“Good-bye, darling.”
He sat up in bed, frowning down at his phone as he pressed “End.” Felicity’s words circled in his head, juxtaposed against Libitz’s little speech in the attic yesterday. It’s a choice…It’s a choice to love someone and be faithful to them and do the work. We’re all capable of that. With a heretofore unparalleled longing, he realized how desperately he wanted her words to be true. He wanted them to come true with her. And for that, he needed more time with her—more time he couldn’t have, since she was heading home to Nice Neil tomorrow.
But then again…he thought, his eyes narrowing as his lips turned up, Why couldn’t he have it?
Turning back to his phone, he scrolled through his list of contacts, finding the New York City number he was looking for and dialing it quickly.
Chapter 9
“Jean-Christian!” exclaimed Mad as he pulled up in front of her building and she came bounding out of the lobby.
“Someone’s in a good mood!” he said, smiling at his little sister from his car by the curb.
She grinned, jumping in beside him. “It’s a beautiful day, we’re going to a BBQ, Ten’s having a baby, and…”
“And?”
Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “Cort’s coming home early! He and Vic were offered a record deal in New York, and they start laying tracks the week after next.”
“Hey!” he said. “That’s great.”
“I know. I could barely sleep after talking to him last night.”
“So I’m guessing you’ll be in New York a lot this fall.”
“Some.” She nodded as she buckled her seat belt. “There’s more…”
Her face was filled with such happiness, such profound tenderness, it made his heart ache. “Tell me.”
“We set a date, Jean-Christian. April 28.”
“For your wedding,” he said softly.
“For our wedding,” she confirmed.
“You’re really going through with it.”
“Are you kidding? I can’t wait to go through with it!” she said as he pulled away from the curb and waited at an intersection for a group of tourists to cross. “We want to have the reception at Greens Farms. The apple blossoms will be in full bloom.”
“Sounds beautiful, Mad.”
“It will be! And Jean-Christian,” she said, her eyes watering, “I want you to give me away.”
“Mad…” he breathed, the honor of her request taking his breath away.
“You’re my oldest brother. You always looked after me. Looked after all of us. Will you?”
He took a deep breath and nodded, not quite able to trust his voice as he stepped on the gas.
“Thank you,” she said, leaning over the bolster to kiss his cheek. “I’m putting my place on the market next week. We’re going to live in his house. It’s bigger, plus it has a recording studio. And there’s a courtyard for Chevy.”
Chevy was the mutt Cort and his sister had adopted a couple of weeks ago.
“So you’ll keep a place in Philly?” he asked.
“Of course! Cort has a pied-à-terre in New York when he needs it for recording or playing concerts, but Philly’s home for us. Always will be.”
J.C. nodded, swallowing over the lump in his throat. “I’m happy for you, doudou.”
“I wish…” her voice tapered off.
“What do you wish?”
“I wish you had someone too.”
It’s a choice to love someone and be faithful to them and do the work. We’re all capable of that.
He slid a glance to her before looking back at the road. “I’m working on it.”
“What?” Her head whipped around so fast, her ponytail hit her in the face. “Wait a minute! What did you say?”
He took a deep breath and huffed softly, trying to organize his thoughts. “I just…I don’t know. Maybe I’ve been…Maybe I might want something—I don’t know—more?”
She was gaping at him. He could feel her eyes on him and see her open mouth out of the corner of his eye.
“You’re going to catch flies,” he advised.
She closed her lips, then opened them again, then closed them.
“Say something, Mad.”
“I’m sorry, but…this is a lot to digest.”
“Man, if you’re going to give me this hard a time, I can’t imagine what Jax and Ten will say.”
“I don’t mean to give you a hard time. I’m just…surprised.”
“I’m teasing, doudou,” he said, reaching over to pat her arm. “My track record doesn’t exactly scream ‘marriage material.’”
“But that’s what you want? Marriage?”
No. Hearing it said like that? “Marriage” all bold and bewildering? No, it felt terrifying. He definitely didn’t want that…did he?
A vision of Lib passed through his mind, her angles somehow soothing, her softness beckoning. He didn’t know if he wanted “marriage” per se. He only knew he wanted her.
He shrugged. “I’m trying to be open to more. That’s all.”
“Well, wonders never cease,” murmured Mad. “So tell me…has anyone in particular been the genesis to this remarkable change?”
“Can you keep a secret?” he asked her.