“You’re proposing to the woman you’ve been in love with for years. She may technically be an ex, but Kendall was always yours.” He sets his glass down. “You have a ring?”
I pull the box from my pocket and slide it across the table. Jameson opens it and whistles low at the emerald-cut diamond.
“Damn, Patty.”
“Too much?”
“Not at all.” He smiles, closes the box, then slides it back. “It’s perfect.” He leans back in the booth. “You tell Coach?”
“Yeah, weeks ago. He shook my hand and told me not to fuck it up. Then threatened me.”
“That’s basically a golden ticket from Coach Hart.” Jameson’s quiet for a moment, turning his glass in his hand. “He’s a good man.”
“He is—when he’s not a complete asshole.”
My brother meets my eyes. “Many would say the same about you.”
“Fair,” I say, lifting my glass to my lips.
He looks at me for a long moment. “You know I’ve been waiting for this. Not the proposal. This. You’re actually talking to me.”
“I know.”
“Patty, I’m always here for you.”
“I’m here for you too, Jamie. I know I’ve been a shitty brother. After the Kendall stuff and your injury, then you moving to Boston … we drifted.”
“And I fucking hate it.” He shakes his head. “You’re my other half, Patty. And you know, had you told me all those years ago that you had a thing for Kendall and didn’t leave me to speculate, I’d have ended it. For you. Because bros before hos.”
“Thank you, but also my soon-to-be fiancée isn’t a ho.”
“She’s not.” He picks up his whiskey, smirking. “I have something to tell you too.” He takes a drink.
My brows rise.
“I’m moving back to New York. Next month.”
My grin spreads so wide, and I scoot toward him. We hold each other in a tight hug.
“I’m happy for you. If you need anything from me—anything,” he stresses, “I’m here for you.”
“That goes both ways,” I offer, pulling away. “So, it won’t be awkward for you to be my best man?”
He smirks. “Nah. It’s almost like we traded places.”
I roll my eyes at him. “Please don’t remind me.”
“So, when do you plan?—”
Movement near the entrance catches my eye. Addison walks in with Kendall right behind her, both of them looking way too excited. They had their first official meeting with the gallery owner about the art show that’s happening in six weeks. They spot us immediately, and are escorted over.
“I’ll keep you updated,” I say.
“Better.”
Addison slides into the booth next to Jameson and immediately reaches for his whiskey. “You will not believe the afternoon we’ve had.”
“Good or bad?” I ask.
