He had nothing against Spencer Matthews, not anymore. But the mere mention of his name brought back feelings of that night when Brynn had been more than a best friend to him. Jamie liked to tell himself he was over it, but the memory still stung. Just the idea of Spencer had won Brynn over. She’d barely even spoken to him senior year yet was sure he was the guy…until an ill-timed sickness gave Jamie his opening. One kiss. That’s as far as they got. Then, when everything in his family went to shit, he let it drag the possibility of Brynn and him down, too.
Tonight he’d let the plan play out the way it was supposed to. If Spencer got the girl ten years ago, Jamie would have been crushed. True. But he never would have known what he was missing. Now he did. At least the teenage version of him did. But that was the thing about tonight. It made him feel only a blink away from seventeen, which meant his actions and reactions were not necessarily those of a twenty-seven-year-old man.
“I’ve got nothing against self-important author types,” he said, digging the hole deeper with his petty dick-headedness. “And you shouldn’t take your spleen for granted. Mono is not something to fuck around with.”
He laughed at his own joke, even though a ruptured spleen was no laughing matter.
Brynn rolled her eyes, and Jamie knew he was in for it. He’d heard nothing but Spencer Matthews’s name this past week, from more than just Brynn. As owner of Kingston Ale House, he’d been in charge of maintaining tonight’s guest list, and Spencer’s name was definitely on it. Then there was the fact that the guy was Jamie’s age and releasing his first novel in a couple of weeks. It seemed like everyone who knew Spencer wouldn’t shut up about what the guy had accomplished at such a young age.
What about Jamie? Maybe he didn’t create a literary masterpiece, but it was his name on the brewery’s sign, and he also made a great pale ale and was working on a chocolate stout. Everyone loved a chocolate stout, right?
“You’re sure he responded without a plus-one?” Brynn asked, and she seemed to let go of the tension pooling between them.
“Positive,” he said. “And don’t worry. I’ll be busy enough with the party end of things that no one will think we’re there together, so no accidental cock-blocking.”
This got a smile out of Brynn, and he told himself the sting it gave him was just a result of those residual high school feelings, the ones he’d put aside and buried deep when he finally got his friend back. So what, he fell for his best friend when they were teens. So they’d kissed, and Brynn had actually told him she wanted more. But Jamie had told her it was shit timing, that he needed a friend instead of a relationship. That didn’t mean he couldn’t be supportive if she found happiness now. He just kind of, sort of, maybe wished it could be with another guy—preferably one who shared no part of their history.
“It’s actually good Liz is working tonight,” he added. “Things will probably be too crazy for me to be a good date.”
Brynn poked him in the ribs, in that spot only she knew was his most ticklish, and he fought hard not to laugh. Instead he grabbed her finger, and they stood there in silence for several seconds. Then Brynn cleared her throat.
“You sure you’re not just worried about taking such a big step?” she teased. “I mean, introducing her to the high school crowd? That’s probably bigger than meeting the parents, huh? Has she met your parents yet?”
He let go of her finger, and her hand fell to her side.
“We should go,” he said, ignoring her questions.
Liz wasn’t the issue tonight. All that mattered was he’d be busy enough that when Brynn aimed her arrow at her target, he’d have plenty on his plate so he wouldn’t have to watch.
He put his arm around Holly and gave her a brotherly squeeze.
“Good night, Miss Holly. Don’t wait up.”
Brynn came at her sister from the other side, planting a kiss on her cheek, and said, “But don’t forget I’m coming home and accidentally chain lock the door.”
Brynn had to crash at Jamie’s place on more than one occasion due to this oversight before.
Holly pushed them both away playfully.
“I’ll leave myself a note on the door,” she groaned, and Jamie and Brynn both watched as she followed through with the statement as soon as she uttered it. They trailed her to the door where Jamie helped Brynn on with her coat before grabbing his, too.
“Have fun storming the castle, you two,” Holly said. “I expect to hear everything at brunch. And take care of my boots!”
Brynn blew her sister one last good-bye kiss, and Jamie ushered her out the door and into the small hallway that led outside.
A snap of wind startled them, and Brynn lost her footing in the boots only to have Jamie catch her in his arms before she hit the ground. He chalked up the shiver that ran down his spine to a breeze off the lake.
“My hero,” she said, giving him a patronizing pat on the cheek.
Jamie righted her and hailed a taxi, and they were surrounded in warmth within seconds.
“Kingston Ale House on Southport,” he said to the driver, then turned to Brynn.
“You know I’ll always catch you, right?” He meant it. No matter what happened tonight or another ten years from now, he always wanted Brynn Chandler in his life.
She responded by smiling and nudging his shoulder with hers.