Page 14 of Heal Me

Okay, I may have left out a few key details. I focus on tightening the plugs so I don’t have to look at him while I drop the bomblet. “Well, it’s not a complete stranger. It’s Jocelin.”

“You conveniently left out that key piece of info, asshole.” Bjorn whips a rag at my head. “So, you’re fake dating Astrid’s best friend?” His tone clearly calls bullshit.

“Yeah. Joce needed help. What was I gonna do? Leave him hanging?” The moment the nickname leaves my mouth, I know I fucked up.

“Since when do you call him Joce?” There is zero dad-tone in that comment. No, that’s pure oldest-brother-giving-youngest-brother-shit tone.

“Fuck off. We spent a lot of time together last night. Jocelin is a mouthful.” That’s an unfortunate choice of words because now I’m imagining having a mouthful of Jocelin, and my cock perks up.

Bjorn chuckles. “Alright. Don’t get your knickers in a twist.” He starts picking up tools and putting them away. “So it’s Jocelin coming to dinner tomorrow? That’s cool. I like him. I haven’t had a lot of opportunities to talk with him, but he seems nice.”

“Heisnice. And super smart. He graduated from Cornell and got his JD from UW. He’s one of the youngest lawyers in his firm.” I finish tightening the last spark plug and look up to find Bjorn staring at me. “What?”

About a dozen expressions cross his face before he settles into a neutral look. “At the risk of starting a fight—” He points at me. “—which I absolutely am not trying to do, I feel like I need to tell you to be careful.”

I hold his gaze, trying not to slide into defensive anger. “Careful about what, exactly?”

He sighs, taking in my tone and body language. “Never mind. Forget I mentioned it.”

Well, what did he expect? “No, Bjorn. You have something to say, so say it. You know it’s going to eat at you until you do.” Not that I give three shits about that. If he doesn’t say whatever it is, it’s going to eat atmeuntil I poke and prod it out of him. And that definitely will cause a blow-up.

Bjorn drags his fingers through his hair and then gives in. “Jocelin is Astrid’s best friend and a really good friend of Erik and Jules. He’s also close with Gary.”

I wait for him to say something else, but he doesn’t, and we just stare at each other. “And? I can hear theand, Bjorn.”

He sighs. “Fine. I get the impression you might be interested in Jocelin as more than a friend. Purely based on how you sounded just now when you talked about him. If I’m wrong, I apologize. But you should really consider what the end result might be if you pursue him and things don’t work out.”

“Pursue him? Like, what? A stalker? Like, that’s the only way someone would go out with me? Like I’m the only one interested? Because someone as smart and good looking as Jocelin couldn’t possibly be into me?”

Bjorn shakes his head. “I didn’t say that.”

I glare. “You didn’t have to. It was clear as glass by your word choice.” I shove to my feet and toss the wrench into the toolbox, then slam the drawer shut. “I’ll have you know—” I bite my tongue on the ‘dad’ that wants to fly from my lips, and take a very deep, very long breath, letting it out slowly. Very succinctly, I remind myself that Bjorn took on the parent role after mom was murdered, even though no one asked him to, so he could keep us all together. His motives were and are well-intentioned. He’s not trying to be an asshole, it just comes naturally. “Jocelin is just as interested in me as I am in him. We hit it off. Yes, we’re pretending we’ve been together for longer than twenty-four hours so this jerk at his office will leave him alone, but we like each other, and we’re going to see where it goes. And you, Erik, and Astrid, have no say in that.” I cross my arms over my chest and turn around to face him. “Astrid, by the way, is thrilled for us. She was the one who suggested bringing him to dinner tomorrow.” That makes him blink, and the victory, small though it is, helps me calm the rest of the way down. “But it wouldn’t have mattered. I don’t date people based on how smart you guys think the decision is. Plus, we’re grown-ass adults. If things don’t work out, it doesn’t have to end in a huge dramatic breakup. We’ll be grownups about it.”

To his credit, Bjorn doesn’t snort at that. Instead, he holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay. Points taken. You’re right. And I’m sorry.”

I uncross my arms and snatch the rag from the floor, wiping my hands on it for something to do. “Thanks. I appreciate that.” The conversation didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped, but it didn’t go as badly as I’d feared, and I’ll take it. “I really like him, so please be nice tomorrow.”

Bjorn grins. “To my little brother’s date? Of course! I’ll be on my best behavior.”

Somehow, I highly doubt that.

9

Jocelin

Myphonepingswitha new message alert, and I pull it from my back pocket, scanning the text as I grin like a fool.

Gunnar:Out front now

Me:OMW

I slip the phone back into my pocket and give myself a once-over in the mirror. Initially, my tapered, ankle-length, gray-checked chinos and black sweater might have seemed too dressy for a family dinner—one not hosted by my parents, anyway—but I switched out my black ankle boots for a cute pair of white canvas Vans, and now it’s perfect. I hurry down to the living room, jab the call button, and grab my black pea coat. Once I’m in the elevator, I slip it on and press the button for the ground floor, stuffing my hands into the pockets to keep them occupied. Dear god, I’m nervous. More nervous than I’ve been about a date in a very long time. What if Friday was a fluke? What if the chemistry isn’t there anymore? Maybe Friday had been adrenaline and alcohol.

The elevator doors open, and I step into the lobby, hurrying across the tiled floor. And then I catch sight of Gunnar leaning against his motorcycle, his long, muscular legs stretched out in front of him and his arms crossed over his broad chest, biceps straining the leather of his black motorcycle jacket. My progress slows to a crawl as my heartbeat speeds up. Friday was no fluke. Not. At. All.

I’m so preoccupied staring at him that, as I push through the two sets of double doors, I almost trip over the threshold, staggering to a stop in front of him. He reaches out and steadies me, though it still feels like I’m falling into his piercing blue eyes. “Hi.”

Heat rushes to my face as Gunnar’s gaze roams all over me, that damned sexy smirk curling at the edges of his mouth. “Hi. You look amazing.”

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