you by breaking that fucking stupid rule.” I lowered my finger. I wasn’t actually accusing him of anything.
Saint grimaced and scrubbed his hands over his face again. “Fuck. I never meant him to feel like he might be betraying me if he actually liked someone.”
I shrugged. What could I say? That seemed to be exactly how Jamie felt. “You mean a lot to him. And he lives by that rule to keep your approval.”
“My approval? Shit, that’s heavy. I’ll talk to him at dinner on Sunday.” Saint stood and stretched then glanced at the clock. “Crap, dude, time to get outta here. It’s time for bed, never mind a bar stop.”
I stepped forward and pulled Saint into a hug. “Thanks for this, man. Thank you for trusting me with your brother.”
He pulled open my door – probably the only thing that didn’t squeak or creak in the whole room, and I had maintenance to thank for that. “Yeah. I can’t say I do just yet.” He half smiled. “So don’t let me down.”
13
Jamie
Once again, my loudmouth brothers made for a loud-ass dinner. But it felt pretty good. I hadn’t thought about Nico since… well, crap. I’d thought about Nico all weekend, but I hadn’t felt as conflicted about it since Saint hadn’t said anything. Maybe he hadn’t even noticed because there hadn’t been anything to notice. Perhaps my crush was just cruising on by. Fading to nothing. I could live with that.
Almost.
“Hey, guys, quiet.” Mom stood up and made her voice heard. “I have a question for all of you.”
We silenced as one. Even the kids at the table.
Mom smiled. “I know it’s kind of early….”
I almost groaned. Same time every year. Mom was certainly on a regular schedule.
“You got something to say…Jamie?” She swung her head and looked directly at me.
“No.” I laughed and pushed some of my corn to the side of my plate. “Just don’t you think it’s a little early to be discussing the holidays…as usual?”
She pressed her mouth into a tight line, but her eyes sparkled. “Never too early for magic and sparkle, Jamie.”
I barely nodded, but she saw it.
“Great. Now you’re all listening.”
Kairo bumped my shoulder with his, and I grinned down at my plate before I smoothed the smile on my lips away and gave Mom my full attention.
“Okay. I thought I’d ask if any of you think we should travel again this holiday. Only…” She glanced at all of us, but some of us more meaningfully than others—it seemed. “There are little ones to consider again, and I know those of you who are parents can find that hard.”
I groaned. I knew why I’d received the extra hard stare.
“Perfect timing to interrupt.” She swung her attention to me for the second time. “Because there are those of you, Jamie, who haven’t even settled down yet. When are you going to finally get a boyfriend you can bring home to meet your dad and me?” She took another swallow from her wine glass. She appeared to be letting the wine do the talking tonight. “One by one, boys, I’m going to get you all married off so we can talk about you adopting even more gorgeous grandkids for me to snuggle. Although, the whole process would be easier if you were straight, of course.” She rolled her eyes a little as she gestured with her glass, and I shook my head, because no matter how insensitive her flippant comment sounded, I knew Mom was trying her best. But sometimes her straightforward, no-crap surgeon side still spoke before she could think about the words.
She was used to the fact she’d somehow grown and given birth to eight sons in total, with six of them being gay, but sometimes—especially after a drink—it still struck her hard that we’d potentially narrowed her odds at more grandchildren. And I think she’d have appreciated more female company at the family dinners.
But kids? For me? Forget biology and sexual preference. I was only twenty-six. And I had way too much work to do to get my career started. “No kids for me, thanks, Mom. I want to make a success of my job.” I clinked my glass against hers and she drew away as if surprised.
“It is possible, Mr. Career Man. Look at your father and me.”
My brothers were still listening, so I wasn’t up for an argument. Especially not a pointless one.
“Not going in for the kill and showing off all the negotiating tactics Nico has been teaching