Page 58 of Axe-identally Married
But the minute Noah graduated from high school, he was out of here. And in the fifteen years since, he’d visited here and there, but his jobs kept him busy. He worked search and rescue during the winter, and in the summer, he traveled all over the western US and Canada, fighting fires.
He lived a high-adrenaline life with no commitments and no responsibilities. He loved what he did. The guy had always seemed invincible to me, more superhero than average person.
“Can we help?”
Jude shook his head. “You know what he’s like. He’ll probably go skydiving or base jumping and get over it. I worry. Not hearing from him for a while shook me up.”
My chest tightened at the hint of emotion he couldn’t hide. “Don’t minimize your worry. He’s your brother.”
“He’s our brother.”
Though his tone was sharp, that simple correction ignited a spark in me. I’d never be in the inner circle. I’d always be the half brother. But for Jude to recognize my connection meant a lot.
“He was supposed to meet us in Vegas, wasn’t he?”
Jude shrugged. “Yes. I still don’t have an answer for why he didn’t show up. First it was a work thing and then a delayed flight. But I’m not sure I buy it.”
“Have you told Debbie about the fire?”
“Shit no. She’d fly out there and smother him, and then he’d never respond to another one of my texts. You know he needs his space.”
Jude helped himself to another cookie and held out the container. I took one, unable to resist the temptation, even though I’d had a couple before I left the house. This batch really was amazing. The first few had been overbaked, but I’d perfected the texture. I couldn’t wait to watch Willa as she tried one.
“We can make small talk, or we can get to it,” Jude finally said, scratching Ripley’s ears. “I’m cool with whatever. I’m a good listener, which basically makes me the family priest. Lay it on me.”
I laughed. That was Jude, always straightforward. In another life, maybe we would have been closer. He was only a few years older than me, but he and Noah had always had that intense twin bond, and there hadn’t been any room for me.
Even now, he was the only one of us who kept in touch with Noah.
I knew I should keep my mouth shut, keep it light, take advantage of the time I got with my brother. But so many thoughts and feelings were bubbling to the surface, making it impossible to keep them all contained.
I was falling head over heels for my wife. And it was bad. Real bad. I had one job: to be a good fake husband. That’s what Willa needed, and she more than deserved it. In the meantime, I wassupposed to be sorting out my head, my career, and my goals. Right now, though, there was only one thing I wanted.
Jude sipped his coffee patiently, eyeing me over the rim, as if confident my confession would come eventually.
“I think I’m falling in love with my wife,” I finally forced out.
He quirked a brow. “Is this a problem?”
“Yes. Because it’s supposed to be platonic.”
Jude didn’t react, the stoic motherfucker, more than an almost imperceptible widening of his eyes. “Explain.”
I gave him the brief rundown—her need to go wild in Vegas, my desire to spend time with her, the wedding and the fallout with Owen, contacting her parents, all of it.
Without a word in response, he walked into the next room and ran his finger along the spines of his records. Halfway down, he pulled one out and got it set up on the turntable. Not a single move was rushed.
Eventually, melancholic music filled the room, a little folksy and a bit country.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Gordon Lightfoot,” he said as he eased onto the couch and set his mug down. With his forearms on his knees, he hunched forward. “Sit down. I need to think.”
I sat in the armchair, sipping my coffee while he closed his eyes and tapped his foot to the music.
“You won’t tell anyone, will you?” Panic gripped my heart. Why was I just now thinking of that? Dammit. Jude was a trustworthy person, but he was loyal to his brothers.
“Nope. I’m a vault.”
