Just Jack

by Meredith Russell

  “Okay.” He breathed in deeply and eyed the open door.

  “Because, seriously, you need to think about making the right impression tonight.”

  Leo screwed up his mouth. What impression did she want him to make? “I do?”

  She looked him up and down. “For starters, you’re going to do something with your hair, right? And don’t go wearing anything too…”

  “Too what?”

  She looked him up and down, teasingly tugging at the collar of his shirt. “Nothing. You’ll be fine.”

  Way to fill him with confidence. His hand went to his hair, and he tugged the curls that met his collar. “What’s wrong with my hair?”

  Ruby simply grinned.

  “Are you kidding?”

  With a wicked laugh, she said, “I like to keep you on your toes.”

  Leo gave a chuckle. It was nice to see her so playful. He still remembered the days when she was so meek, so easy to startle. “You’re such an ass.” He smiled, then kissed her on the cheek. He lowered his head and thought about what the evening might bring. Jack seemed nice enough in the brief moments they had shared, and the man was certainly handsome—dark hair, the bluest eyes, tall, with an edge of mystery. The man had been hard to read, but then, Leo hadn’t really been in a situation with time to really focus on whether or not Jack was taking more than a kindly interest in him. In fact, despite some out of character attempt to maul Jack’s mouth, romantic intentions were way down Leo’s list of things to look out for yesterday. Hell, he’d pretty much declared himself a monk after the shock of finding Mac with that kid.

  What was the worst that could happen? In relationship and men stakes, Leo was pretty sure he was already there, had hit the bottom and even lifted up the rock to crawl that little bit lower. It wasn’t like there was a magic button and his feelings for Mac were instantly erased. They were still there, all mixed in with anger and betrayal. Part of him wished he could just rewind back to when he was oblivious. Ignorance was bliss, after all.

  Ruby nudged him in the ribs and picked up her coffee. “To new things,” she stated.

  With a smile, Leo picked up his mug, then gently tapped it to Ruby’s. “To not making the same mistakes.”

  Ruby returned his smile. “But not being scared to put yourself back out there.” She clinked their mugs together one more time. “To Jack.”

  Chapter 10

  If Jack was nervous, he didn’t show it, and Leo tried to take comfort from that. He sipped at his drink and tried to relax.

  Jack turned his body, resting his arm on the back of the bold purple and pink sofa they had settled on. “You didn’t mind us going somewhere else, did you?” He kneaded his fingers against the skin below his ear. “As much as I love Abe, he’s been a bit too… interested.” He laughed. “He’d have been over every five minutes wanting to refill our drinks.”

  “So it’s not that you’re embarrassed of me?” Leo placed his drink on the low table. He mirrored Jack’s relaxed position on the sofa. “I thought you might have regretted saying yes.”

  Jack shook his head. “Not embarrassed and no regrets.” He pursed his lips in a seductive pout. “At least, not yet anyway.”

  Leo took a breath and sank a little lower on the soft cushions. “Have you lived around here long?” Small talk wasn’t really Leo’s forte, but he was willing to give it a try, even if he did end up coming across as a clumsy idiot. There was something about Jack that Leo was drawn to. The man was charming, if a little quiet, but when he did speak, his voice and manner had Leo’s stomach doing somersaults. Jack was pretty amazing.

  “As long as I can remember.” Jack rubbed his hand over his neat, dark beard. He briefly averted his eyes, his attention seemingly drawn to the bar where a group of women shared a joke, laughing loudly.

  “Your accent? I can’t place it.”

  Jack simply smiled, leaving Leo curious to the lack of New England accent. Jack sounded somehow neutral, no twang or drawl, no deviation from his pronunciation, no dropped letters.

  “Okay, how about family?”

  “It’s just me.”

  Just Jack, Leo remembered the blunt quip Jack had made to Mac. He found it kind of sad to think Jack had no one. As much as Leo complained about his parents, his mother in particular and her lifestyle choices, he couldn’t imagine being without them or his sister.

  Maybe Jack had noted the change in mood as he added, “It’s fine, really. I have Abe and he has the most adorable daughter, and his wife must be one of the most beautiful people I know, inside and out.”

  “They sound great.”

  “I’ve known Abe since he was a kid.” Jack briefly met Leo’s gaze. “Since we were kids.”

  Leo grinned at Jack’s unnecessary clarification. “My folks moved us from New York when I was sixteen. I didn’t really keep in touch with any childhood friends. I guess I moved on and went about making new ones at college, then through work.”

  “The couple you were with last night? You work with them?”

  “Ruby and Nathan, yeah.”

  “They seem like good people.”

  Leo nodded. “They are. Ruby can be somewhat of a force of nature at times. Protective and likes playing mom.” He laughed. “I mean, she’s not that much older than me or Nathan, but I think she kind of likes it. Likes to look out for us.” He cleared his throat and shyly looked away. He had a nasty habit of letting his mouth just run and run. He didn’t like silence, and Mac would always tease that he filled it with nonsense.

  Lifting his eyes, Leo noted the way Jack was looking at him. Thinking about Mac had shifted his mood, and not for the better.

  “Are you okay?” Jack asked. He rested his head in his hand. There was compassion in the way he looked at Leo. “We don’t have to do this.”

  This? The date? “Oh, no. It’s not that, it’s just…” He wanted to be here. He shrugged. There was no point lying. “I’m not okay. Not really.”

  “Your ex, I assume?”

  “Sorry.” Being out with Jack was supposed to help take his mind off Mac. It was supposed to help him move on.

  “It’s fine.” Jack pulled his phone from his pocket and checked the time. “It’s been, what? Less than thirty-six hours since you split? I’d imagine it’s still a little raw.” He nodded toward Leo’s chest. “Your broken heart.”

  Leo instinctively rubbed his chest over his heart. He looked at Jack thoughtfully. The way Jack looked back at him was a strange mix of sympathy and concern. Leo could be fooled into thinking Jack actually cared about him and his broken heart. “It’s not as bad as when…” When I walked in on him with another man. He shook his head. “I’m starting to think it was for the best.” He’d ignored things for too long already, better now than, what? Next year? The year after? Ten years down the line?

  “That’s a mature attitude to have.” There was mischief in Jack’s eyes.

  With a sniffed laugh, Leo shook his head. “Trust me, cutting up all his ties and shredding his Armani suits was up there, but I guess the best revenge is to move on, right?” He met Jack’s eyes and smiled.

  Jack didn’t say anything at first, simply held Leo’s gaze. The moment was more intense than anything Leo had felt before, and Leo swore he saw the same flicker of light he’d seen before in Jack’s eyes.

  “Sounds like a great plan,” Jack finally said. He leaned forward and picked up his glass. Draining his drink, he looked at Leo. “Would you like another?” He nodded toward Leo’s unfinished drink.

  “Okay.”

  “Same again?”

  “Please.” Leo chewed on his thumbnail as he watched Jack walk toward the bar. Tilting his head, he admired the curve of Jack’s ass in his dark jeans. Not a bad view at all. In fact, it was pretty damn good if Leo was being honest. Jack was indeed a nice guy, both in looks and personality. Ruby would never let this go if he told her just how right she’d been. With his thoughts on Ruby, Leo fished his cell phone out of his jacket pocket. He’d never
replied to her text from the start of the date. This is a date, right? He glanced over at the bar where Jack was waiting to be served. Dismissing his confusion, he checked his phone. Two new text messages were visible, both from Ruby.

  He read the last of the messages.

  Are you not replying because you’re having fun or because you’re dead in a dumpster?

  Leo snorted a laugh and briefly closed his eyes as he figured out his reply.

  Everything is fine. He stared at the short message. Though he knew it would probably mean him receiving several more probing messages, Leo didn’t know what else to say. Everything was fine. He was happy and Jack seemed a decent guy. He grinned and added, Not an axe murderer.

  He sent the message and rested his head in his hand, turning his attention back to the man at the bar. Leo wasn’t sure what it was about Jack that made him seem so special and so easy to spot among the crowd of people. Leo found it hard to look away until the chime of his phone drew his attention.

  You tease. I expect all the gory (lol) details tomorrow.

  At least he wasn’t at work tomorrow so wouldn’t have to stand there face to face with her or risk Mac walking by as he divulged exciting tidbits about his date. Of course that was assuming there was going to be anything to tell. Jack was attractive, friendly, quite the gentleman. There was something between them, Leo was sure of that, at least from his point of view. He liked Jack, whether that was enough for their friendly drink to move on to something more, he wasn’t sure. Did he want more? Was he ready for more?

  Did Jack like him? There was something in his eyes when he looked at Leo, but Leo wasn’t sure what that was. He’d managed to convince himself that Jack wasn’t just here out of pity. Yeah, he knew about Leo’s breakup, but pity didn’t seem to be what Leo saw when Jack looked at him. It was strange really.

  Leo lifted his gaze and smiled as he found Jack returning from the bar. Quickly, he texted Ruby a reply, promising they’d talk tomorrow.

  “Everything okay?” Jack asked. He placed Leo’s drink on the table next to his current one.

  “Yeah. Just a friend checking up on me.”

  Jack nodded and took his seat. “Ruby, right?” He sipped his drink. “Worried she’d set you up with a psycho?” He laughed, though his expression suddenly changed when Leo didn’t correct him. “Seriously?”

  “It wasn’t quite like that and she never actually said psycho.” Leo busied himself, finishing his original, now watery, gin and tonic.

  “What then? Axe murderer?”

  Leo coughed as he managed to inhale his drink.

  “Wow. I don’t know if to be offended or what.” Jack took a drink. “I suppose it’s good you have friends who care who you’re out with.” He cleared his throat and sat back.

  “Ah, so it’s not that we thought you were a crazy killer, but the fact Abe didn’t seem to think the same about me?”

  “Too busy teasing me to care about your wicked intentions.” Jack smirked as he ran his finger around the rim of his glass.

  Wicked intentions? Leo eyed his fresh drink. “If only.” He laughed nervously, then dared to raise his eyes to Jack’s. A heated look passed between them, and Leo fought the urge to lean over and kiss the man.

  “The night’s still young.” Seduction teased the corner of Jack’s mouth and his eyes brightened.

  Fucking gorgeous. As Leo gazed at Jack, Mac was as good as forgotten. If this was moving on, then in that moment, Leo was more than happy for it to be with Jack.

  “It is,” Leo agreed.

  With a laugh, Jack rested his head in his hand. “Blue, A Streetcar Named Desire, blonds, winter, and cheese, just cheese, okay, maybe extra cheese.”

  Leo quirked an eyebrow.

  “Color, movie, blonds or brunets, season, and pizza topping.” He grinned. “You were going to ask, right?”

  “I wasn’t going to ask.” That was probably a lie. In a desperate need to fill silence, Leo would have resorted to the basic line of questioning. “I wasn’t,” he insisted as he caught the amused expression on Jack’s face. “But as you’ve brought them up, I suppose you want to know my answers.”

  Jack pressed his mouth in a pout. “No, not really.”

  Leo opened his mouth, though he quickly closed it when Jack started to laugh.

  “Sorry,” Jack apologized. “Go on.”

  Was he teasing him? “Really?”

  Nodding, Jack sipped his drink. He licked his lips and smiled. “I’m listening. So, color?”

  “Brown.”

  “Brown? How is brown anyone’s favorite color?”

  “It’s mine.”

  “But it’s so… brown.” Jack scratched at the back of his neck. “Have you seen Reservoir Dogs? I think Mr. Brown summed it up right there. A little too close to Mr. Shit.”

  Leo chuckled. “Okay, but to answer another question, autumn. I love the colors, the golds, the red-oranges, the browns.”

  There was a beat and Leo thought he might fall apart under Jack’s intense gaze.

  “I’ll give you that.” He returned his focus to his drink. “Movie?”

  Blowing out a breath, Leo wasn’t sure he could decide. “Either The Hills Have Eyes remake or Tarzan, the Disney one.”

  Jack nodded slowly as his brow creased. “I can see how you might find it difficult to choose between the two. Very, uh, similar.”

  “I know, I know. I’m just weird, I guess.”

  “I don’t think you’re weird.”

  Leo met Jack’s eyes, and a sense of comfort and ease washed over him. “You don’t?”

  Shaking his head, Jack smiled. “And I know what I’m talking about. I’ve seen weird.”

  Leo laughed easily. Picking up the full drink, he relaxed into his seat. “Brunets,” he decided. “I like brunets.” He lowered his head and stared into his glass. “What was the last question?”

  “Pizza.”

  Pressing his mouth in a line, Leo considered his choice. “I guess I’d have to go with pepperoni. Only a little more exciting than plain old cheese.”

  “Pepperoni’s good. I wouldn’t mind having a slice of that.” Jack curled his lips at his flirtatious remark, then drained his drink. “Another?” he asked.

  Leo looked at his untouched gin and tonic. “What are you? Part fish?” He eyed Jack’s empty drink.

  Jack pursed his lips as he leaned forward in his seat. “Sorry. Just thirsty or nervous or both.” He rushed his answer, then lowered his head, staring at the glass as he held it between his knees.

  Curiously, Leo studied Jack. Maybe it wasn’t just Leo who had suffered from a broken heart. He looked down at his glass and took a deep breath before downing the drink. Coughing, he held out the glass. There was nothing but ice left in the bottom. “Another sounds great.”

  Jack raised his head and the sense of sadness that had draped around his shoulders lifted. He took the glass. “Same again?” he asked.

  “Yeah,” Leo said with a smile. “Same again.”

  * * * * *

  The feel of fresh air on his cheeks caused Leo to let out a contented grunt. Luckily for him and probably Jack, Leo had made the wise decision to switch in a few soft drinks throughout the night. Keeping up with Jack was a feat and a half. Leo had tried and failed, so he gracefully backed down. He had no idea how Jack was still upright and was mostly just glad he was still standing himself.

  “What time is it?” Leo asked. He pulled his jacket closed and nudged his elbow to Jack’s.

  Jack leaned back as he held his phone in front of him, squinting at the bright screen. “Eleven thirty. There’s still time before you turn back into a pumpkin.”

  “Oh ha ha. Anyway, I think you’ll find it was Cinderella’s carriage that turned into a pumpkin, not her.”

  “I forgot I was talking to an expert in cartoons.”

  “Animated movies.”

  Jack cast him a weary look. “Whatever, Walt Junior. So what now?”

  Leo breathed in the ch
illed air and looked up and down the street. He straightened and glanced at Jack. “I guess that depends.”

  “On what?”

  Great, he wants me to spell it out. Leo raised his jacket collar, hiding his neck from the cool air. “Would you like to come back to my place? For a coffee or something?” he added quickly. He wished he knew what Jack was thinking as the man simply stared at him. “It’s fine if you need to go.”

  “No, no, it’s not that.” Jack seemed unsure. “I was trying to figure out how drunk you are. I wouldn’t want to take advantage.”

  “Of me making coffee?” Leo grinned as he watched Jack nervously lick at his lip. “Look, I’ve had fun, and I think you’ve had fun, and I promise I’m only a teeny bit drunk, like merry, like I could totally invite a guy back to my house and not regret it in the morning. Hell, I think I might even remember it too.” He shut up. Seemed he’d lost control over his mouth.

  Over the evening, teasing Jack had become his new favorite thing, partly because Jack gave as good as he had gotten. It was kind of nice to have someone to laugh with who seemed on his wavelength, not looking down on him as he sometimes felt Mac had done.

  Clearing his throat, Leo asked, “What’s the worst that could happen? It’s coffee.”

  Jack glanced down at his hands as he rubbed them together. “Okay, but we make a stop on the way.”

  “For what?” Leo quirked an eyebrow and folded his arms over his chest.

  The look Jack shot him had ‘isn’t it obvious?’ written all over it. “Pizza.”

  Chapter 11

  “Here we are.” Leo showed Jack inside. “Home sweet home.”

  Jack blinked as Leo turned on the light in the cream-painted hallway. This was probably a bad idea. Maybe he should make his excuses and leave before Leo did something he might regret.

  “Go in.” Leo ushered him farther into the condo. He pushed the door shut behind them with a click.

  No escaping now. Taking a deep breath, Jack headed along the hall, which opened onto a small living/dining area.