Typical Nicolle. Knowing his family had his back helped him relax a little. “Well, I met a girl. A woman.”
“Oh, Jakey. That’s so exciting. You must really like her if you’re telling me about her.”
“I do. I don’t know what it is. From the minute I saw her, it was just different. She’s so easy to talk to. I love to listen to her laugh.” He knew Nicolle could hear the happiness in his voice. She’d been on the other end of many phone calls after his breakup with Lindsay. She’d even threatened to come down here and have words with his ex-girlfriend.
His fierce little sister.
“Wow, this sounds serious. How long have you known her?”
“Three days.”
Silence.
“Nicolle?”
He heard a huge draw of breath. “I’m just sitting here stunned. I don’t know what to say. My big brother is in love.”
“What? I’m not in love. I can’t be. It’s only been three…” He paused. “Besides, I’ve been in love before. Maybe you’ve forgotten about Lindsay.”
“Oh, Jakey. I know she broke your heart. Or you think she broke your heart. But none of us thought she was right for you. We all saw what you couldn’t see. You still may not agree, but her turning you down was the best thing she could have done for you.”
“Wow, okay. I’m not sure what to do with that information.” He’d wallowed in self-pity for a long time after Lindsay’s rejection, convinced he would never have the dream he’d envisioned for his life. “Did anyone think to tell me this at the time?”
“Would you have listened?”
Maybe if they had shared their opinions, he could have spared himself some heartache. Probably not. He wouldn’t have wanted to hear them say anything negative about Lindsay.
Enough about his ex-girlfriend. He didn’t want to think about her anymore. “Is there a reason you called?”
“Nope, no reason. Just wanted to check in with my favorite big brother.”
“I’m your only big brother.”
“I know. That’s why you’re my favorite.”
There it was. The relationship with his sister that he cherished. He had so much to be grateful for. A good business, a great house, and the potential of a relationship with a wonderful woman. His cup was way more than half full.
“I love you, Nikki.”
“I love you, too. Talk to you later, Jakey.”
Jake clicked off the call, but what his sister said lingered much longer. He turned back to his papers, but the words swam in front of his eyes and the figures didn’t compute. He leaned the chair back, propped his hands behind his head, and closed his eyes.
He had a lot to think about.
* * *
Three loud thumps sounded on the trailer door. Jake had been so wrapped up in what he was going to do about Erin, that he hadn’t heard anyone approach. He dropped his feet to the floor and spun around. Before he could answer, the door swung open and Austin poked his head in.
“You busy?”
Jake stretched his back and twisted from side to side. Sitting too long in the chair didn’t help his recurring back problems, but if anyone could appreciate that, it was Austin. “Nah man, come on in.”
“I come bearing gifts.” Austin extended a bag from Zinc Cafe. “Lunch.”
“Great, I’m starved.” And since his plans with Erin had fallen through, he hadn’t considered what he was going to eat.
“I figured you’d probably be free, since Erin is having lunch with Abby.”