Page 114 of PS: I Hate You
“Jeremy lives downstairs. With his partner, Carlisle. We haven’t slept together in years because we’rejustfriends.” Not sure if it’ll help, I add, “Also the sex wasn’t very good when we did have it.”
Jeremy gasps and narrows his eyes at me. “How dare you tell the hot man I’m lackluster in bed. At least say I was a decent lay.”
Dom offers a stiff nod. “Good to meet you, Jeremy.”
“And you, Dominic.” Jeremy lets his hold slip from my shoulders as he tilts his head, studying the man in my kitchen. When hespeaks next, the teasing note is gone, replaced with hesitant sincerity. “I’m sorry about Josh. I only met him a handful of times, but he was one of the good ones.”
Something in Dom’s posture eases slightly. Meanwhile, I suck in a deep breath through my nose, suddenly sure there’s less oxygen in this room than there was before. When I feel my friend’s gaze searching my face, I duck into the kitchen. “Are you here for food? I was going to make nachos.” I call over my shoulder.
A weighty pause, then, “I wouldn’t say no to them.”
As I dig through my fridge, deciding to cut up toppings rather than just dumping salsa on top of cheese and chips, Jeremy settles on a stool at my butcher block island and Dom leans against the counter near where I’ve set up my cutting board.
He’s not in the way, exactly. But heislooming.
I preheat the oven and ignore the ever-thickening silence.
Jeremy, of course, is the one to break it.
“Are you here to talk Maddie out of this wild plan to climb an Idaho mountain by herself?”
“The hike isina mountain range,” I correct him, not for the first time. “But I’m not hiking an entire mountain.”
“I’m going with her.”
Shit.
That sends Jeremy into a long enough silence that I turn around to check on him.
“You’regoing to Idaho? With Maddie?” Jeremy glances between the both of us. “Is this a new plan?”
“No,” Dom says. “Been planning for a few months now.”
Damn it.I clench my teeth to hold back a groan.
Jeremy is a smart guy, even if he likes to play the silly, helpless flirt. His brow wrinkles as he keeps his attention on me but speaks to Dom. “And did you happen to go to South Dakota with Maddie?”
Dom doesn’t hesitate. “Yes.”
“Kansas?”
“Yes.”
Jeremy knows all the states. I told him and Tula that night they converged on my condo after I got back from Josh’s funeral. He could list off the rest, but he doesn’t need to in order to know I’ve gone with Dom to every one so far.
To know that Dom isn’t the only one I’ve kept things from.
Pain flashes in Jeremy’s eyes before he tucks the expression away behind a broad smile.
“Well, good. I’m glad Maddie had someone she trusts to share the trips with.”
Ouch.That may have sounded kind, and there’s a genuine note in Jeremy’s words, but I also pick up on the underlying context.
Jeremy thinks I don’t trust him. Not enough to tell him the full truth anyway.
Well, he’s right, isn’t he?
I’ve had over a year to explain to him and Tula the full extent of my brother’s final wishes. To reveal that the task wasn’t for me alone, but a joint venture.