Not sure why. I try a small laugh to lighten the mood. “Yeah, I guess. He told me he loved me, so…” I smile brightly because that seems like the thing to do. “But living together isn’t easy.” Talk about the understatement of the century.
“Oh yeah? How come?”
“Just…different lifestyles and expectations.” I shrug, like it isn’t a big deal. It’s one thing to dump everything on Georgia—she’s my bestie. It’s something else with Nicholas. Now I wish I hadn’t brought Owen up at all. I should’ve talked about the apartment I gave up. It was perfect—the rent was reasonable, and it was in a safe area near the Get Jacked Gym where I work.
Of course, that’s about as exciting as discussing how to maximize your employer’s contribution to your 401(k).
My heart aches. This is another sign that Nicholas and I are totally different. I can’t seem to come up with anything to talk to him about. If I were better traveled or worldlier, I could be regaling him with the dirty martini I had in London or the kind of car I bought to help fill my twelve-vehicle garage or something.
I get a ping on my phone and let out a breath with relief at the distraction. “’Scuse me for a sec.” I check the screen.
–Brenda: Hey, ask Nicholas if it’s okay to take some photos of him walking the dogs for our website. He’s so gorgeous. The last time we posted a pic of him, we got twenty percent more donations and volunteer inquiries than usual.
Last time, the shot “of him” was in the mix because the shelter took multiple group photos to showcase what we do. This one’s going to be just him and the dogs, and I don’t know how he’ll feel about it. Georgia said Nicholas values his privacy, and I’ve never seen him do an interview or any kind of social media.
–Brenda: Pick a good location—maybe that park near us?—and see if he’s willing to pose with the dogs, one by one. So we can use them for the adoption page, too.
Oh, Brenda. Why don’t you have me ask him for a kidney, too?
I steal a quick glance at Nicholas. He looks back, gray eyes curious.
I clear my throat. “Would it, um, be okay to take some pictures of you for the shelter? Brenda wants to put them up on the website. Probably on social media, too. But you don’t have to if you don’t want. It’s no big deal. There are other photos.” I add the last part so he doesn’t feel pressured. It’s a big deal for him to spend time at the shelter because he’s a busy man, and I feel bad about asking him to do more than he is, even if it is for the cause. Brenda is fabulous, but sometimes she focuses so much on the shelter’s mission that she forgets not everyone wants to do things her way—or with her level of dedication.
“Sure. Anything you need, Molly.” He smiles.
My belly flutters, and heat infuses my cheeks. I know he means pictures, but when he talks like that while smiling at me, I feel like he’s granting a wish because it’smewho’s asking.
“It might take a few minutes.” My voice is a little breathless. So embarrassing. But I can’t control my reaction. It’s like feeling warm in the presence of the sun.
“No problem. Like I said, anything you need is yours.”
Chapter Five
Nicholas
I’m runningwaaaylate for the ten o’clock brunch with my brothers. Well, technically we don’t have to be there by ten because we’re all busy and we understand showing up at all is a huge commitment. But still. I hate being late.
My relationship with my six brothers matters. Time is the one commodity we can’t get more of, no matter how much money we have. But however busy and tired we are, we try to meet up regularly. And my brothers have been rock-solid anchors in my life.
Sadly, my parents aren’t people I can rely on. Our father, the vaunted Ted Lasker, still believes he’s a man in his twenties—invincible and irresistible. He doesn’t practice safe sex, either, since he’s confident his second vasectomy is good.
When the first one failed, he fathered us—seven boys with seven different women—in the space of four months. He was one lucky bastard to avoid getting a variety of STDs on the side as well.
It wouldn’t shock me if the second one failed and we ended up with seven more infant half-brothers. But just because it wouldn’t be surprising doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be scandalous or repulsive. Noah said he sent Dad a year’s supply of condoms four years ago, but Joey sent them back, saying, “I’ve provided everything Ted needs,” in that stiff tone of voice he uses when he feels unjustly judged.
I pull into Grant’s home, a giant mansion with a massive garden and a tennis court. It’s his turn to host the brunch. I spot five cars—which means I’m the last one here. Grant’s wife Aspen is probably already out with Amy, Sierra and Lucie, the other wives. So far, four of my six brothers have fallen in loveandgotten married.
Lucky bastards.
I managed the fall-in-love part, but getting married?
That, I haven’t been able to do. In fact, I haven’t even held her hand. And she’s in love with somebody else. She flushed like a girl with a crush when she was talking about her boyfriend.
He told me he loved me.
Damn it. It was all I could do to not declare, “I fell in love with you first! Before you met that bastard.” I’m sure that would have gone over well.
My heart thumps glumly, but I shove aside my morose thoughts. They don’t serve any purpose. I’m here to have a good time with my brothers.
