Page 31 of Only This Once
“It’s me,” Charles said.
The bed dipped behind his back. His older brother rested his hand on his arm, giving it a squeeze. With nearly twenty years between them, Charles had been the closest thing to a dad that he had ever known, especially since he didn’t have any memories of his actual father. He’d been too young when he’d died.
“She doesn’t know,” Charles said, his hand so warm.
Jesse sniffed, wishing the tears weren’t still so close. “You think I want to tell her now?”
“No, and it doesn’t change that she hurt you.” He didn’t rub, just held his hand there, being there. “But she doesn’t have all the information and won’t understand what she did.”
“She shouldn’t have been talking about Jules that way,” Jesse muttered.
“No. Phoebe… well, she is who she is. Very self-focused and unable to see past her own emotions at times. I think she’s jealous of Julia, but she’s actually really lucky to have her as a friend.”
“It’s not fair to Jules.”
Charles hummed in his throat. “You think Julia needs to be protected? She’s fierce. Strong. Confident. She can handle herself.”
Jesse stared at the wall. “Yeah. I know.” He didn’t think she should always have to, but he knew she didn’t need him. He’d be the worst thing for her, actually.
“I respect Julia a lot. To me, she’s a part of this family. Like another sister.”
“She’s not, though.” Charles had said that before, but Jesse had always hated it. He didn’t think of Julia as a sister, not at all.
“Hmmm.” Charles squeezed his arm again before letting go. “Phoebe went about it all wrong, but I agree with her on one point. I’m worried you’re setting yourself up to be hurt.”
Jesse rolled over, meeting his brother’s searching gaze. “I know, okay? My eyes are open, and I’m not fooling myself about anything.” He pushed up to a sitting position, dangling his legs over the side of the bed so he sat next to his brother. “We’re friends. I’m leaning toward keeping things that way since that’s all we’ll ever be.”
Charles’s shoulder nudged his. “You’ll figure it out.”
“Yeah,” he mumbled.
His brother rose to start his day.
Jesse fell back again, staring at the ceiling and focusing on his breathing. He’d managed not to cry. The way his mind spun would slow soon.
And if he wished Julia was there, holding him in her arms, it wouldn’t be the first time. It was okay to want that. He was the only one who had to know about it.
Chapter 8
Julia opened her apartment door, leaning her shoulder against it while she studied her visitor.
Jinx shifted nervously. He wasn’t wearing scrubs like the Saturday before, but it was later than it’d been when they met up at the coffee shop. The sky, visible over the stairway railing, was darkening already.
“Glad you found the place.” She stepped back to give him room to enter.
“You chose the third floor?” He glanced toward the steps leading down before moving into the apartment, careful not to brush against her as he passed. His fingers twisted around each other while he took in the living room directly beyond the entryway.
“What can I say? I like to be on top.” Jinx flushed an adorable shade of pink, and she bit back a smile. “There can be a lot of stomping feet in lower apartments.”
“O-oh,” he stammered, swallowing.
She closed the door, moving past him close enough to almost touch. “Were you thinking I was talking about something else?”
The pink spread toward his neck. “Didn’t you want me to?”
She laughed. “Maybe.” Rounding the couch, she waved at it. “Come sit.” She sank into the green cushions. It was a two-seater, though the cushions were wide, giving room for more if they didn’t mind being close.
Jinx settled into the corner farthest from her. Her stomach sank. He’d asked to meet up in person to talk, and she doubted talking meant he’d decided to accept her offer. Jinx had come to let her down to her face, like the stand-up guy he was.
