"That was just today."
He takes a long pull of his beer, his expression unreadable. Then, with a tilt of his head, he says, "For someone who acts like he doesn't give a shit, you've got a real talent for helping people who don't deserve it."
I glance at him, brow furrowing.
Jay shifts in his seat, setting his bottle down with a soft clink. His eyes hold mine, heavy with a sincerity that makes my chest tight.
"Like me and my mom. That time we couldn't afford her meds, and you showed up outta nowhere with a solution. You didn't have to do that."
The memory hits, uninvited but clear. The desperation in his voice when he called at 3 AM, the way his hands shook as he tried to count out change at the pharmacy. The look in his eyes when I handed over the cash, like he couldn't decide whether to punch me or hug me.
I shrug, the gesture feeling heavier than it should. "You would've done the same for me."
Jay snorts, the sound almost bitter. "Doesn't change the fact that you did it when you hardly knew me."
I wave him off, uncomfortable under the weight of his gratitude. Some debts don't need to be acknowledged between brothers, and that's what we are, even if neither of us says it out loud.
"You deserve someone looking out for you."
His lips twitch into a smirk, breaking the tension. "Glad we're such good acquaintances or whatever the fuck we are."
The laugh that escapes me is genuine this time, if only for a second. It's the first real one I've had since everything went to shit with Jake.
"No one's had my back like you have. I'd say we're better than just acquaintances."
He quirks an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Wait, did we just become best friends?"
"Shut the fuck up."
"It’s a lie anyway. Your girl has had your back longer than I ever have."
The mention of Nora as"my girl"makes my chest tighten, a pang of something raw threading through me. I keep my face neutral, even though Jay can probably see right through it.
"She's not my girl," I say, but it's not entirely a lie.
A girl like Nora doesn't belong to anyone. But if anyone tried to claim her as theirs, I'd probably gauge their eyes out.
"You keep telling yourself that, pal," Jay drawls, his grin morphing into something knowing. "You'd have to be blind to not see the way you two are around each other. It's cute and shit." He pauses, then adds with practiced casualness, "Speaking of girls, what's the deal with Camilla? She seeing anyone?"
A real grin spreads across my face, grateful for the change in subject. "Why?"
"Do you always answer a question with a question?"
"Yes."
"Yes, you always answer with a question or yes she's single?"
"Yes to both."
"Well in that case, I think you should put in a good word for me, friend.”
My brow arches. "You do realize she could kick your ass in a heartbeat, right?"
He laughs, raising his beer in a mock toast. "That's what I like about her."
Shaking my head, I smirk. It feels good to talk about something normal for once, to pretend for a moment that we're just two guys shooting the shit about girls, not two broken kids trying to piece themselves back together.
"I'll see what I can do, but no promises."
