Staccato (Magnum Opus #2) - E.M. Lindsey Page 0,84

in having a hobby, you know.”

Van snorted. “When did I say there was?”

“Just…you can be kind of a dick sometimes. I know I don’t look like a career man…”

“Because you aren’t one,” Van pointed out.

Adam winced internally and took the hit. “It’s not for everyone. I never wanted to be rich or whatever. I just wanted to be comfortable.”

“Living with your sister is?”

Adam blew out a puff of air and pushed to his feet. “I live with her because she needs the help. And I’m moving out because her husband will be home soon.”

Van folded the paper, then set it aside. He didn’t get up, but his back straightened, and he took a long drink of his coffee before he spoke again. “Did Nik ask you to move in here?”

Adam didn’t want to answer—not because he was ashamed that Nik hadn’t made the offer, but because Van didn’t deserve to know. “Does it matter?”

“Considering this is my house too…”

“He didn’t,” Adam said. “And just as much as you wouldn’t want to live with me, the feeling is mutual. But Nik seemed pretty sure neither one of you were keeping this place when—” He stopped abruptly, not wanting to cause Van pain like that.

Van didn’t seem to mind though. He stood and set his mug down on the side table, crossing his arms when he turned to face Adam. “Do you know what it takes to live with a blind man?”

At that, Adam rolled his eyes. “So, first, it’s his career, and now it’s because he’s blind? Is this why he never fucking dated anyone? You were such a colossal, over-protective dick that no one wanted to put up with it?”

Van’s cheeks went pink. “It’s not as simple as moving in with anyone else.”

“I’m sure it’s not. But you clearly figured it out, so how hard can it be?” He wouldn’t let Van shake him—refused to let him get under his skin any further. Nik’s blindness had been the furthest thing from Adam’s mind when it came to trepidation over living with him, and he wanted it to stay that way. They’d been making it work so far, and Adam was pretty sure as long as he just listened to Nik, that’s all he’d need.

Luckily, he was saved by the bell—literally. Jay leaned on the doorbell, and Adam hurried past Van, eager to get out of there. He let out a breath of relief when he looked behind him and saw Van had disappeared, and he shut the door a little harder than was necessary when he stepped out onto the porch.

“Uh,” Jay said pointedly.

Adam waved his hand. “Please don’t ask.” When Jay didn’t move, Adam sighed and shrugged. “Van’s being a dick. Again.” He took off at a brisk walk toward Jay’s car, and after a second, Jay jogged after him.

“Wait. What do you mean again?”

Adam hesitated. He’d been pointedly not telling anyone about the shovel-talk, but it was obvious now that hadn’t been enough for Van, and he was pretty sure Nik didn’t need or want a keeper. He slipped into the passenger seat and tried not to slam the door as he waited for Jay to buckle in.

“Dude, what did he do?” Jay pressed as he pulled out of the long driveway and onto the street.

Adam rubbed some lingering sleep out of his eyes, then watched the row of trees pass by as they headed for coffee. “Evie and I were at the diner a while back,” he said quietly. “Just grabbing a burger or whatever while Nik was having his Saturday lessons. Van showed up out of nowhere and basically threatened me.”

“Are you for real?” Jay demanded.

Adam shook his head. “I mean, not with violence. He just told me that Nik deserves better than having someone standing in his way.”

“That dude has some fucking nerve when he was the one who dragged Nik back here,” Jay snarled.

Adam blinked. “I thought…” then he trailed off. Van had implied he’d never asked for his brother to come home, but Nik hadn’t been very clear about it either.

“Van likes to play games. He didn’t tell Nik to give up New York and stay here, but he made it such a big fucking deal after their mom died that if he didn’t, Nik would be the asshole brother who let their parents’ deaths fall on his shoulders.”

Adam winced, because a small part of him could understand why Van would feel like that—and he also knew Nik would have come home anyway.