Page 40 of The Arrangement

I nodded, shame spreading through my chest. “Sure thing, Andy.”

He shot a quick text back, then, as if summoned—which he probably was—Mitch appeared at his side. Marc followed a few paces behind, looking between us, no doubt sensing the tension. To my surprise, Mitch did not wrap his arms around Andy, but only took his hand, lacing their fingers together. Envy rose so sharply in me I could have put a hole in any of the freshly resealed walls.

“So Marc says the food around here is awesome. Plenty to choose from,” Mitch said with unmistakably forced cheer.

“Yep, just depends on what you’re in the mood for. There’s seafood, of course, and McSharry’s Irish Pub.” Marc flashed me a grin that wavered when I didn’t return it. “Um, thensome world-class sandwich joints, and there’s always Ravenite Pizzeria.”

Unsurprisingly, Andy perked up at the mention of pizza. Growing up, we’d probably dined on just about every delicacy out there thanks to the circles our family ran in, but he’d forsake it all for a slice of pizza. Destination and time decided, they drifted away where Marc gave them his number in case they got turned around. And in case anyone missed how much of an asshole I’d become in the last thirty minutes, I didn’t even say goodbye.

“So, um, your brother being in town. That’s… cool?” Marc said uncertainly as he walked back from locking the front of the shop. “Did you, uh, want to talk about it?” he asked from the other side of the counter. Irritation prickled the back of my neck at having the physical barrier between us when all I wanted was for him to comfort me the way Mitch had comforted Andy. But guys who were total jerks to their kid brothers didn’t deserve that kind of compassion, especially when their brother was trying so hardnotto be a caustic asshole.

“I think I just want to be alone for a while.” I tapped the counter with my knuckles and turned to go out the back, then paused. “Don’t worry, I’ll… I won’t be a killjoy at dinner.” Without another word, I left, and Marc didn’t call me back. Not that I expected him to.

Chapter 21

Marc

Iwasn’t sure how long I stood at the front of the shop staring after JD. I was stuck in decision paralysis, trying to determine what the hell had happened. One minute, we’re having an amazing morning—laughing, kissing, touching, decorating the store—then I realize his phone is lighting up like Main Street on Christmas. Okay, I might have been a touch jealous of how excited he was, but when he said it was his brother, I got it. The next minute, JD is taking a call and his brother—and his brother’s boyfriend—are literally at the door to the flower shop. So, spoiler, the brother wasn’t the one calling. Which now had me wondering who the fuckwascalling JD. Problem for another time.

I figured when he came back, he’d be thrilled to see his brother. But it had been more like a mini-explosion. And speaking of mini, it was a little freaky how Andy was literally like a less muscly, somehow much scarier, miniature version of JD. Though it was impressive how he pulled it together. SomethingI gathered was unusual, given how surprised JD appeared. Except thensomething elsehappened while I was talking to the boyfriend, Mitch, mostly to give the brothers a chance to clear the air. So much for that.

And now? Now I didn’t know what to do. JD said he wanted to be alone, but all I wanted to do was chase after him. He was obviously upset. If only he would talk to me, then at least I couldtryto make it better. Instead, I was standing here about as useful as a screen door on a submarine while the man I cared more than anything about was hurting.

Alex will know what to do.

I took out my phone, except instead of pulling up my sister, I opened JD’s brother’s contact info and typed out a quick message. Then I stared impatiently at the screen for a response, my irritation increasing with each second that passed. It wasn’t until I saw the three bubbles appear that I realizedwhatI’d texted him.

Marc: WTF did U say to ur brother?!

I stared at the message in horror as the dots danced up and down, disappeared, then reappeared. “Shit.” I considered deleting the message, though it was obviously too late for that. Which left swallowing my pride and apologizing. This wasn’t my family. I didn’t know shit about their dynamics or their history—though Andy had hinted at some real doozies. Had JD really just enlisted without tellinganyone? Either way, it wasn’t my business to stick my nose in. Decision made, now I had to figure outhowto apologize for sending such an aggressive message to someone I didn’t even know. Except I didn’t get the chance.

Andy: I think I overstepped and hit a sore spot. I’m sorry he lashed out at you too. He doesn’t mean it.

Andy: This is Mitch. If he said he wants 2 B alone don’t let him.

Andy: FFS he’s so dramatic. What he’s trying to say, and instead making my brother sound unstable, is that we’re a lot alike. We tend to isolate when we’re hurting.

Andy: M again. Can vouch. Also nvr works

Andy: Can you use your own damn phone, please? But yeah, he’s right. Being alone has never helped. I can’t speak for James, but I tended to catastrophize, spiral.

I read over the messages a few times and bit back the sudden urge to laugh hysterically.

Marc: Thx

I tucked my phone away and darted out the receiving door, barely pausing long enough to secure it before taking off down the sidewalk only to screech to a halt again. Which way? I sent him a message, not that I expected a response, and debated calling, though I doubted it’d be met with better success. It hadn’t been that long, and unless he was running, he couldn’t have gone far, not with how much traffic was on the roads today. On a whim, I headed toward the nearest cafe. When that one turned out to be a bust, I checked the next nearest.

Four cafes later, I found him wandering down Fairhope Ave. I hot-footed it down the drive from Bay Breeze Cafe, sprinting to catch up with him. “JD!”

He paused and looked around. When his gaze landed on me jogging toward him, surprise briefly eclipsed the angry sadness dominating his face, then the clouds rolled back in. “I told you I wanted to be alone,” he said, already turning away from me.

With a huff, I picked up my pace until I could fall in step beside him, albeit still working to catch my breath from chasing him around half the fucking city. “Yeah, and I heard you. I just chose to ignore it.” He gave me a side-eye that I also chose not to comment on. “Look, I’ve gotten worked up plenty of times while you’ve been here. I’ve spiraled, I’ve gotten in my head, I’ve lashed out.”

“Your point?”

“Mypointis that you didn’t let me sit with it any of those times, and I’m not going to let you either.”

He finally stopped walking and looked at me. “What do you want, Marc?”