“I’m good, man.”
“You sure?”
I sigh. Nod. And I almost end the conversation right there, but something inside me makes me want to put Jude at ease. “Daisy is…better than I ever imagined she’d be,” I tell him. “She’s hilarious. Fucking adorable. Talks enough for the both of us. She makes life fun.”
And you actually really fucking like her.
I can’t deny that ever since Daisy came blazing into my life, I’ve been the opposite of bored. This last month is the most I’ve laughed in a lifetime, I’m certain.
She’s also the first woman you want to spend time with. A lot of fucking time, in fact…
“Are you in the mafia? Is that what it is?” Jude questions out of fucking nowhere. “Or is it the CIA? Are you an undercover agent living a double life, and you can’t tell anyone about it?”
“Who knows,” I answer through a shrug and hitch my duffel higher on my shoulder. “Maybe I’m not even your actual brother. Maybe Mom’s in on it too.”
For an instant, Jude’s eyes look so big they might pop out of his skull, but then, he reaches out to punch me in the shoulder. “You’re such an asshole.”
I shake my head on a chuckle, and it’s then that I notice the T-shirt he changed into after our workout that had him whining like a baby. White cotton material with a variety of badges spread all over his chest and stomach and back and arms, and the words “The Secret Club” embroidered across his right pec.
“I’m the asshole?” I retort and nod toward his attire. “Says the man who’s standing in front of me in a T-shirt that looks like he joined the Girl Scouts.”
Jude glances down at his chest and grins. “Sophie got it for me. Well, actually, I got Sophie the first one, and then she got me one too. It’s a Secret Club T-shirt.”
I still have no idea what that means.
“The badges have to be earned.” He waggles his brows. “You want to know how I earn my badges?”
I shake my head. “Nope.”
“What?” he questions. “Why not?”
“Because it’s pretty damn obvious it’s related to sexual shit, and I’d prefer to stay oblivious to your sex life.”
“Like I’d even fucking tell you. What happens in the Secret Club stays in the Secret Club.”
“Fantastic,” I respond and decide it’s high time I got the hell moving. Not only do I have a dinner to make, but I need to stop at the grocery store to pick up a few things.
Jude calls out toward me, something about being a dick, but I just lift my hand in a wave and head toward the subway. Though, once I find an empty seat toward the back of the train, I can’t stop myself from starting some shit on my youngest brother’s behalf.
Phone in hand, I fire off a text in the ongoing group chat with my brothers.
Me: Jude’s in the Girl Scouts now. And, personally, after seeing his T-shirt with all the badges he’s earned, I’m really proud of him.
Knowing my brothers, it’s only going to take that one text to get them going.
Ty: Aw, congrats, bro! Let me know when you’re selling cookies because I’ll buy a shitload from you. Especially Thin Mints. Those fuckers are like candy-coated crack.
Remy: That’s awesome, man. What’s your troop number?
See what I mean?
Jude: I’m not in the fucking Girl Scouts, you idiots.
Ty: But you earn badges?
Jude: Sophie and I earn badges.
Remy: So, you and Sophie are in the Girl Scouts?
Jude: I’m thirty-eight fucking years old, and I’m a man, bro. I’m not in the Girl Scouts.
Ty: But you earn badges?
Jude: Yes. It’s a thing between Sophie and me, and Flynn is just being a lying prick.
Remy: Are you sure you’re not in the Girl Scouts?
Ty: Right? It sounds like the Girl Scouts.
Jude: Fuck you guys. It’s not the damn Girl Scouts, it involves orgasms, you dicks.
Ty: Dude, does your troop leader know about this? I feel like you guys are going to get kicked out.
Jude: FUCK YOU GUYS.
Ty: Okay, but don’t forget to let us know when you’re selling cookies.
Jude: I HATE ALL OF YOU. ESPECIALLY YOU, FLYNN. I KNOW YOU’RE READING THESE TEXTS BUT NOT RESPONDING, YOU CRYPTIC BASTARD.
I smirk to myself and slide my phone into my pocket. I know I keep shit close to the vest, but I can’t deny this conversation gave me a hell of a lot of enjoyment.
My phone buzzes a few more times in my pocket, most likely Ty and Remy still razzing Jude, but when the subway comes to a halt at my stop, I grab my duffel and head in the direction of the grocery store.