Page 13 of Lifeline

“What?” Reno called down in confusion.

“Wherefore means why,” I told him, and when he glanced at me, I shook my head. “When Juliet is saying that line, she’s asking why Romeo is from the family he’s from because their families hate each other, but she loves him. So, Jake is asking wherefore art…he…him? Whatever, he’s asking why he’s Romeo. He’s got a point, though; he is prettier.”

“He’s a walking wall of muscle and just screams ‘I am dude, hear me dude,’ like…what?”

“Still prettier than you.”

“First, that’s gay. Second, we look identical. So you’re admitting he’s prettier than you.”

“And better hung,” I said, and he stared at me. I grinned. “What? We share a communal shower.”

“Yeah, but that means you were looking! You’re not supposed to look,” Reno accused.

“If he didn’t want me to look, he shouldn’t wave that thing all over the place,” I said, knowing damn well I was doing it to get a rise out of my brother. I mean, sure, I had definitely looked; I wasn’t blind after all. I was just…professional enough not to ogle, sneak a glance when it was offered, but not ogle.

“What are you guys gossiping about?” Jake called up.

“My brother has apparently been checking you out when you shower,” Reno told him, and I didn’t know why he thought that was going to have an effect on Jake…it was Jake.

“Hell yeah,” Jake said, and I knew without looking he had that dorky grin on his face. “I mean, I know you’re all about the ladies, Reno, but ya gotta admit, I’m a prime cut of beef! I’d be insulted if he wasn’t looking. I mean, hell, Colin looked. I wonder if the new guy will.”

“Jake!” Reno barked down.

“Oh, he’ll look,” I snorted, ignoring the unhappy twist in my stomach. “He won’t touch, but he’ll look. Shit, I’d be surprised if he’s touched much of…anyway, fuck off and play with your friends, Reno. The adults have things to do.”

He glanced at me, and I could see the promise that we’d talk about that later because he most certainly had heard my muttering and wanted to know what that was about. Except he was going to be sorely disappointed because there were some things I didn’t share with anyone, even Reno. And that included the significant and life-impacting problems of other people. What I’d almost let slip was Aidan’s business, no one else’s.

But Jake was there, and he knew there was no way in hell I was going to talk about my past with Aidan if there was anyone else around. I loved these men, and I trusted them with my life, but there were some things I wasn’t going to talk about with anyone but Reno. That had been…well, my habit even before I’d moved away from home as a fresh adult and had continued through the years. I had learned to open up to people, but there were things that didn’t change, no matter how much they experienced, learned, or suffered through.

He rolled his eyes at me before turning. “I’m going to come down; you can come with me to get more samples.”

“Jump,” Jake called up, and I could hear the goading in his voice. If there was one thing Jake could be counted on, it was egging people on to do something daring, while others like, say…Xander, would call it stupid. “I’ll catch you.”

“Like hell,” Reno called down with a snort. “You’d let me eat shit just to laugh at me.”

“It’s a little high for that kinda bullshit,” Jake called.

“I’m not jumping so you can catch me,” Reno told him with a shake of his head. “I’ll climb down like a normal person.”

“Fine,” Jake called out. “You’re no fun.”

“More like fond of not having my limbs broken,” Reno said with a sigh, then turned back to me. “Seriously, though, there’s something wrong with him.”

“And still the best friend you’ve had that wasn’t related to you,” I pointed out.

“True,” Reno said, and then raised a brow. “So, uh, you’re going to talk to him, right?”

“I’m not talking to Jake,” I said, knowing damn well what he meant, but I was busy closing everything up even though there was little point since it was already exposed to the elements.

“Quit being a dipshit,” Reno said in irritation. “Be a goddamn grown-up and talk to Aidan. He’s going to be here for a while, so get it sorted out. Oh, and when you do, thank Colin.”

I stared at him, thinking of the newest addition to our crew before Aidan. The group had different nicknames for our medic, but I thought of him as Colin. He was pretty tame compared to some of the stronger personalities around here, but never gave me the feeling that he was weak or pliant. He was one of the few people I knew who didn’t seem intimidated by our rather aggressive and temperamental leader. In fact, he took Xander’s abrasive personality in stride and even liked to poke and prod at him.

“What does Colin have to do with this?” I wondered in confusion.

Reno raised a brow. “He’s been running interference to make sure Xander doesn’t catch on that there’s a thing between you and Aidan. Get that look off your face. It looks stupid because there is definitely something between you two, even if it’s technically in the past.”

“How is one of our newest additions managing Xander so well?” I wondered in confusion.