He moves closer and offers me one of the beers in his hand, which I accept. “Thanks.”
“I like you.”
“You don’t sound too happy about that.”
He chuckles. “Spunky . . . I’m liking you all the more.”
I take a large gulp of the cool beer and start to feel less nervous. But the more Jace stares at me, the more my nerves start to make themselves known.
“He loves you.”
I know this, but I can’t hide my surprise at hearing Jace tell me.
He continues, “He wouldn’t be going to so much trouble to sort his life out if he didn’t. It’s about time he started living again.”
“He loves you as well,” I blurt out. I need to sensor my mouth sometimes. Oh well, I might as well continue, “He worries about you.”
Jace looks away, with a frown marring his brow as he drains his beer.
“He doesn’t need to worry about me.”
“You’re his brother and been through a lot, of course he’s going to worry. Isn’t that what people do when they love someone—worry?”
He sighs and drops his ass down onto the wall, patting the space beside him.
Knowing he’s daring me, I join him and hope Ryder doesn’t get pissed when he comes back outside.
“Did he tell you how I lost my lower leg?”
“No.”
He nods as though he’s deciding something.
“Five years later, I still see the shooting in slow motion when I close my eyes. They say it’ll get better, but it doesn’t. I used to want everything Ryder does. A wife, a family,” he pauses, “but that’s not in the cards for me now.”
Why can’t he have that?
“Jace, you have everything to offer a woman. Don’t sell yourself short.”
He’s going too deep for me. What he really needs is to talk to a counselor or someone who knows how to help him.
“No woman wants to be lumped with my sorry ass. As soon as they discover my . . . disability, they’re gone.”
All I want to do is wrap my arms around him and tell him everything will be all right. But I’m not sure that’s what he’d want.
“I don’t know what to say to that, other than, you obviously haven’t met the right woman yet?”
“Hmm.”
“Or have you?”
He smiles, softly, looking off into the distance. “There is someone, but I’m not sure.” He shrugs. “She has the most amazing red hair that I’ve ever seen.” He coughs. “The rest of her is easy on the eyes as well.”
I smile. “She isn’t by any chance a teacher, is she?”
He quickly turns and stares at me before laughing. “Ryder saw her when he called down the other week.”
I nod.