Jessie’s face falls.
“Nick’s little sister? As in, the one he raised when their parents died?”
When I nod, her face shifts from surprise to something resembling concern. Jessie and Nick don’t know each other but she knows enough about my life to understand who’s important to me.
I swallow hard. It’s not like I’d forgotten that Nick basically raised Em. I was there for most of her teenage years while she and Nick put themselves back together and became a family of two.
“Oh, Luke.” Jessie whistles low, but there’s no judgement in it, just surprise.
“I didn’t bring her here,” I mutter. “She’s just left her husband and she came with a friend. Total coincidence. What was I supposed to do?”
Jessie shrugs. “Not much you could do. She’s an adult, she signed up for membership, same as anyone else. I just…” She leans forward, eyes narrowing slightly. “You need to be careful. Emmy’s clearly new to the scene. Curious, sure, but new. Don’t let her drown before she learns to swim.”
“She’s not some doe-eyed lamb,” I say, defensively. “She’s strong. She came here for a reason.”
Jessie softens a little. “I’m sure she is. But being strong doesn’t mean you can’t get hurt. Especially if she’s already arriving with a big bruise on her heart. There’s a lot at stake here, that’s all.”
She pauses, pursing her lips slightly. She’s tonguing her lip ring, a surefire tell that she’s troubled.
She sighs and continues.
“I thought you were just screwing around with a new playmate but be careful, ok? This could get messy. I know how much Nick means to you. And I’m sure she means a lot to you too.” She levels me with a stern look.
“It’s just sex, Jess.” I reply, shrugging. “We’re two consenting adults, as you pointed out, and it’s none of Nick’s business.”
She gives me another long look and then tilts her head, bowing to my stubbornness.
“I just don’t want to see you get hurt. You or the beautiful brunette. Ok? Don’t do anything stupid.” She squeezes my shoulder across the desk and walks out.
I sigh.
It’s just sex,I remind myself. She doesn’t want or need anything more.
The following day is Wednesday and therefore my standing drink with Nick. He’s opted for a pizza place this week and I find him picking at olives when I arrive. As I approach, I feel a pang of guilt over what I’m doing with Em. Nick’s always been overprotective but he’s been guilty of treating Emmy like a child for far too long. He’d lose his mind if he knew what we were doing, let alone what I’ve got planned for her later in the week. I push that particular mental image aside.
“Luke!” he says as I sit down. He looks a bit off colour today, slightly red around the eyes. “How are you, mate?”
“I’m good thanks, how are things?”
The waitress materialises at my side and I order a beer while she appraises me through the canopy of her false eyelashes. I’m used to double takes as I’m tall and sort of imposing, but I could do without the extra attention tonight. Nick clocks it and rolls his eyes as she retreats to get my drink.
“Can’t take you anywhere,” he mutters with a laugh, but it doesn’t contain much humour.
I arch an eyebrow at him.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Everywhere we go, women throw themselves at you. I bet you’ve got a different woman every night at that club of yours,” he says darkly.
“I don’t, actually,” I say mildly, trying to counter his sudden mood.
“It’s been a long time since Lucy, that’s all I’m saying. There is more to life than being single and shagging around at 41.”
There’s a beat. He’s gazing at the olives and won’t look at me.
“Is this really about me, Nick?” I say, refusing to take the bait. He lets out a long breath.
“It’s just… One minute you’re carefree and single, then you meet this amazing woman, and then you’re married, and suddenly you’re about to become a dad, and you just think, what the fuck? How did this happen?”
