JACK The Blackbird #2
“What the…? How dare you?” I gasp, beyond outraged. “I’m trying to have a serious conversation and you… you laugh in my face?”
“Oh, furious little fox,” he says between laughs, still catching his breath. “You’re going to be the death of me…”
“Wh–what?”, I ask, completely stunned.
“Nothing, nothing…” He waves a hand, as if brushing away an unwanted thought, then places it gently on my shoulder and looks me straight in the eyes, his expression suddenly serious.
“I’m sorry, Jack. I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” he murmurs, a flicker of unexpected vulnerability in his gaze. “Quite the opposite, actually, I was worried that the physical closeness… might have made you uncomfortable. I respect you a lot, Jack, and I’d never want to cross a line.”
“Don’t you think I would’ve said something if it had bothered me?” I snap, sharper than I intend. “I’m not a kid, Francis. You’re the one who trusted me to take care of Adele, remember?”
“You’re absolutely right,” he replies at once. “And of course, I trust you completely… But as you just pointed out, I’m not exactly your favourite person, so I thought…”
“No!” I snap, cutting him off. “You’re twisting my words again! You’re the one who doesn’t like me, not the other way round!”
“Oh really?” he replies, that mischievous little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. “So, you don’t find me that unbearable after all…”
I’m just about to give him a piece of my mind when Ian suddenly bursts out: “Oh, for God’s sake, will you two give it a rest? You like each other now? Wouldn’t have put money on it, but fine! Great! Just stop annoying everyone else with your constant bickering and sort your stuff out in private!”
“When do we ever deal with things in private, Ian?” Francis shoots back, laughing properly this time.
And there I am again, mouth open, eyes wide, utterly scandalised.
Ian shrugs, then bursts out laughing. “Fair enough, brother,” he replies to the ever-charming doctor.
“But honestly, why do our nights always end up turning into some kind of impromptu group therapy session? And this time we’ve dragged in two more poor souls…
” He gestures toward Ludo and William, and while my friend looks like he’s thoroughly enjoyed the show with his usual brand of casual indifference, I’m not so sure how poor Anne’s boyfriend will cope with another night like this.
These guys are all completely bonkers, there’s no denying it. And yet… watching the way they instinctively closed ranks around Seb to protect him, fierce, united, like a single living, breathing thing, does something to my heart. Something I can’t quite put into words but that sinks deep inside me.
Somehow, I know I belong with them now too. And if anything ever came along to hurt me, the Blackbirds would be there. All of them. Just like they were tonight for Remi’s husband.
At the same time, I know I’d have their backs too, every single one of them. Even Francis. Especially Francis.
And the thought lands like a punch to the chest, knocking the air out of my lungs for a second.
Instinctively, I turn to look at him. He’s on his feet now, talking to Remi, one arm around his friend’s shoulders and the other loosely draped around Seb, in a gesture so warm, so naturally intimate, that I suddenly find my eyes stinging.
Just then, my brother leans over and gently taps my shoulder. “Shall we head home, Jack?” he asks, his voice unusually soft.
And I don’t know what to say, because, somehow, I already am home.
Here, with the Blackbird Boys, I realise I’ve found a new kind of family.
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to stay a bit longer,” I tell him, without really knowing why, or maybe I do, but I’d rather not dig too deeply into my reasons.
“I haven’t finished my pie yet, and I don’t feel like leaving it half-eaten,” I add, in response to his suspicious glance.
“Okay, okay…” he says, raising his hands, “Whatever you want, little brother. I’ve got to head off anyway; I’ve got a date with a…
friend. Ollie’s going to the Savoy to see a colleague’s show, and Kit’s decided to tag along.
If you’re not coming with me, you’ll have to get a taxi home. You sure you want to stay?”
From across the table, Francis cuts in, “That won’t be necessary, Ian. I can give Jack a lift when he’s finished his dinner. Emma’s already put the kids to bed, so I’ll be staying over at Maida Avenue too. I’ve already got my overnight bag in the car.”
“Up to you,” my brother replies, sounding vaguely disapproving. “Broadwick Street isn’t exactly on the way, but if that’s fine by you…”
Ian shrugs, and after saying goodbye to everyone, heads out the door with Ollie and Kit in tow.
Remi and Seb, still a little shaken, follow shortly after with Maude, while the few of us left linger lazily around the table, finishing off our pies and sipping one last pint of beer.
After Maddie Clarke’s unexpected appearance, it’s clear everyone’s in need of a bit of lightness, and the rest of the evening drifts by in an easy blur of chatter and gossip. Hard to believe how the night started, given how relaxed and genuinely enjoyable it’s turned out to be.
Francis and William, who has family in Cornwall, end up chatting about mutual acquaintances, while Anne, who’s always had a thing for fashion and classical dance - looks absolutely thrilled to have Ludo all to herself, eagerly drawing out tales from his time at La Scala and his life in Milan.
She watches him, completely enthralled, and if I didn’t know her better, I might almost think she was flirting with him right under her new boyfriend’s nose.
The infuriating doctor, sitting right next to me, keeps brushing his shoulder against mine now and then, completely unaware of it, but each time it happens, a strange wave of warmth curls low in my stomach.
It’s an odd reaction, not exactly unpleasant, but one I have no idea how to interpret, let alone handle.
When midnight rolls around, it almost takes us all by surprise. Francis suddenly jumps to his feet.
“I didn’t realise it was so late, guys! Even though I’ve got the keys to the Elliott Arnettes’ place, I should get going, I need to take Jack home and I don’t want to risk Emma waiting up for me. Sometimes she still acts like we’re all sixteen…”
He shakes his head, a soft smile tugging at his lips, the kind he usually reserves for Adele. And lately… maybe, just maybe, he’s given one or two of those to me too.
“There’s no need to go out of your way just to drop me off, Starkey,” I tell him, firmly.
“If Emma’s acting like you’re sixteen, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same with me.”
I tease him, hoping he’ll realise he’s being just a tiny bit overprotective. But, of course, he’s not so easily swayed.
“I promised Ian I’d get you home safe, clever little fox. Can’t risk upsetting one of you McAvoys!” he adds with a conspiratorial wink, and that’s when I can’t hold back anymore.
“Well, it’s not like you’ve ever been that concerned about upsetting me,” I snap back, a hint of bitterness creeping into my voice.
Back in school, Ian was always the one people took seriously, the respectable McAvoy, while I was more or less the weird little brother no one quite knew what to make of.
It still stings sometimes, but deep down I know Francis doesn’t respect me any less than he respects Ian. He just knows how prickly my brother can be and probably doesn’t want to risk rubbing him the wrong way.
“That’s not true, and you know it,” the infuriating doctor shuts it down like he’s dealing with a sulky toddler, which, to be fair, isn’t entirely inaccurate right now.
I don’t know why I’m putting up so much resistance, but he doesn’t seem fazed in the slightest. In fact, he hands me my jacket and adds, with conviction, “Let’s go home, Jack, before my car turns into a pumpkin or you lose one of your precious dance shoes…”
I find myself waving goodbye to the last few stragglers and following Francis against my better judgement, while he, as usual, laughs heartily at the look of indignation on my face.
As we walk away, I notice Ludo is messaging me.
We literally just said goodbye, so I have no idea what he could possibly want.
But when I unlock my phone, I find just two words: good luck, followed by a ridiculous line-up of emojis, including an aubergine, whose meaning is… questionable, to say the least.
Has my friend lost his mind?
Francis falls into step beside me, and I quickly stash my phone away before he catches a glimpse of Ludo’s bizarre message. Then, in silence, I follow him towards his car, which, thank God, is parked close by.
Francis seems oddly lost in thought, and when I start speaking, he jumps slightly.
“For Adele’s birthday, I was thinking… I’d like to bake a cake. What do you think she might like?” I blurt out without giving it much thought, and he looks at me, surprised.
“You know, I was actually just thinking I’d try to bake one myself,” he replies, then adds with a worried expression, “I’ve never made a cake before, but it’s a special occasion, and...”
“Well, then maybe we could bake it together, if you’d like. I’m brilliant with desserts, I could show you how.”
“Really?” he asks, genuinely taken aback. Then: “I mean, you’d actually teach me?”
“Of course!” I laugh, surprised by how grateful he seems over something so simple.
“It’s not like it’s a quantum physics lesson,” I tease, chuckling. “For that, you’ll have to ask Remi…”
He shoots me a sideways glance just as we finally reach the car. To my surprise, Francis unlocks the door and even opens it for me.
“Since when did you become so polite? I hardly recognise you, Doctor Starkey,” I tease.
But he just shakes his head, ignoring the comment, and goes straight back to the topic of the birthday cake. “Adele obviously loves chocolate and… raspberries,” he adds thoughtfully.
An idea pops into my head immediately. “Perfect! Then we’ll make her a chocolate and raspberry cake!”
“Won’t that be complicated?” he asks, sounding genuinely concerned.
“Not at all. Don’t worry, it’ll be a piece of cake. Just trust me.”
By the time we get to Broadwick Street, Francis pulls up right in front of Ian’s building. All the flat’s lights are off, which is a clear sign my housemates are still out.
“Do you want me to walk you up, considering the time?” he asks, glancing at the empty street.
But I shrug and reassure him, “No need, really. And don’t worry about the party, we’re going to throw the best birthday-slash-Christmas celebration ever. Adele’s going to love it, you’ll see…”
Francis’s smile fades all of a sudden as he looks at me, serious now. “I don’t really understand why you’re being so good to us, Jack, but the love you have for my little girl… you can feel it. It’s right there.”
He takes a breath. “I’m honestly grateful for everything you’re doing for us, and for the way you do it.
You’re thoughtful, gentle, careful. I know I didn’t treat you fairly in the beginning, and I’ll never stop being sorry for that…
but now you’re part of our lives in a way that just feels so… right.”
His voice drops. “Sometimes I catch myself wondering how we’ll manage when you go.”
I shake my head slightly, blinking in disbelief that he, of all people, is the one saying this. But the tone of his voice is so raw, so genuine, I don’t doubt for a second that he means every word.
Only… I have no idea what to say back. Except the truth.
“Who said I’m going anywhere?” I ask, frowning just a little.
He holds my gaze for a beat, intensely serious, and then he does something so completely unexpected, so unlike him, I can barely process it.
He rests his hand gently against my cheek, brushes the tip of his nose against mine… and then, still looking straight into my eyes, he leans in and kisses me.
The first real kiss of my life. Soft. Timid. Hesitant.
The gentle brush of his lips against mine lasts only a few seconds, but it’s enough: enough to taste the salt on his lips, enough to turn my whole world upside down, more than any collision at three hundred miles an hour ever could.