It’s a Grand Gesture

Jemma

“Seriously? Now?” I moaned when I noticed Joe’s car outside my building … in my parking spot, no less. I had enough going on this evening without having to field my brother’s latest complaint about my unmotivated life.

I trudged up the stairs, every step feeling more leaden. What would I say if he asked about SJ? He probably wouldn’t even ask. He’d never shown any real interest in my dating life in the past, which was why he’d known absolutely nothing about the shitshow that was Chad. But what if this was the one time he decided he needed to show brotherly concern?

Well, I was just going to lie about it. Say that everything was fine, that he travelled a lot for work, make some vague offer to bring him to brunch again when he was back in town—which Joe would immediately decline, because the purpose of our monthly brunch was for him to really ram home what a loser I was, in as many creative ways as possible. Having my ‘boyfriend’ there would ruin all his plans.

I unlocked the door.

“What have you done, Jemma?”

I paused in the doorway, my hand frozen above the key table. Okay, so we were starting the inquisition before I even made it in the door this time. Great, why not? It wasn’t as if I hadn’t already had a week full of dealing with unexpected bullshit.

“I’ll need a little context,” I hedged, dropping my keys into the bowl and heading immediately to the laundry to let Luci out. If there was one thing Joe hated, it was when I let her loose when he was in the vicinity. Most likely because whenever she got anywhere near him, she nipped.

I loved her so much for it.

“Leave the rodent in her cage, this is important!” he warned.

“Not a rodent! She’s a mustelid!” I reminded him in a singsong voice. Luci dooked at me, eyes sparkling.

“Yes, Lulu, if he’s mean, bite him hard,” I whispered, picking her up and draping her around my neck like a living stole. Like armour to protect me from whatever diatribe awaited me in the living room.

I took a deep breath and stepped out of the hallway. “Okay, I’m ready to be lectured now.” I looked at him properly.

He looked exhausted. What was it about me making men tired? Ezra had been the supportive, ride-or-die bestie all week, but even he’d had a harried look on his face when he thought I couldn’t see.

And SJ … Sally had said he’d looked haggard. But I couldn’t think about that right now. Because then my brain wanted to get stuck on the other things that Sally had said.