“Hey.” I reach over and squeeze her knee. “Grief takes time.”
She nods, but the worried expression remains.
“Your brother has a beautiful home.” Forcing a smile on her face, she turns back to me. We’re still in the dining area, just the two of us.
“Yeah, I helped him pick it out. He couldn’t do much without me.”
“Oh, he bought this before he and Resha married?”
I shook my head. “He picked it out specifically for them, but surprised her with it on their wedding night.”
“Wow. That’s a huge thing to do on his own. What if she didn’t like it?”
I shrug. “I would’ve moved in myself while they searched for another one.”
“Really?”
I chuckle. “No. Connor had a contingency plan. Luckily, Resha adored it, and it’s close to her family as well.”
Jackie nods. “That’s nice. Being close with family is good … if you get along.”
“Thankfully, they do.”
She smiles at me, and I don’t miss that sadness in her eyes. The same that’s always called to me.
“You’re not close with your family?”
She shakes her head. “Don’t have much family to speak of, really. Just Mama and I now, which isn’t theworstthing. I have an aunt out on the West Coast, but she prefers traveling with one of her many boyfriends during the holidays. She’s a bit of a free-spirit.”
“And your dad is gone?”
Her body tenses up at the mention of her deceased father. Yet, I don’t get the feeling it’s out of sadness for his passing. Jackie again looks toward the living room for her mother. The move brings to mind a parent checking to see if their child is doing okay.
“He’s giving her a drink.”
I glance over and then take hold of Jackie’s arm, stilling her. “That’s Buddy. It’s fine. He wouldn’t do anything to her. Look, she likes it.” I motion my head toward her mother, who smiles after taking a sip of whatever Buddy just handed her. The football game is on, so it’s impossible to hear what either one says.
Buddy is Connor’s former head trainer and still trains and runs the Underground fights that Damon and the other guys here participate in. Joshua Townsend, Aaron’s brother, is Connor’s close friend and will likely stop by later on after their family’s dinner.
“You know him?”
“He used to train my brother. Still runs the underground fights.”
That grabs Jackie’s attention, and her gaze narrows on me. “The underground fights you still participate in?”
I smirk at the anger in her voice. “From time to time.” In actuality, I rarely get in the ring to fight, but now and again, I do.
“I should put my foot up his ass.”
Laughter bursts out of my mouth at how her gaze zeroes in on Buddy. I don’t know what I like more, how protective over me she’s being, or how fucking adorable she looks.
“Wouldn’t try that shit if I were you.”
Frowning, I turn to find my brother standing over us with his arms folded, staring at Jackie.
“She didn’t ask you,” I snap.
His gaze meanders over to me, his frown deepening before he turns back to Jackie.
