I say quietly, turning my head away from my brother.
“I look forward to it,” she breathes. “Talk then.”
“Definitely. Now go before Bry gathers more ammunition to use against me.”
She laughs. “Bye, Ken.”
“Bye, Barbie,” I say with a chuckle, ending the call.
“If she’s Barbie, can I be GI Joe? Because we all know she doesn’t come with Ken,” Bry says. Another punch to his arm later, and I’m laughing, and he’s grumbling about not being able to take a joke.
Good times.
Carrying our golf bags over our shoulders, we walk along the top deck at the driving range toward Cohen, Jamie, and Ezra.
“You gonna save me if he tries to throw me off the side?” I mutter, earning a snort from Bry.
“He’s not the lord high commander of all of us. You know that, right?”
“He’s pretty freaking scary though,” I say.
Bry throws his head back and laughs, and is still going when we reach the rest of the guys.
“What’s wrong with him?” Jamie asks, his lips twitching.
“Oh nothing, Lord High Commander,” he says with a mock salute. Jamie’s brows bunch together and Cohen and Ezra smirk.
I roll my eyes. “Hey, Ezra. Good to see you.”
“Because it’s been so long,” Jamie says dryly.
“Are we here to hit balls or stand around with our hands in our pants?” Co says, a three-wood in hand.
“Depends. I don’t need to play with my balls. Mine are well played with at the moment,” Ez says with a shit-eating grin.
Jamie barks out a laugh. “Which model did you con this time?”
Ez clutches his chest in mock offense. “She’s not a model. She’s a hostess.”
“Riiight. So, a wannabe model then?” I grin at him as he flips me the bird.
“Fuck you all. I’m teeing off first,” Cohen says, dropping a ball down and getting into position.
“It’s because Co doesn’t have a hostess to play with him.”
“Maybe not a hostess,” he murmurs. When none of the others acknowledge the comment, I realize I must be the only one who heard it. Other than Bryant, who keeps his sexual exploits pretty close to his chest, Cohen would be the most private out of all of us. For him to let something that juicy slip means there’s a lot more to the story. I make a note to ask him about it the next time I get him alone.
“I guess Co wants to get on with the job of losing,” Bry says, taking a seat. He grabs an unopened beer from the table, and leans back, watching our youngest brother take a couple of practice swings.
“Hey, that was mine,” Jamie says, pointing a finger at the bottle in my twin’s hand.
“That must mean this one is mine,” I say, picking up the only other unopened Corona on the table and meeting Ezra’s amused eyes head on. He nods. “See? Ezra is like the big brother I should’ve had.”
“Watch it, asshole,” Jamie says, his lips curving up.
“Don’t worry, James. You can still be my big brother. Especially since you let me kick your ass at golf every week,” Cohen says, walking up to Jamie and wrapping his arm around his shoulders.
Jamie pushes him off and steals the club from his hands. “Ever think I let you win? You know, being the youngest and all.”
“Yeah. It’s to make up for all the times we picked on you as a kid,” Bryant says.
Cohen laughs. “Whatever helps you sleep at night, twin two.”
“Jax, you’re up next, and if you don’t beat my shot, you owe me a beer,” Jamie says, shooting me a grin and bending down to place a ball on the tee.
He takes a big swing and hits the ball past the 150-yard mark, earning a round of applause from the rest of the guys. I finish my bottle and place it back on the table before standing and pulling out my golf club.
I get myself ready and with a smirk back at my audience. I take my shot, coming in exactly where I wanted, just past 140.
“Ooooh.”
“Dayum.”
“Looks like drinks are on twin one,” Jamie says, his smile as big as his shot was. I shrug and walk back to my bag, sliding my driver back inside.
“I guess so,” I say with a shake of my head.
Bryant steps up, getting ready to take his shot.
“Hey, Bry?” Jamie asks.
“Yeah,” my twin says, sounding distracted as he places his green golf ball on the tee.
“There’s no easy way to say this, so I’m just going to do it, and you can rip me a new asshole later, okay?”
Now that gets everyone’s attention, because there has never been a time when Jamie has offered any of us that opportunity willingly—and in advance.
Bryant’s back goes ramrod straight, his shoulders tense and his jaw tight as he turns his head and shifts his eyes from Jamie to Ezra then back to our big brother again. Then he shocks the shit out of even me.
“She’s coming back for the wedding, isn’t she,” he says matter-of-factly.
To his credit, Jamie doesn’t look comfortable. “Yeah. We sent an obligatory invitation not expecting her to RSVP.”
Bryant switches his gaze to Ezra since it’s his sister, Faith—Bryant’s very much estranged childhood girlfriend—who is the topic of this conversation.
“Flying visit or back to stay?” he says, sounding unaffected, but I can tell he’s anything but.
Ezra actually gulps and grabs the back of his neck, looking just as uneasy as Jamie. “That I’m not sure about.”
Bry nods before turning back to Jamie. “Thanks for the heads up but it doesn’t change a thing. It’s been twelve years. It’s water under the bridge.”
He returns his attention to the golf club in his hand and the ball still sitting on the tee. Jamie, Ez, and Cohen start talking between themselves, but my eyes are on
my twin. Sometimes this twin sense of ours sucks because I feel his happiness and his pain, and right now all I’m feeling is anger, confusion—and weirdly—determination. What any of that means, I don’t know.
“Well, I need a beer and since I lost the bet, I guess I’m buying. Wanna come with, big guy?” I ask Jamie, lifting a brow and tilting my head in Bryant’s direction. “I think we could all do with a new round.”
“Sure.” He walks over and together we make our way along the deck and downstairs to the bar.
“You all set for the party tomorrow?” I ask, waiting in line behind two others.
“Yeah. It’s construction-themed. Who would’ve thought.” Jamie beams. I have never seen him as happy as he has been these past twelve months since April and Axel came into his life. I can’t blame him; Axel is the coolest almost eight-year-old I know.
“Do we get to build stuff?” I ask, pretending to be a super-excited kid.
“You’re such a dick,” he says with a laugh.
“I like building. Working on the house has been good. Don’t get me wrong; I’m happy the pink is almost gone.”
“Except your bedroom.”
I shrug. “It lulls me to sleep. What can I say?”
“At least the place isn’t haunted,” Jamie muses.
“Tell that to Mabel.”
He jerks back. “Say what now?”
I shoot him a smirk. “Just fucking with you. She’s harmless.”
He shakes his head. “Don’t you start with that shit. We don’t want to incite any bad karma with this house. She’ll set us up for the next two flips if we do it right.”
We move forward to the front of the line, the owner, Gabe, grinning when he recognizes us. “Bob the Builders. What will it be?”
“Five Coronas, thanks.”
“Coming right up.” Gabe knocks on the bar top before moving down to the fridge for the drinks.
“You gonna tell me why I’m really helping you with the drinks?” Jamie asks.
“What?” I ask, my head snapping his way.
“Cut the bullshit. Spit it out.” Jamie has never been one to fuck around. It’s straight out or get out. Which is why I don’t go with a soft sell.
“I’m dating Ronnie.”
“No shit,” he says, matter-of-factly. It’s not a question. That’s twice in a minute he’s surprised me. It’s like I’ve been transported into the twilight zone.
“You knew?” I ask, handing over cash when Gabe returns with our beers. He goes to get my change and I wave him off, pushing two bottles in Jamie’s direction and grabbing the remaining three.
We both turn and I follow Jamie to a circular table off to the side. I put the drinks down and face my brother.
“You think April could keep that shit to herself? She’s over the fucking moon.”
“She is?”
“Yep. She just wants her best friend and soon-to-be brother-in-law to be happy. If that’s being together, then it’s two birds, one stone.” I blink, wondering why I ever thought this might go badly. He continues. “You know Ronnie has been through some shit?”
“With her family? I just found out they’ve invited me over for dinner.”
Jamie’s eyes widen. “That’s serious.”
I shrug. “They’re still in her life, whatever part she lets them play, so I’m going with an open mind. But I won’t take any shit or let them dump any on her.”
“Good,” he says. “April just wants her happy. Heck, she wants everyone to be happy, and apparently Ronnie is that with you.” He lifts a beer bottle to his mouth and takes a long swig. “Besides, I know you won’t fuck it up.”
“You do?” Why do I sound like an imbecile right now? This conversation is going better than I ever could’ve imagined. I didn’t really think he’d throw me off the top deck, but a man should always be prepared.
Jamie puts a hand on my shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Are you happy?”
“She’s amazing.”
“Good. You deserve that too. And school?”
I take a drink and grin. “It seems my former lawyer is not just a pretty face. She advised the faculty of our relationship before there was even a relationship to exist.”
Jamie’s eyes go wide before he nods approvingly.
“And Joey Blackman is presiding over her grades to ensure there’s no room for any accusation of favoritism.”
“That simple?”
“Well, we’re not getting it on in the middle of campus.” Just making out in my office. “But as long as we get through this semester while I’m her teacher, there shouldn’t be any issues.”
“Good,” he says, with a nod. “So nice talk and all, but I’m itching to wipe that cocky grin off Cohen’s face.” His grin is huge.
“He is a confident wee sprite, isn’t he?” I reply with a smirk. “I might even take pleasure in knocking him down a few pegs.”
“We can call it fulfilling our brotherly duty,” he says, holding out his bottle and touching it to mine. His expression turns serious for a second, our eyes locked. “Let me just say one thing, then we can forget we ever had this gossip session.”
“It’s not exactly a—” I stop talking because Jamie isn’t smiling anymore. Guess it’s time for him to impart some big brother wisdom, something he’s done numerous times during my life.
“Just take your time. There’s no rush to go from zero to one hundred in the blink of an eye.”
“Too late for that,” I mutter.
His eyes flash. “Yeah, I know. And thanks for that. You christened the guest room before we could. You owe me.”
“I’m hoping April told you and not Mom, because—”
“Mom?” he asks, his brows shooting so high they almost touch his hairline. “Do I wanna know?”
“Probably not.”
“It was April. Those two women tell each other everything. But Ronnie’s parents are a piece of work. She was under their thumb for so long, and I get the impression they don’t like her being out from their control. So if this is going in the direction I hope it goes for you…” Damn, I love the big oaf. “…then just keep that in mind. April admires the hell out of Ronnie for living her own life now, and we want you both to be happy. If it’s with each other, then that’s an added bonus, and you’ll have our full support whatever happens.”
Needing to break the mood, I lean forward. “Are we done pretending we have vaginas now? ’Cause I dig it, and I appreciate it, but this is getting kind of ‘Kum-bay-ya-esque,’ and I’m gonna feel the need to build stuff or smash stuff to reclaim my masculinity soon.”
He throws his head back and barks out a laugh. “Alright. Let’s go kick some ass.”
“Now that I can do.”
I grab the beers and turn toward the stairs.
Jamie’s hand on my shoulder stops me in my tracks. “Oh, and a message from April. Don’t fuck it up or she’ll have your balls for breakfast. And take it from me—she absolutely will.” He tightens his grip and I swallow hard, nodding my agreement.
“Sure thing. But for the record, Ronnie is the best thing that’s happened to me, and I’m an idiot for avoiding her for as long as I did so I can promise you—and April—I’m not planning on fucking anything up, especially this.”
He releases me and steps back. “Right. Good talk. Let’s go,” he says, walking ahead and starting up the stairs.
We end up coming first and second, Ezra and Bryant getting onboard with our plan as soon as they realize we are determined to beat the golf shark baby brother once and for all. Especially since that means it is Cohen’s turn to pay for dinner afterward.
A win–win for the rest of us.
Jax
“Why are you nervous?” I ask a tense Ronnie from the driver’s seat of her Prius as I drive us to Axel’s eighth birthday party. I had offered to take her on my motorcycle but she’s been on edge all morning, so I made the executive decision that to
day would not be a good day for our first bike ride together.
“I’m not nervous,” she replies, sounding far more indignant than she should.
I reach over and give her leg a gentle squeeze, and she jumps like a jackrabbit on edge. I shoot her a skeptical side glance which earns me slumped shoulders and a sigh.
“How do you know me so well already?” She huffs, crossing her arms over her chest.
“Ah… confession time?”
“Okay…”
“I may have been avoiding you for almost a year, but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t watching.”
“What?” she gasps.
“Shit. I mean, it sounds creepy, but it’s not as bad as that. It’s just I—”
A snort escapes her mouth as I bring the car to a stop just down the road from Jamie and April’s house, the street already filling up.
I turn toward her and freeze at her beaming grin. When I narrow my eyes, she bursts out laughing. I’m talking about the folded-over, rocking-back-and-forth, losing-it kind of giggling.
“What’s so funny?” I ask, leaning against the steering wheel and eyeing her suspiciously.
She eventually sobers to a snicker, shaking her head and wiping her cheeks before facing toward me. She lifts a brow and smirks at me. “Jaxon Cook, do you think I don’t know that you took photos of me when you thought I wasn’t watching?”
My eyes bug out, my mouth dropping open. I would’ve guessed she knew I’d watched her—I’m sure I’ve admitted as much before—but the photos? Only Bry knows about those… or so I thought. “Did Bry rat me out?”
“No,” she says with a giggle. “But now I wanna know how he knows.”
“It’s a—”
“Twin thing?”
“And he’s caught me and told me I’m a perverted old man, and that people have been arrested for less,” I say, my lips twitching.
She releases her seat belt and leans over, tapping my cheek like an adult does to a child. “It’s okay, I won’t tell anyone, but only if you show them to me later. It’s kinda hot.”
“Really?” I splutter.
“Yeah,” she says with a nod. “Are there any upskirt shots?”
“Fuck no. But if you’re offering now…”
