"Ican't help thinking this is slightly insane," Jules said as we pulled down the chairs we stacked the other day.
"It was your idea," I pointed out.
"Exactly," he said. "Either I need therapy or you needed to tell me to shut the fuck up."
"Therapy can be useful," I said. "We both know you wouldn't have listened if I told you to shut up. You would have dug in deeper." I didn't expect him to deny it. He wouldn't admit it, but he knew I was right.
"Then you should have locked me up somewhere," he said, as if he would have let that happen either. "Do me a favor, don't take any dumb risks."
I stood with my hands on my hips as he pulled a table half way across the room, back to its original place. Or close to it anyway.
When he straightened up, I said, "I feel like this conversation is backward. I'm usually the one saying that to you."
"Yeah," he grunted. "I've seen the way you look at Harlow. When a guy gets in over his head, he's prone to do stupid shit." He firmed his jaw as if daring me to contradict him.
"I'm not in over my head," I said evenly. "I care about her."
He blew a raspberry of disbelief. "Bullshit. You're head over heels for her. I know it. You know it. It wouldn't surprise me if that Eros asshole could tell during that phone call."
I rolled my eyes. "I'm not that obvious."
"Looks obvious to me," he muttered. "The point is, what we're doing here is dangerous. Hell, it's borderline stupid. I'm probably going to kick my own ass over it. If I had a lick of sense, I'd tell you to go home."
"I'd tell you no," I said before he could take another breath and continue. "If you want to go home, go ahead. I won't stop you. But I'm not going to sit by and let them come after her without at leasttryingto dosomething."
After sucking a long breath through my nose, I exhaled as I added, "This goes down better with both of us."
He scrubbed a hand over his face. "I know. I do. That's why I'm here. It's just…"
"Sitting around a table talking about it is one thing, being here is another?" I suggested. "Or are you really scared of serving customers?" I smirked at him side on.
"That's it, isn't it? You're worried about carrying plates and spilling things on people. Maybe tripping over a chair leg and falling on your ass. Or, wait, tripping and falling face first into a bowl of spaghetti."
I was having way too much fun with this.
"I think you're the one who's tripping," he said darkly. "I'm not scared of any of that shit." And yet, his shoulders shifted like his shirt was suddenly uncomfortable.
I squinted at him. "Yes, you are. You're scared of falling. Not tripping,falling. For Harlow."
That was understandable; she was incredible. I wasn't sure how to feel about sharing her with another man, much less my brother. So far we'd made it work between Boner, Archer andme. What was one more? If Harlow was interested in the first place, that was. She was getting used to having him around.
Jules scoffed.
"Now I know you're out of your mind, Cassius. That woman and I hate each other, remember?" He nodded toward the kitchen where she was starting the meal preparation for the day.
I'd offered to help, but she said she needed some space to get her head in the game. After what happened here, I didn't blame her. She needed to reclaim her happy place. If that was possible.
"I remember you acting like you hate her," I agreed. "Acting like it and feeling like it are two different things. It wouldn't be the first time you've tried to cover up your feelings."
"That's a low blow," he said softly.
It took me a moment to realize what he meant. When it hit me, I winced.
"I wasn't talking about Auggie. You've liked women before. Remember Sofia? And Jarica? And Amanda? You couldn't admit you cared about any of them and they walked away."
"Better off without them," he said, looking down at the floor.
"They're probably better off without you," I said, teasing lightly, fully earning the two-handed flip off he gave me. "The point is?—"
