“What can I get you ladies?” Jordan asked as he walked into the living room, where Maya and I were lounging on his couch.
One of our favorite cuisines was Thai, and Jordan had ordered enough for his entire building. He’d insisted we eat in the living room, and had covered the oversize ottoman with all the to-go containers. While I lay across two cushions, I stared at the lone fresh spring roll in the center, the last ofthe food I’d plated. But I couldn’t possibly take another bite. Capacity had been hit several mouthfuls ago when I finished the papaya salad.
“Nothing. I’m so full, I feel like I’m about to burst.” I rubbed my stomach as I spoke. “Thank God these yoga pants don’t have buttons.”
Maya laughed. “Right? Because I’d have to take mine off if they did, or if they didn’t stretch.” She reached for my plate, and I let her have it. “I’m going to take these into the kitchen, and I’ll be right—”
“You’re not taking them anywhere.” Jordan pushed up his glasses and removed the plates from her hands, his green eyes focused solely on his girl. “I’ve got this. You two just relax.” He smiled at her. “How about some more wine?”
Maya cocked her head and blew him a kiss. “I’m good.”
I was relieved the brothers didn’t really look alike. Height, stature, body type—yes. But facial features and hair color were different. It seemed everywhere I went, I was reminded of Gavin. I didn’t want to look at Jordan and see Gavin’s twin—or almost twin.
“Emily, how about you? More wine?”
I shook my head. “I’m beyond good.”
Maya picked up her almost-full glass of wine and said, “Heart you,” as Jordan carried the plates and a few of the to-go containers into the kitchen.
“Heartyou,” he echoed.
As I held my wineglass, I was almost too full to take a sip, but the cab—probably a bottle that cost as much as my rent—was so delicious. “Just so you know, you have the best man ever.” She was less than a couch cushion away, and I turned my head toward her. “I mean it, you guys are everything together. The way he looks at you. The way he takes care of you. You have something so remarkably special, Maya.”
I wanted my own version of that, which was why it was still so hard to say anything to her about Gavin. I didn’t even have the man’s number, yet I’d slept with him twice. Not that I felt bad about it—I certainly didn’t. And even though I knew how he was, and he’d promised nothing, I wasn’t working my way toward a relationship, and that stung.
It stung so badly, I couldn’t admit it to someone who was in love with Gavin’s brother.
“I don’t know how I got this lucky,” she whispered. “Seriously, Em. He’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”
I slung my arm toward her. “He’s just as lucky, you know. The man may be perfect, but so are you. In every way.”
She put her hand on mine, her expression showing her gratitude. “Now it needs to be your turn.”
“No.” I faced forward. “Stop.”
“You’ve had your fair share of giant assholes just like I did before I met Jordan. You deserve someone spectacular. Someone who’s going to love you so hard—”
“I’m too tired for ‘spectacular.’” I took a deep breath, emphasizing my exhaustion, when really it was because I wanted to run from this conversation. “Me, myself, and I is plenty at the moment.”
“Jordan,” Maya said the moment he returned to collect more of the food, “don’t you have any single-slash-spectacular friends you can hook Emily up with?”
I pulled my hand away from her and pointed at him. “Don’t listen to her. It’s the Thai food talking. It’s her love language, so it makes her want crowns and castles and happily ever afters for everyone and their mother.”
Jordan chuckled.
“Don’t listen to her,” Maya countered. “I need you to play matchmaker, Jordan. My girl needs a prince.”
“See?” I mocked. “The girl is far too extra.”
“I’m not nearly extra enough.” She held her hand toward Jordan, and he grabbed it and sat under her stretched-out legs. “You must know plenty of single dudes, right?”
I guzzled half my glass and groaned. “Like I said, things are good just the way they are. I’m not looking for a man. I work two jobs. I wouldn’t even have time for a relationship. Or to date. Or whatever it would all entail.”
Maya smiled and looked at Jordan. “She’s not convincing me. Is she convincing you?”
“Sorry, Em.” Jordan grinned. “But I’m on Maya’s side with this one.”
I tossed a pillow at them.
