Page 120 of Into the Dark
“Okay, then what? Why do you look like that?”
He closes his eyes as though recalling something unpleasant.
“Did you guys have a fight?”
He makes a noncommittal noise. “So how was Hakkasan? Did they give you the discount?” He yawns, scrubbing a hand over his face again.
I set the coffees down and pull out a chair at his kitchen table, pointing for him to sit down in it. Then I go to the cupboard to retrieve two side plates for the breakfast pastries.
“They did, and the meal was beautiful. We had a lovely night.” Right up until Jake’s best friend almost assaulted me and Jake beat him half to death. “Thanks again for doing that,” I say.
Nick nods as I set the plates down. I place his favorite, the maple pecan Danish, on it and slide the plate toward him, an oat milk latte next to it. Nick lifts his cup and sips, turning to look morosely out the kitchen window.
“So…what happened?” I ask gently. “Do you want to talk about it?”
His mouth tightens, and he turns to face me before letting out a deep sigh. “It was my fault.”
I nod slowly. “Something you said or did?”
“Both, I guess.”
“You didn’t cheat on him, did you?” My eyes narrow of their own accord. I know my brother. At least I did until he met and fell in love with a beautiful Korean chef. I’ll be beyond angry if he’s returned to his old ways. I like Jin a lot. I like Nick with Jin a lot.
He turns on me, eyes cold. “Give me some bloody credit, Al, will you?
“Okay, sorry, sorry,” I say with sincerity. “So do you want to talk about it?”
He looks a little lost for a moment before he shrugs, running a hand over the back of his neck. “He doesn’t get it.”
“Get what?”
He picks at his pastry, eyes down.
“Nick, I can’t help if you don’t tell me what happened. Let me help you. You’re my brother—I’m on your side. Well, until you tell me what it was you did.”
He lifts his head. “Well, I guess since Rob isn’t involved, your loyalties are a lot clearer?” He sniffs accusingly.
I give him an eye roll. I never spoke to him for almost a month for treating Rob the way he did when they dated. He deserved it too.
“How was her wedding, by the way? Mum said it was a ‘fairy tale.’”
“Oh, it was.” I nod. “It was everything Mum would have wanted—for Ben and me.”
He smiles at this.
“But yes, it was a beautiful day. Even if I did have to torture and embarrass everyone, including myself, by playing Bach.”
He makes a noise of disagreement. “You can play Bach, Al. Mum and Dad said you were brilliant. Bet she looked insane.”
We don’t tend to speak about Rob, not really, and so I had no idea he had any lingering thoughts on her at all.
“She did.” I nod. “She was completely mesmerizing.”
He nods a few times as though he expected nothing less. Then he takes a few long gulps of his coffee and peels another corner off his Danish before popping it into his mouth. The fight must be bad—Nick loves these things, can usually devour one in two bites.
“You never mentioned this when I called last night. Did you and Jin fight after?” I take a bite of my croissant and wash it down with my cooling latte.
He closes his eyes again. “We’ve fought about it before. He doesn’t get it because he’s…well, him.”