I Want You Back (Want You #1)(52)

“For god’s sake, Lindsey. Show some dignity.”

“Where’s the fun in that?”

Jax laughed. “It’s brunch with the Lund Collective at the club, so you’d have to be somewhat circumspect.”

“All the Lunds?” Lindsey scowled. “Pass.”

He finally looked at me. “We’ll keep brunch short. We literally have a lot of ground to cover with Mimi today.”

“Then we’re on the same page.”

“Good.” He sprinkled the bacon, onion and shredded cheese on one half of the bubbling egg circle and folded it in half. After adding a little water, he placed the lid on top. He lifted a brow at me. “Might wanna get the plates out.”

“Ah. Sure.”

As deftly as a professional chef, he slid the omelet onto a plate and added a final flourish of toppings before handing the plate to me. “Enjoy.”

“Looks almost too good to eat, Jax. Thanks.”

He smiled shyly and ducked his head, like he was . . . embarrassed.

Oh fuck me.

I could handle aloof Jax just fine.

I could handle angry Jax just fine.

I could handle asshole Jax just fine.

But humble Jax, who not only cooked, but fed me first?

Resisting that Jax would be impossible.

When he watched me take the first bite and my response was a loud “mmm-mmm”—I swear the tension left his shoulders and he released a relieved exhale. Then I got that gooey melting sensation again, seeing that it’d mattered to him that I’d liked what he’d prepared.

Thankfully Lindsey kept up a steady stream of chatter during our impromptu breakfast since neither Jax nor I seemed inclined to talk.

Lindsey tackled the dishes while I changed into appropriate “brunch with the Lunds” attire—a plaid wool skirt, a burgundy Henley, a fisherman’s cardigan flecked with gray, burgundy and black, and a pair of heeled boots. As I debated whether or not to braid my hair, Lindsey showed up in my bathroom.

She whistled. “Lookit you, hot mama. How you can make conservative clothes look sexy is a gift, sis, truly.”

“Thanks. Think I should braid my hair?”

“No. You just need to fluff it up a bit. Here. Let me help.” As she finger combed and rearranged my part, she said, “You put on a dress, did full hair and makeup on a Sunday. You sure you’re putting in the extra effort for the Lunds? Or is it just one Lund in particular?”

Our eyes met in the mirror. Eyes identical to mine, but that was where our physical similarities ended. Lindsey had pale brown hair that she’d dyed a hundred different colors over the years. Right now her short bob was reddish black, as if she’d dipped her head into a vat of black cherry Kool-Aid mix. She topped me by four inches, and she was stick thin with enormous boobs, which she showcased at every opportunity. Luckily for her, her position as manager for a wholesale candy distributor meant a more casual approach to clothing styles.

“Don’t clam up on me now,” she warned, suddenly brandishing a flat iron at me.

“Fine. Yes, I’m dressing up because all of my bosses from LI will be at this shindig and I can’t look like a bum.”

“And that’s the only reason?”

“No. I’m showing up with Jax, who rolls out of bed looking like a million bucks, and I’ve always felt people staring at us, judging me, wondering why he’s with me.”

“Lucy, I don’t—”

“You don’t know what it was like to be the object of pity. I can say his cheating was his issue and no reflection on me a thousand times, but my confidence took a major hit. So I feel more confident when I put in extra effort with my outer appearance.”

“But you’re not in a relationship with Jax.”

“Exactly.”

Lindsey looked confused.

And there wasn’t enough time to delve into my neurosis, so I redirected the conversation. “I haven’t heard from Mom this week. Have you?”

“Yeah.” Snatching the can of hair spray, she aimed and fired, fogging up the entire bathroom in the process. “She and Benny were at the Grand Canyon. They had issues with the motor home, and the part wasn’t coming in until tomorrow, so they were going white-water rafting.” She paused. “Can you imagine?”

“God no. I never imagined Mom would contradict every bit of advice she’d ever given us, fall for a recently divorced guy a decade older than her, buy a motor home with him and flit off to travel the US together.”

“Mom’s relationship advice was based on her relationship with one man, Luce. Dad was a tool. Because of him, she made absolutes about how all men behaved, and stuck by her convictions until she met Benny and he turned them all upside down.”

“I’m happy for her. But I miss her. Mimi does too.”

“Now that Mimi has a cell phone, she can FaceTime with Grandma, right?”

“I’ll have to ask about that since it’s a security thing. And don’t get your panties in a twist if your number isn’t programmed into her phone,” I warned.

“Panties. Puh-lease. No granny panties for me. I wear a thong, sista.”

“Which means your butt floss is always in a twist up the crack of your ass anyway.”

She laughed and hugged me from behind. “I love you, Lucille Evangeline Quade. You’re funny and sweet and patient. You are the best friend a sister could ever have, and I needed a dose of you today.”