“He passed out. Big, tough guy went down like a rock.” They all laughed. “It was actually the best thing that could have happened though,” Eli continued. “He gave me a shot and I took it.”
Ridley exhaled and then pressed her hand against her chest. “So, you saved him?”
“Yeah, he was fine. Woke up and had no idea what had happened. Sometimes the smallest things, the quickest moments, can be the difference between life and death. Things happen for a reason, I guess.”
“They definitely do.” Jackson clapped Eli on the shoulder. “Thanks for your help. I guess we’d better get home. It’s getting late.”
Eli smirked. “Mom mentioned she’s keeping the kids for a few days. I’m sure you really want to get home.”
Ridley covered her face with her hands.
“So, how many times did Mom mention weddings tonight?”
Jackson laughed. His mother had definitely dropped more than a few hints but surprisingly it hadn’t bothered him in the slightest. “Only a few hundred. Less than I expected.”
Elliott’s laughter followed them as they crossed the yard to say goodbye to his parents.
* * *
“Ilike her.”
Nick turned at the sound of his older brother’s voice. He’d been watching Jackson and Ridley from across the yard for the last hour with a burning sensation in his chest that he recognized as envy. He’d deliberately arrived a little late to dinner just so he could limit the amount of time he was required to be social.
He’d thought briefly about not coming but he’d skipped so many Sunday dinners lately that he knew his mother would start getting worried. Momma Julia on a tear was no small matter. The last time she’d been worried about him she’d shown up at his condo early on a Saturday morning and banged on the door until he let her in.
The Brazilian model he’d been entertaining at the time hadn’t been amused when he’d forced her to stay hidden in the bedroom for an hour while he convinced his mother he was fine. He could still hear the blistering string of Portuguese she’d let fly with the same fury as the vase she’d thrown at his head.
“I don’t know why you don’t like her,” Elliott continued.
Nick sighed. It seemed his brother wasn’t going to give up easily. “I never said I didn’t like her. She seems nice enough. I’m just worried about Jackson. He’s got her on this pedestal. He has no idea what women like that are capable of.”
“And you do?” Elliott moved to stand next to him. His eyes were on the dancing couple as well. Jackson was holding Ridley close and whispering in her ear. “I think they look good together.”
Someone get me a barf bag, Nick thought irritably.
“There’s no proof she’s done anything wrong and I’m inclined to give her the benefit of the doubt just because of the way she looks at Jackson.” Elliott smiled at him. His brother was enjoying tormenting him, the little shit.
“I wish I could be as happy about this as you are. But I know a little bit too well how devious beautiful women can be. Especially since her sister—”
“Ah, now we get to the root of the matter. Jackson told me that Raina went with you to the Lupus Foundation dinner a few months ago. He never told me you were this hung up on her.”
“I’m not hung up. I’m merely aware of what she’s really like,” Nick snarled. “It’s none of your business.”
Elliott shrugged. “Okay, but don’t let that influence the way you respond to her sister. Ridley seems really nice and has never had so much as a parking ticket before all this.”
“I know. I just hope she’s nothing like her sister or Jackson’s setting himself up for a world of hurt. Either way, I’ve washed my hands of it. It’s just hard to watch your little brother walk toward a pit that you saw coming a mile away.”
“I know. But all we can do is let him fall. Then catch him if it’s necessary.” Elliott thumped him on the back and then walked away, turning sideways to edge through the crowd.
Nick watched as his mother pulled Ridley into a crushing embrace. His entire family seemed to like her and Jackson hadn’t been this happy in years. He turned to go. He didn’t even bother saying goodbye to anyone. They would have just wanted to drag him into conversations that he couldn’t care less about.
He could admit he was wrong about Ridley, but it didn’t mean he was ready to make nice with her. Looking at her reminded him of all the things he couldn’t have. Comfort. Companionship.
Raina.
He was glad his brother had finally found someone after years of being alone. He deserved some peace after everything he’d been through.
But Nick didn’t want to hang around to watch.
* * *
Ridley curled up on the couch and listened to Jackson’s footsteps leading to the back door. He’d gone to make sure the house was locked up so they could go upstairs for the night.
So much of their time together had been laced with tension between lying about who she was and worrying about whoever was behind David’s death. Tonight had been one of the first times she’d been able to just be a girl out with a guy she was crazy about.