It Started with a Kiss

Pulling his phone from his pocket, he says, “I’ll text Andrew to see if they’re interested in coming to hear the pitch.”

Before opening the door, I say, “I’ll go warm up the crowd.”

Setting his beer on the table, Ethan Everest says, “Oh, shit.”

I follow his gaze to see a woman walking in. I recognize his wife since I’ve met her a few times over the years, but I’m confused by his reaction. Singer’s always been a lot of fun to be around. “What’s up? You in trouble for going out?”

He chuckles as he stands, angling toward her. “No, I’ve just fucking missed her, and she shows up looking like spending time alone might be better.” Moving to greet her, he takes her in his arms and kisses her.

We’re in a private room of the restaurant, and it’s all adults, but if there were kids, I’d be making them close their eyes. “You’d think they were still newlyweds by that greeting,” Bennett says, shaking his head in admonishment.

Then his chair goes skidding behind him when he sees his wife walking in behind Singer.

Next to me, my sister, Natalie, joined us to show support for Nick and to celebrate my newest investment. Andrew stopped by for a drink but had to meet his wife, Juni, at an event at a public garden space she oversees.

That leaves me as the . . . I scan the long table. Ninth wheel? Oh joy, I think sarcastically, and then I take another long pull of my beer.

The Silicon Valley team caught a flight back to California, not wasting a day or a dollar of our investment, leaving Ethan, Bennett, and their wives to join us for dinner. Sitting with friends and their girls, now their wives, was never an issue before, but after the past few days with Marlow, the empty seat next to me taunts me even more.

Our conversation might be paused, but I’ve still had it playing on a loop in the back of my mind. She’s right. Not everyone is meant to couple up, but not everyone is meant to be in a long-term committed relationship either.

But if that’s true, why am I still pining over her?

Pining might be a bit of an exaggeration, but if she texted me right now, I’d be catching the next cab out of here. I used to want to date around to see what was out there. I never took anyone out more than a couple of times. Why don’t I want them?

What’s changed other than a gorgeous blonde with a short fuse and a tight ass giving me a hard time for the past six months? And although we don’t tease each other as much, I still have plenty of hard to give her.

Fuck. Not only do I miss Marlow, but I’m fucking horny.

Setting my phone on the table next to me, I pull up her name in my contacts list. With her, it’s not just a sex thing. It’s a comfort in our friendship, peace in her presence kind of thing. She’s whip smart and knows what she wants and needs, which is incredibly sexy.

“Jackson?”

My shoulder’s poked, and I turn to find my sister staring at me. “What?”

“The server is waiting to take your order.”

I look between Bennett and his wife, Winter, to see a guy with a name tag reading Ralph standing behind them with his pen poised on a pad. I glance down at the menu, then ask, “What’s the special?”

“Lobster—”

“I’ll take it.” Everyone returns to whatever they were doing, the noise level rising through the various conversations.

“Very well, sir,” Ralph says to me. “And I’ll bring you another Stella Artois.”

“Thanks.”

When he leaves the room, Natalie nudges me with her arm. “What’s going on with you, little brother?”

She uses that nickname whenever she can, but I haven’t been little for a long time. I lean over and nudge her with my elbow. “Can’t a guy just get lost in his thoughts?”

“Sure, they can, but I was just checking on you.”

I drop my shoulders, trying to relax. “I have a lot on my mind.”

I find comfort in her smile like I did when I was little. “I know what will help.”

“Yeah?”

“Playing with your niece,” she says, and then doesn’t miss a beat. “Speaking of, you should come around more. Your niece misses you.”

Natalie always knows how to lighten the heavy in my chest. “I’ll stop by this weekend.”

“Good. Come for dinner.”

Winter leans in from across the table, and says, “I met friends of yours last week, Jackson.”

“Oh, yeah?”

She smiles kindly, her eyes volleying to Natalie and then back to me. “Tealey Bell came by because Singer and I reached out on another fundraising effort in February—one that we can collaborate between the Everest foundation and Tealey’s women’s program. She’s the sweetest, by the way. Her friends were with her.”