Page 49 of Flare

Fuck. Me. I was like some stupid kid.

Jack stared a few seconds longer, then grinned. “You’re really nervous, right?”

I nodded. “I’veneverhad it this short. Hell, I barely trimmed the bloody thing until it started getting too up close and personal with my food.”

He cocked a brow. “Is that because of the scar?” He tapped his finger to his own lip and I nodded. “Right. So, I’m picking this sudden about turn is because of him? Rhys?”

“No,” I answeredwaytoo fast and quickly schooled my expression. “I just thought it was time for something different.”

“Aha.” Jack twirled a finger in the air like I was speaking so much rubbish.

“Okay, so he might’ve mentioned it was perhaps a bit... full.”

Jack snorted, then cleared his throat and pulled up his serious face, all of which did nothing to hide the mirth in his eyes, and I wondered what the going rate was for throttling nephews. But seeing him so carefree, even at my expense, was also kind of special, and I figured I could sacrifice a little dignity to see some more of it.

“Did you guys have a fight?”

I stared at him, wondering just how fucking obvious we’d been. “Why would we fight? We’re nottogether, Jack.”

“I know. I know.” He sent me a shrewd look. “But he likes you. You could be in there if you wanted. You haven’t dated since I got here.”

“Inthere?”Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.“I’m so grateful for your unsolicited and so very sensitive opinion on my love life.”

He shrugged. “You didn’t come inside to pick me up yesterday, just texted, and you never do that. Was it about me? Did I do something?”

“No, of course you didn’t.” Where had that come from? “RhysandKip say you’re doing great. Rhys has just been really busy, and I don’t want to disturb him.”Liar.“Now, am I going to get a verdict on the new look?”

Jack pulled a face. “Yeah, I’m not buying the excuse, but whatever.” He circled his finger in the air. “Twirl.”

I rolled my eyes and obliged, and when I’d finished, Jack was grinning. “It looks... fucking awesome.”

“Really?” My heart ticked up and I didn’t need a mirror to know the smile on my face verged on foolish. “Also, language. The scar isn’t too obvious?”

Jack’s expression softened. “The long beard kind of made it worse, to be honest. It caught your attention. Now, I can still see it, but it’s more just part of your face. You look fine, Uncle Beck.” He hesitated, his cheeks pinking. “And god, I can’t believe I’m gonna tell you this, and if anyone asks I’ll deny it to my deathbed, but Drew says you’re hot, and no, I won’t discuss that ridiculous statement any further. That’s all you get.” But the smile he wore said a lot.

“Hot, huh?” I teased. “I’ll take it. Thanks, Jack.”

“You’re welcome. And good for you. You’ll have all the gay boys coming to your yard.”

I laid a hand on his forehead. “Who are you and what have you done with my marginally red-necked nephew?”

He pushed my hand aside. “Hey, I can be woke too.”

I simply stared.

“Whatever. I know I was a bit of a jerk—what I said.”

I raised a brow.

“Okay, a huge jerk. Happy now?”

I pulled him into a hug. “I love you too, you know that, right?”

“Yeah, yeah. Watch the hair.” He let me hold him for a moment, then wriggled free, but there was a chuffed look on his face he couldn’t quite hide. “You’re not too bad yourself.”

It was the most I’d got from him since he arrived.

“So, you and Drew get on well then?” I poured coffee into my travel cup and grabbed a banana from the fruit bowl.

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