He hums. “Sounds amazing. Like you.”
My face turns into an inferno. I sit upright, fanning myself, and clear my throat. “I’m glad you think so.”
“I do.” His tone is far more serious than mine. “I, uh, mentioned you to a friend.”
I raise my eyebrows. “You did?”
“Yeah. Rex. He’s a travel photographer, so he’s out of town a lot. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Mind that someone I’ve never met is hardly ever around?”
“That I told him about you. About us.”
“Oh, you told him we’re sleeping together?”
“Yes.”
“And that we’re stepbrothers?”
“Yes.” Jacob tugs the collar of his polo shirt.
“Wow.”
“I’m sorry. I should have checked with you first. But he was there, and it was a flying visit and?—”
I lean over the table and slap my hand over his mouth. “I don’t mind that you told him.” I lower my hand.
It’s freaking amazing that he did. Maybe us being together isn’t as much of a dead end as I thought. If Jacob told one friend, could he eventually be relaxed enough about us to tell another? Or to tell his parents? My heart quivers.
He exhales. “Thank god. He won’t tell anyone.”
I wouldn’t care if he did, but Jacob does. “Why do you still look guilty?”
“It was almost two weeks ago,” he whispers.
Right after Mum told us about the holiday. We’ve seen each other plenty of times since then.
“I’m sorry.” His voice comes out as a nervous squeak.
I sit. “I. Don’t. Mind.”
He curves his lips into a nervous smile. “You’d have every right to be mad.”
“I’m not. I’m glad you had a friend you could confide in.”
He relaxes his shoulders. “Rex is great.”
“Hopefully, I’ll get to meet him one day.”
Jacob’s smile becomes more confident. “I’d like that.”
“Are any of his photos published?”
“Yes, lots. Mostly on tourist board websites and in travel brochures. I can show you some if you like. He’s been all over the world.”
“That would be great. Maybe, when I meet him, he could teach me how to take a decent photo. I just snap away and hope I get a few good shots to remember a place by.”
Jacob chuckles. “Me too.”
