Chapter 9
CHAPTER NINE
NADIA
We spend the next seven days fused at the hip.
This is supposed to be my first real spring break since college, and I planned to spend it catching up on lesson plans, snacking in bed, and maybe taking a crack at the mountain of laundry in the corner of my studio.
Instead, I pretty much move in with Jay and Salty.
Jay is hellbent on spoiling me rotten. He makes my coffee every morning before I’m even out of bed. Then a little later, he’ll make a full breakfast of eggs, bacon, and toast. While he works in his home office, I spend my time doing pretty much nothing with Salty curled up in my lap.
At night, we snuggle together on the sofa, his arms caging me in while we watch horror movies or reruns of Brooklyn Nine-Nine.
It’s ridiculous, how easy it is. How normal.
How I already know where he hides the good snacks and how he knows not to talk to me until I’ve finished my morning coffee, unless he’s prepared for full-volume sarcasm.
We fight over the blankets. We disagree about the correct orientation of the toilet paper roll.
Jay makes a point of leaving his socks everywhere just to watch me hunt them down and throw them in the laundry basket.
We laugh constantly. He kisses me every time he walks past, like he can’t help himself.
The week is a blur of little moments, and by Friday, I’ve half-forgotten that the outside world exists.
That’s when I hit my pre-workweek panic.
I realize my lesson plans are still only a list of vague ideas in my Notes app, and I have a three-inch stack of third-grade reading journals to grade before Monday.
Jay’s in his home office, and I am stretched out on his sofa, surrounded by piles of folders and my lesson plan book.
Salty is lying in the one little beam of sunlight shining through the huge living room window.
Jay comes out of his office, gray sweatpants slung low on his hips, hair rumpled, and blue light reflecting off his glasses.
He surveys the explosion of school supplies on the coffee table, grins, and sidles up behind me.
His hands slide over my shoulders, and he starts kneading, working out the knots with slow, practiced pressure.
I nearly melt into the table. “I swear to God, if you keep that up, I’m going to turn in blank lesson plans and wing it.”
Jay leans down, breath warm on my ear. “Maybe I should stop then.”
“You do, and I’ll sic Salty on you.” My head lolls back so I can look at him upside down.
He kisses my forehead and looks at me, all dark eyes and lazy smile. “How much more do you have to do?”
“Just one more reading log, and then I have to map out the next week’s science lesson.” I glance at the clock. It’s already two pm.
He looks amused. “You know what I think you need?”
“Better organization?” I suggest, straight-faced.
“A break,” he counters, tapping the end of my nose.
“And some adult conversation.” He sits next to me on the sofa and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
“My brother texted me,” Jay says casually.
“He wants to meet you. He said, and I quote, ‘Bring your girl, and let’s do a double date at Rosalie’s tomorrow at seven. ’”
He watches me, waiting for my response.
“I’d love to meet your brother,” I blurt out before I’m able to change my mind. This relationship is moving at warp speed, and I’m going to just hold on for the wild ride.
I don’t freak out until we’re in the car on our way to Rosalie’s.
“What if your brother hates me?” I ask, clutching my purse like a life raft.
“He won’t,” Jay promises, one hand on the wheel, the other finding its way to my thigh. “Or I’ll kick his ass.” He gives my leg a little squeeze.
My nerves spark and buzz as Jay pulls the SUV behind the diner. He’s out in a heartbeat, opening my door, his hand warm and steady as he helps me step down. My fingers tangle with his, and suddenly, it’s like every hair on my arms is standing at attention.
We walk together into Rosalie’s Diner, and the warmth and noise hit me all at once.
Everything is Texas small-town perfect with whitewashed brick, retro booths with fat red vinyl cushions, and a chalkboard menu hanging on the wall.
It’s packed, but Jay, always prepared, called ahead to reserve a booth.
The waitress smiles at us and points to the last booth in the back.
“Your table is ready. Have a seat, and I’ll be right over. ”
“Thanks, Susan.” He walks me straight to a reserved table, and we slide into a red booth. My heart spins faster than ever as I wait for his brother to arrive.
At first, I don’t see anyone who looks like Jay’s twin. Just as I start to relax, a woman with glossy brown curls and a boho dress stops next to our booth. She’s gorgeous, curves for days, and her eyes light up when she sees Jay.
“Hey, stranger!” she calls, voice low and musical.
Jay stands and gives her a quick hug, then gestures for me. “Nadia, this is Poppy Lane. Poppy, this is Nadia Mirewood, the woman who finally tamed me.”
Poppy laughs, a sound so big and infectious. “Oh, I like her already. Anyone who can keep you out of trouble is a friend of mine.”
She turns her gaze on me, and I immediately know we’re going to be good friends. She radiates warmth and intelligence. “Hi, Poppy,” I manage, sticking out my hand. She shakes it firmly, then gives my shoulder a little squeeze.
“Jack should be here any second,” she says. “He dropped me off while he searches for a parking spot.”
I glance up from the laminated menu and get the shock of my life.
Jack Vale is… well, Jay. Same broad shoulders, same dark hair, same high cheekbones and impossible brown eyes.
But where Jay is relaxed and rumpled in a soft black Henley, Jack is in a blue dress shirt and slacks, clean-shaven and sharp as a razor.
His presence screams confident, intimidating cop energy, but his smile makes his whole face soften.
He walks straight to our table, slides in next to Poppy, and gives her a quick kiss. Then he turns his attention to me. For a second, I hold my breath, waiting. Then he grins and says, “You must be Nadia. You’re way too pretty to waste your time on my ugly ass brother.”
“I look just like you, asshole,” Jay grumbles and wraps his arm around my shoulders.
Poppy snickers and winks at me. “Ignore these guys and tell me all about you.” I almost choke on my water. The spotlight is on me.
Jay squeezes my thigh under the table. Subtle, but not really. It’s like he’s reminding me, “You got this, babe.” Except he’s also smirking because he knows exactly how flustered I get when people stare.
I try to play it cool. “There’s not much to tell, honestly.
I teach third grade, I have a tragic addiction to caffeine and true crime podcasts, and I’m still recovering from an incident with a rogue glitter bomb a few weeks ago.
” I pause for dramatic effect. “And I’m currently being held hostage by this man and his Frenchie. Send help.”
Poppy barks out a laugh that makes everyone around us look. “Oh, you’re my people. We need a girls’ night ASAP. I have stories about these two that will make you—” Her husband wraps his arms around her and pulls her close for a kiss.
When he releases her, he whispers against her lips, “Don’t tell all our secrets.”
Poppy bats her eyelashes at him. “I’m not going to tell all.” Then she glances over at me and mouths, “But most of it.”
Oh my God. I love her. The waitress comes by and gets our orders.
Then Jay and Jack immediately start sparring, trading jabs about each other’s dogs, work, and fashion choices.
It’s clear they know each other’s every secret, and the banter is brutal but loving.
Jack glances over at me and winks. “Did you tell her how you cried when Bambi’s mother died? ”
Jay just glares at his brother and asks, “Did you tell Poppy how you slept with a nightlight until senior year?”
Poppy and I bond instantly over a shared sense of knowing these men are idiots, but they’re our idiots.”
It’s comfortable. More than comfortable, actually. I feel like I’ve known her forever. Jay keeps a hand on my thigh under the table, always steady, always there. Every time I get nervous and start to babble, he’ll squeeze gently, reminding me I’m not alone.
Poppy catches my eye and grins, all conspiratorial energy. “How did you and Jay meet?”
How do I explain this without sounding like a klutz?
“After a workday that can only be described as apocalyptic, I was dragging three tote bags home. Jay and Salty were out front of the building, and the next thing I know, I’m tripping, the Frenchie’s attacking my ankles, and Jay literally catches me before I faceplant on the sidewalk. ”
Poppy chuckles and reaches over the table to pat my hand.
“Don’t worry. I can top that.” Jack laughs, full belly as Poppy nods and continues.
“I was cleaning apartments in the building to put myself through college. Jack’s was my last apartment of the day.
I leaned my mop against the wall outside the bathroom while I scrubbed the counter, and Pepper decided to screw with me.
She knocked the mop over, and it slid under the doorknob, trapping me inside the bathroom until Jack came home and rescued me. ”
We all laugh. I realize my anxiety has vanished.
The rest of the night flies by. We eat our burgers, onion rings, and way too much pie. The twins bicker about who is better looking while Poppy tells me about her plans to start her own cleaning company once she graduates from college.
It’s so funny to see the twins in action. They finish each other’s sentences, then immediately argue about who started the sentence.
By the time we leave, I feel like I’ve always been part of their world.
Outside, the air is cool, and the streetlights shimmer against the glass facade of #1 Love Place. Jay wraps an arm around me as we walk from the parking garage over to the building, his thumb tracing circles on my shoulder. I hear him chuckle softly, and I realize he’s watching me.
“What?”
“You look happy,” he says.
I smile up at him, more open than I’ve ever felt. “I am. I’ve never been happier.”
He stops under a streetlamp, turns me to face him, and tucks my hair behind my ear. “You belong with me, Nadia. I fell in love with you the first moment I laid eyes on you.”
“I love you, too.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him down for my kiss. The world melts away until there’s just us and the knowledge that we fit together, imperfectly but perfectly, like we were always meant to.
When we get to his door, Salty greets us with a snort and a look that says, “About time.” Jay grabs his harness and kneels down to snap it on him. “I’m going to run him out really quick. When I come back, I want to find you naked and waiting for me in our bed.”
Jay kisses me, slow and deep, before dragging the little Frenchie out the door.
Holy hell. He doesn’t have to ask me twice.