Page 142 of New York Love Stories: Vol. 2

I get a sympathetic grin from Tealey, but Rad and Cade exchange a guilty glance like they were busted speaking of the devil. The devil being me—the last of the trio to still be single. I ask, “What?”

“Nothing,” they practically all reply in unison, and then start busying themselves by quickly turning back to face the city.They were definitely talking about me.I can’t say I like that kind of limelight, but I can’t stop them from gossiping. It’s what friends do. We don’t say anything hurtful, but we’re all embedded ineach other’s business and have been since the six of us became friends at NYU.

It feels a little different tonight, matching my mood. I can’t tell if I’m feeling lonely or left out. I scratch the back of my neck to ease the discomfort before I close the door behind me and step into the line of fire. “Just fucking say it.” I walk to the corner and lean against the railing to face them. The balcony is big for New York City, even for this large apartment on the Upper East Side. But I’m still within glaring distance of them.

Tealey steps around Rad as if she needs to protect him. “We were just talking about how beautiful Marlow looks this evening.”

I narrow my eyes, searching for the lie, but Tealey hates lies more than anything, so I know I can trust her. I lighten up and turn to face the cityscape. “She does,” I say indifferently, though I feel the opposite inside.Marlow looks fucking stunning. Irresistible.

I kept myself from checking to see if the fucker returned to touch or talk to her once I left. We’re not a couple. She’s not mine to claim in any way, so why am I having a change of heart these days?

Tealey leans on the ledge next to me, keeping her eyes on the avenue below. “It’s almost midnight.”

I’m onto her. Grinning, I glance over. “It is.” I can’t make anything happen with Marlow, though, if Marlow doesn’t want it. Since the moment our friends found out we were, let’s just say . . . benefitting each other, they’ve tried their best to give us space. But on the rare occasion, like tonight, the hope in Tealey’s eyes gives her inner thoughts away.

I say, “Let’s cut to the chase. I don’t know if she’s coming, and although we came here together, we’re clearlynottogether.”

Tealey sighs. “So nothing’s changed with that?”

“No. We’re complicated, to say the least.”

“I know, but I know as well as you do that sometimes Marlow needs a little nudge in the right direction.”

“Me, being that direction?”

She smiles as a giggle escapes. “There could be worse things to wish for than two of my best friends being in a relationship.”

I look over her shoulder at the others again. “I know it’d put a nice bow on the group dynamic, but it might not work out that way. I don’t want to upset you?—”

“You won’t upset me if it doesn’t work out. Ultimately, we all want what’s best for both of you. I just think . . .” She pauses and looks out at the city. The reprieve from her gaze gives me a second to take my own deep breath. “Tonight would be a great time to try, if there ever was one.”

I smile and bump into her. She’s like a little sister to me, and her heart is always in the right place, even if she’s off base when it comes to mine and Marlow’s love life. I say, “The invite is out there. All she has to do is meet me on this balcony.”

Tealey looks up at me while the others discuss options for after the party and then bumps right back into me. “Are you going to leave this to chance, Jackson?” Grinning ear to ear, she backs up into Rad’s arms again. “You have four minutes to make it happen.”

I dip my head, laughing. “Way to be subtle.”

Cade chuckles. “Subtlety isn’t your style.”

Shaking my head, I don’t know if I should be offended that they’re all so desperate for me to hook up with Marlow or flattered that they care so much about my happiness. “You don’t have to worry about me. I’m a big boy. I’ll be okay. Promise.” Checking my watch, I look back up to see four sets of eyes still on me. I throw my arms out and join in the fun at my own expense. “Three minutes.”

Cammie turns and wraps her arms around Cade. “Whatever you’re doing at midnight is what you’ll have in abundance the rest of the year.”

He whispers something in her ear that makes her giggle and blush. Rad embraces Tealey like she’ll slip away if he doesn’t hold tight. When her arms go around his neck, I’m privy to the exchanged love they share in their eyes. That’s when I realize I want that.

I want that comfort, that ease, that . . . I can’t believe I’m even saying this.

Predictability.

Accountability.

Responsibility.

I want someone to rely on and someone I can count on.

Maybe that comes with age because the concept of love and dating only one person has always been foreign to me. But I’ve been feeling a pull wrenching me toward a relationship for a while now.

Kissing Marlow sounds like a great way to start the new year. Not kissing her body in foreplay to get laid, but really kissing her with everything in me and the passion she deserves. We’ll find out if there’s more to us than a casual night of sex here and there. That will be different for us and could lead to something . . .new.

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