We walk into the living room and sit next to each other on the pink monster. He turns on the TV and flips the channel several times before stopping on a rerun of ‘Friends’. He shifts his gaze to me, and I sit there uncomfortably staring at the screen waiting for his next move. He picks up the remote and turns off the television.
“I have a better idea. Let’s talk. We haven’t really caught up on things yet, and there’s so much I need to know about you.”
“Well, what do you want to know?” I ask.
“Everything. I guess we can start with the fun stuff. Any new love obsessions I should know about? Am I going to have to whip out my gun on anyone?”
I laugh. “No, there’s no one you should know about. I can’t seem to keep a guy, I always end up sleeping with his best friend,” I joke, and a dark shadow crosses his face.
“Aww, come on Ali. Don’t do that,” he puts his arms around me. “Can I tell you something?”
“Of course, Jay.”
“I missed you.”
“Well, I missed you too, Jay-”
“No, Ali. I really, really missed you. I thought I’d get over it but I can’t. Ali, we’ve always been friends right? We’ve never gone to that higher level. But I’m here now, and I’m going to be back next month. What I’m saying is, if you ask me to stay…I will. We can make this work, we can be together.”
I sit there, completely bewildered. I’ve wanted this for a long time, and now that I can’t have it, it’s here. Wait a minute. Why can’t I have it? I haven’t been going out with Nick that long, I don’t even know if we are actually going out. Sure we are “dating”, but are we a couple? He never said we could only see each other, did he? Still totally confused, I can think of only one word to say.
“Stay.”
"Aw, let me come in," Brian begs me.
I shake my head. "Sorry, this is just me, Jay and Ali."
"Ok," Brian smiles as I kiss him and then climb out of his car. "What you doin' tomorrow?"
I shrug. "Dunno."
"Wanna do somethin' with me?"
"Depends what Jay's up to. I mean, I haven't seen him for AGES."
"Ok," Brian gets out of the car and walks around to take my hand. "Let me walk you to your door."
"Oh, the gentleman strikes again," I giggle.
"Yes Ma'am," he says with a big grin. "Y'know I'm in Kentucky next week?"
"Yeah."
"I wish you'd come with me."
"I have three interviews booked already Bri," I remind him. "Anyways, don't think I could cope with the whole meet-the-family thing yet."
"Why not?"
"It's kinda...OFFICIAL isn't it?"
Brian stops and looks at me. "Aren't we official?"
I shrug. "I guess."
"Jade..." He reaches out and tilts up my chin so that I'm looking at him. "I'm serious about you. But if you don't feel the same way, I kinda need to know."
"Yeah, I am..."
"You don't sound so sure."
"I am. I'm just still a little freaked by how fast this is moving."
"Ok. We can slow it down," he kisses the tip of my nose gently and we start walking again.
When we reach my doorstep, he pulls me close for a long kiss. The type of kiss that made me want to just forget all about Jay and Ali's dinner, and just lead Brian through into my room. Brian runs his fingers through my hair as his tongue gently licks the corners of my lips. I moan slightly and push him away gently.
"Sorry honey, I have to go inside," I kiss him again.
Brian groans. "Oh man, the things you do to me Jady." He kisses me and then steps away. "I'll call you tomorrow."
"Ok," I say, opening the door.
"Miss you already!" he yells goofily as he climbs into his car.
I laugh and go inside. Jay and Ali are in the kitchen cooking.
"Wow, smells fantastic!"
Jay smiles at me. "Of course. I'm the EXPERT here."
Ali giggles. "And what am I then?!"
"A burden," he teases. "Jade, go dump your stuff then you can come stir the sauce."
"Yes sir!" I salute him and head off to my room. A few minutes later, I'm stirring the cheesy sauce. "So Jay, what you got planned for tomorrow?"
"I'm goin' to check a few bars out. I'll have to leave here at midnight I guess. These places are all-nighters."
"Cool. Want company?" asks Ali.
Jay shakes his head. "I'm meeting a guy with the Tampa PD. And then I'm gonna come back here and crash. Then I go home. I’ll be outta here by 4am tomorrow."
"Already?" I sulk and he laughs.
"Sorry Pookie, but I'll be back next month hopefully."
"Ok." I dip another spoon into the sauce and lick it, "Mmmm! Mom's recipe, right?"
"Yup. Goes perfect with pasta."
"Sure does," I agree.
Jay had moved out of home at the age of 18 to go train with the police. So he had had to learn how to cook for himself. He was now probably the best cook in our family - not that mom would ever admit it.
"So, how'd the interview go?" Jay leans against the counter.
"It was pretty funny. I had some LAME questions!" I laugh. "And Kevin called AJ a dildo."
Ali giggles. "Bet AJ LOVED that!"
"And Nick admitted to having a girlfriend for the first time EVER!" I look at Ali pointedly.
She avoids meeting my eyes. "He did? Cool."
I look at Jay. "And Brian got pushed off the couch and then they all started yelling dumbass at each other."
"Hmm," he raises an eyebrow. "And I thought interviews were a more restrained affair."
I giggle. "They usually are."
"If you put Jade in a room with Brian, Nick and AJ - things are bound to get kinda freaky," Ali starts giggling, and then shoots me a look. "Especially if it's just Jade, Brian and AJ."
"Oh, don't start," I groan.
"What?" Jay asks, confused. "Don't they get on?"
"They get on just fine... As long as nobody mentions Jade," Ali explains. "Y'see, AJ has a thing for her too."
"Ahhh," Jay nods. "You little heartbreaker."
"You can talk," I stick my tongue out at him.
After dinner, Jay goes to his room to get ready to check out locations. While Jade and I put away the dishes I let out a loud groan. Jade gives me a funny look.
"What was that for?"
"Did Nick REALLY admit to having a girlfriend?" I ask, hoping I had heard her wrong.
"Yup. He really loves you, Al. You have to do something."
"I am in DEEP shit. I'm going to hell, I swear!" I jump up to sit on the kitchen counter and throw my hands to my head.
"Uh-oh what happened?"
"Jay and I were talking and-" Tears slowly begin to fall.
"And? Come on, Al. You can tell me," she encourages.
"He told me how much he missed me and how he wants a relationship so he goes, 'If you ask me to stay, I will.' So, I did."
Jade's eyes widen and her jaw drops to the floor. "Moron! Are you insane?"
"I wasn't thinking! I had no idea what to say! Jade, I've wanted this forever. It could work out! He knows about my past, and he's okay with it! I'm lying to Nick, our relationship isn't healthy!" I say, only trying to make myself feel better. It doesn't quite work.
"It won't work! Jay lives in Atlanta. You can't ask him to quit his job there, give up everything and move here! And what about Nick?! He's crazy about you! Do you know how heartbroken he'd be? He'd go insane! See, y’all are the perfect couple! Both nutcases!"
"You aren't helping!" I yell.
"I'm not trying to! This is your decision, and your decision only. I can't help you with this one, Ali."
I burst into tears. Feeling bad for me, she sits me down in a chair and brings over a glass of water and a tissue.
"Calm down, Al. I'm sorry, but I'm right. You have to do this by yourself. I know you love both of them, and don't want to hurt them, but you gotta let one go."
"Okay, say I pick Nick. What if he doesn't understand, and I've already ruined things with Jay by choosing Nick so now I can't have either?"
"Nick's going to understand. And my brother deserves more than to be second best."