Yeah, easy to do for the guy with millions to burn.
“I mean, how are you still such good friends with those guys you went to high school with?”
He nods, understanding what I’m really asking without me having to explain. “Senior year jitters getting to you?”
“Yeah.”
“Well…” He sighs. “It hasn’t always been easy. Honest to God, I fight with them way more than I fight with you. But I also love them every bit as much as I love you and Davey. Once you graduate, and you don’t see your brothers from other mothers every day, you’ll lose touch every now and again when your lives get too busy. But you and I live in different states, and we make time to talk, right?”
I nod.
“The guys who are truly your brothers will make time for you, too. And you’ll make time for them. No matter how far apart you roam.” He glances over his shoulder where Sophie is beaming at the newest act taking the stage. “And, hey, no matter what, you got the girl. She’s going to cross over to the other side with you.”
I watch her as she watches the band. She is the most beautiful thing in my world, and it has nothing to do with her great rack and blond-bombshell appearance. Don’t get me wrong—the great rack is a great bonus. But I got a great woman to fall in love with me. It might be the most amazing thing I have ever done or will ever do.
She smirks when she catches me staring at her. She thinks I’m staring at her rack, but I’m staring at her heart. The one that beats for me.
Her eyes widen in recognition when her gaze flits to the grinning idiot sitting beside me.
For a split second, she blinks like her eyes might be playing tricks on her. Alex and I look a lot alike, so I guess from across a crowded, dimly lit room, it might seem like double vision. Except I’m the better-looking brother up close.
When she’s sure she’s not imagining things, she begins closing the distance between us.
“I’m going to marry this woman,” I hiss to my brother as we both rise to stand. “Do not embarrass me.”
“You popped the question already?” he whispers back. “Where the hell did you get the money for a ring?”
I just roll my eyes because, honestly, I am also the smarter brother.
Sophie approaches with extreme caution, reaching out to place her hand on my arm. “Jim?”
I realize after a beat of confusion that she’s worried about my comfort, not her own. So, I give her a reassuring smile. “Meet Alex. One of the founding members of Sing Out. He also happens to be my older brother.”
He offers her a steady hand and a genuine smile. “It is an absolute honor to finally meet the woman my brother has been telling me all about for the past few years.”
Her eyes widen.
Shit. Maybe she’s pissed I talked about her to someone else.
Then, I realize she’s not looking at me or at Alex. She’s gazing at the back entrance.
Where Rob and Eva Falls just walked in. The founders of Sing Out.
Her body is frozen, her lips barely moving. “Oh my God, Jim. Is that who I think it is?”
Alex kind of squints, and I try to rein in my laughter. I know exactly what’s running through his mind. He has as big a chip on his shoulder about quarterbacks getting all the adoration as I do about having a professional NFL player for an older brother.
The joke’s on him. My big surprise was getting the wife of an NFL player here tonight.
“It is,” I assure her then gesture to Alex. “I used my celebrity connection here to pull some strings.”
“Oh my God,” she whispers, her entire body springing to life with trembling excitement. “Do I get to meet her?”
“Well, yeah. Rumor has it, she flew here to personally thank the woman who put all this together.”
It takes Sophie a second to realize that woman is her. I can’t hold back my laughter anymore.
She seems to snap out of her trance and notices Alex is still holding out his hand. She barely touches it before pulling away. “Oh, hi, Alex. I’ll talk to you later, okay? No offense, but she’s one of my heroes!”
Alex laughs and stuffs his hand in his pocket. “No, I get it. She’s one of my heroes, too. Go on. You’ll see a lot more of me from now on than you will of her.”
Sophie throws her arms around my neck. “Thank you, Jim! I love you!”
She’s gone a second later.
“Wow.” Alex chuckles. “You weren’t kidding. She doesn’t care who I am. She loves you.”
I nod, smiling as she nearly trips in her haste to get across the room. “She loves me.”
I got exactly what I wanted after all.