“Had to. Couldn’t let you bust up those musician hands our girl likes so much.”
Confused, I shifted back enough to follow Jack’s gaze to Sean’s hand on my shoulder. Seeing his cut knuckles, I caught his hand before he could pull it away. “You didn’t, Sean.”
“Don’t worry about it. He’s in your past for good now, isn’t he?”
“I hope so. That’s what I want.” I released his hand. “That doesn’t make hitting him right.”
“It was just a tap. You were right. He ran away crying right away.”
I winced, remembering the times when Neil had been bullied back when we were kids. “You shouldn’t have hit him.”
“He shouldn’t have been saying what he said,” Sean countered. I opened my mouth but shut it again when Sean shook his head. “Not repeating it. Just know, he had it coming. Now, time for some more snuggling.” He pulled me into his side, resting his chin on top of my head.
Jack pulled my legs over his lap, his hand resting on my knee, the slide of his thumb sending tingles through me.
“What about food?” Sean asked. “Have you eaten today, honey?”
I pressed a hand over my stomach, which was more than empty. “I might be a little hungry.”
“Good. Jack can order in some more of his gross pizza.”
“Pineapple isn’t gross,” Jack defended, taking out his phone.
“Make sure you double up on the cheesy bread and dips,” Sean told him. “Our girl liked those the most.”
Every time he called me that, I felt a flutter inside. “Um…”
Sean wrapped an arm around the top of my chest, holding me close. “Don’t go getting any ideas. You’ve been on an emotional roller coaster today. Jack and I thought you could use some friends tonight.”
I relaxed against him. “How did you figure out I like dipping cheesy bread the best?”
“You’re not so hard to figure out,” Sean murmured, kissing the top of my head.
“Order placed. Thirty minutes.” Jack tucked his phone away again. “Did you want me to find a documentary for us?”
I shook my head, my chest feeling tight. “I hate that Neil was right.”
Sean’s arm tightened. “No, honey. No way he got a damn thing right.”
Jack’s thumb stroked my knee again. “Are you thinking about the records?”
I nodded, bumping Sean’s chin. “I should have been listening to them all the time. I wanted to. He made it seem—” I blew out a breath. “I shouldn’t have decided not to just because he didn’t seem to like it. I like them.”
“What if we put one on now?” Jack asked. “I can pick one out, if you want.”
“No. I want to pick.” I pulled away from them to stand. The record I’d been listening to this morning, one Jack had picked out, was still on the player. I put it back in the sleeve, my hands going to one of the others we’d picked up yesterday.
“This was Mrs. Miller’s favorite,” I admitted, moving the needle into place.
When I turned back to the couch, I could almost picture the older couple there, cuddled up together as Mr. Miller teased his wife about her taste in music. I settled between the guys again, resting back on Jack this time, his arms coming around me. The moment felt just right. A bolt of longing slid inside me, a longing to be ready to give Jack an answer soon.
Chapter 25
The Thirteenth Friday
Sean met me at the door to the bar not wearing his logoed shirt again. He’d done that for the last few Fridays. Edgar had been getting a lot more time on the door, though he didn’t seem any more pleased about it.
On the first Friday after that disaster of a final conversation with Neil, Sean had convinced me to drink with him again, though it wasn’t really a hard sell. Laughing with Sean as we tried to drink each other under the table was a giddy experience the second time, too. Jack had been amused by our antics until Sean got me talking about how much I liked Jack’s musician hands. His eyes had become intent on mine, the expression in them creating an ache between my legs.
