Zack (Blue-Collar Billionaires 4)

We walk along in silence, our breath puffing around our faces in frosty clouds. Even though I didn’t want to take a walk, the exercise is helping. Problems don’t seem so big out here. My stress level goes down a little. Even though this was a pretty crappy way for Gabe to find out, he’ll get used to it eventually. Jamie’s next words tell me that he’s come to the same conclusion.

“I don’t think Gabe is really angry. He’s worried. He cares about you. You’ve been friends a long time.”

“Yeah, I hear what you’re saying. But a real friend would want me to be happy. I can’t be happy without Zack. He should understand. He feels the same way about Sasha.”

“What if it was the other way around? If you were in his position it wouldn’t bother you at all?”

“No, of course not. Why would it?”

“So, if I told you I liked Isabelle, you’d have no problem with it?”

“Why would I?” I insist.

“Great. Because Isabelle asked me not to go back to New York. And I want to stay.”

I stop walking. Jamie walks a few steps before he realizes that I’m not next to him anymore. He turns around and then sighs.

“What? Wait… you’re serious? You aren’t just saying that to make a point?”

“No. I’m not.”

It makes me feel like the worst person ever that my first thought is whether Isabelle just jumped him because he was so readily available. Jamie has been through a lot over the past year and he hasn’t been in a great place emotionally for a while. And Isabelle, well … she’s Isabelle. I’m not sure how I feel about this. She’s flighty and fun and doesn’t take much seriously. She’s the exact opposite of what I would have imagined my studious, hardworking brother would go for.

Is it wrong that my first instinct is to protect him?

“Realizing that you’re a hypocrite isn’t fun,” I say finally.

Jamie chuckles. “We weren’t trying to deceive you, Josie. Or leave you out. It’s just so new between us. I’m having fun for the first time in a long time. And I think this is something special for her, too. I want to see where it goes.”

“I’m happy for you, James. Really and truly happy.”

He smiles and it’s so unlike him, a little bashful and innocent in a way that I’m not used to seeing him. “Really? You don’t think I’ll screw it up? I’ve screwed up a lot of stuff in my life so far.”

“Not this. I think the two of you are going to be good for each other.”

We walk along arm in arm until he glances over at me. “What are you going to do about Gabe?”

“I have no idea. But I’m hoping he’s as reasonable and enlightened as I am.”

He snorts. It feels good to laugh with him again. Although I would have never in a million years thought Isabelle would be a match for him, there’s no denying that my brother is happier than I’ve ever seen him.

“So, you and Izzie? This is going to take some getting used to.”

†

When we get to the house, Izzie is in the kitchen. Jamie takes off his coat and doesn’t even bother to hang it on the rack. He just walks right up to her and lifts her off her feet.

“James, what are you doing?” She glances over at me nervously.

“It’s okay. We’re officially out of the closet, baby.” He kisses her right there in the kitchen, like he hasn’t seen her in years.

When he sets her down, she sways into him like she’s a little dazed. The look on her face when she leans into him is pure love. I’ve known Izzie for years and I’ve never seen her look at anyone like that. I’m saddened to think that they were hiding this for fear of my reaction. Especially since I know how hard it is to hide how you feel, fearing how your loved ones will react.

“It’s okay. Jamie told me everything.”

“I hope not everything,” she whispers to him.

The dirty smile on his face makes me laugh. I may have thought that Isabelle was too wild for him but it sounds like there are some hidden layers to my conservative older brother. Whatever the case, there are some things a sister doesn’t need to know.