Page 27 of An Unexpected Turn
I faked a laugh as my stomach bottomed out.
He’d hate me for what I felt for his niece, and how it was becoming a question of when—not if—I’d do something I couldn’t take back.
THIRTEEN
JAKE
“Why are you looking at me like that?” My sister, Kristina, squinted at me from across the table.
“What way am I looking at you?” I held up my hands in surrender. “I’m happy for you.”
Or I was trying to be. My sister wasdatingher husband. They’d been separated on and off for what felt like forever, but after he’d moved out the last time, he’d suggested dating his wife of fifteen years and the mother of his two kids. I liked my brother-in-law well enough, and after what happened to my marriage, I gave them credit for not giving up.
I didn’t have regrets about divorcing Eileen, but I’d never wanted my son to grow up in the cross fire.
“Don’t worry about what I think or whatever anyone else thinks. You do you.”
“Very philosophical, big brother.”
Kristina was six years younger than me, almost my twin except her hair was a lighter brown and her eyes were green. She was a pain in my ass until I moved out at twenty-one, but we’d become close as we grew older. Sometimes, I just had to work on not reacting like a big brother trying to fix everything when she came to me with problems.
I was tempted to talk about mine for a change, but I wasn’t ready to say them out loud yet.
“I have my moments.” I motioned for the waitress to come over and refill our drinks. When Kristina had sent an ominous text asking if we could talk tonight, I had no idea what it was about. Before Mike had asked to go to Aaron’s house again, I’d offered to bring her to the bar and grill in town in case my son couldn’t hear whatever she had to tell me.
“What about you? When are you going to find someone?”
“Kris, I’m not in the mood to talk about this again. Mom brings it up every time she calls. I had someone, years ago. You saw how that worked out.”
“Because your ex-wife was a bitch. I’d never say that in front of my nephew, but I think the poor kid knows by now.” She scoffed as she turned to face me. “I’m so glad he’s finally with you full time. But one bad marriage doesn’t mean you have to swear off women forever.”
“I see women, Kristina. I’ve been a little busy trying to make my kid feel better in his new home. Dating can always wait. It’s not a priority.”
She laughed to herself as she sipped her refilled glass of wine.
“What?” I narrowed my eyes at my sister until she set down her glass.
“Dating was never a priority for you because it was too damn easy. My friends still drool over you. It’s annoying.”
I laughed. “I’m not a manwhore, little sister. But I’m not a monk either. As far as finding someone beyond a few dates.” I shrugged. “I’m set in my ways, that’s all.”
And the woman I wanted to date, I couldn’t touch—even though she was all I could think about.
“Set in your ways? Finding someone good for you would be good for Mikey in the long run.”
“Jake?”
I swiveled my head to a familiar, sweet voice. I found Peyton and a woman with long black hair standing next to our table.
“Peyton, hi. This is my sister, Kristina.”
Peyton reached across the table to shake her hand.
“Peyton is Keith’s niece,” I said to Kristina.
“Nice to meet you.” Kristina lifted an eyebrow at me when she took Peyton’s hand.
“You too.” Peyton smiled and dropped Kristina’s hand. I swiped my tongue along my bottom lip on instinct when I caught her staring at my mouth. A blush bled into her cheeks, and I forgot about my sister, Peyton’s friend, and the public in general. All I cared about was tasting the lips I craved, but was cheated out of so many times.
