Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 by Nikki Lane (old books to read txt) 📗

“Maeve,” Mr. Young said. “How’s your Uncle Jim holding up?”

“Great,” I replied. “Driving Aunt Meg crazy, but he was doing that way before he had his heart attack.”

He smiled and took a bite of food. “Do you visit them often?”

“As often as I can. It gets kind of hectic between work and school.”

Carol raised her eyebrows. “You’re in school and working, too?”

I tried to swallow the food down my dry throat. “Yes, it’s been that way since I moved out of Aunt Meg and Uncle Jim’s.”

“Here that, Noah?” Mr. Young rumbled.

Noah just shoveled more food into his mouth.

“Still mooching off Mom and Dad?” Jacob said. “Not surprising.”

Jacob winced when Noah dealt him a swift kick under the table. “You’re one to talk.”

“I got a job, moron.”

“Boys,” Carol said in a disapproving tone. “No fighting at the dinner table.”

“What kind of work do you do, Maeve?” Mr. Young asked.

I took a sip of water, hoping it would help the words come out easier. But I ended up swallowing a little too enthusiastically, and the water went down the wrong tube.

“She’s a bartender,” Jacob said, patting my back. “You okay?” he asked me.

I nodded.

“A bartender?” Noah said. “Sweet.”

“It’s just until I find a real job,” I said.

“Nothing wrong with that,” Mr. Young said.

“What are you majoring in?” Carol asked.

“I’m not sure yet.”

Jacob stole a glance my way. “Maeve has a broad range of interests.”

“How about you, Jacob? How are you managing school and work?” his dad asked.

I took a deep breath when the attention was off me. That wasn’t so bad.

Jacob hadn’t told his parents that he’d taken up a job at the animal clinic or that he moved in with me. Aunt Meg had let it slip during one of her phone calls with Carol.

“Everything’s good. Finished the semester with a 3.9 GPA.”

Both of his parents smiled with affection. My GPA had taken a small hit, but it was still decent. I managed to make it through finals and not feel like a complete failure—always an accomplishment.

“That’s wonderful,” Carol said.

“We’re very proud of you,” his father added.

“Whatever,” Noah mumbled.

I took a moment to notice the satisfied look on Jacob’s face. It made him happy that his parents were so proud. I couldn’t blame them.

When we were finished dinner, I offered to help Carol clean up, but she refused. And it didn’t help when Jacob was pulling me out of the kitchen. I caught a glimpse of Carol and Mr. Young kissing by the dishwasher. It didn’t feel real…like watching a movie or reading about it in a book.

It was still early, but I was already yawning. Jacob led me upstairs. We passed Noah’s room. He was slouched on some weird chair, playing Xbox and screaming at the television.

“Jake, come run this back with me real quick.” His focused remained on the giant television.

Jacob turned to me for approval.

“Go ahead. I’m going to jump in the shower.”

He gave me a quick peck on the lips, bolted into his brother’s room, and scooped up the other remote control.

“Dude, what the hell?” Noah groaned when Jacob jumped over him to sit in the other chair. “You’re messin’ me all up.”

“Relax,” he said. “You were bleeding out, anyway.”

Once I saw both of their eyes glaze over, I headed to my room. It felt good to take a hot shower after a day of traveling. I thought about the last twelve hours. How crazy it was that instead of being home alone, I was here, right smack in the middle of what seemed to be the picture-perfect family.

After my shower, I dressed in shorts and a t-shirt and peeked into Noah’s room. Neither one of them had moved at all since I’d left.

“Come in, Maeve,” Noah said, concentrating on the game. “Feel free to make yourself comfortable on my bed.”

I knew Jacob was totally engrossed because he’d let that one slip. I edged into the room and sat cross-legged on the bed. Noah’s bedroom didn’t look like it changed much in the last ten years. There was still a sports-themed wallpaper border at the top of the walls.

I watched them play the video game, something with guns and shooting hordes of zombies. I winced every time blood gushed on the screen.

“What do you guys have planned for tomorrow?” Noah asked.

Jacob got hit and started yelling profanities at the television. “I’m surprising Maeve,” he said.

Did they forget I was in the room?

“Surprising her?” he scoffed. “I hope it’s not something lame like Disney World.”

Jacob tore his gaze away from the TV for the first time since he sat down. “Thanks, asshole.”

“What?” Noah bellowed. “Don’t tell me…”

“Disney World?” I said with a little too much eagerness. “Are you serious?”

“Dude,” Noah grumbled. “Not fucking Disney World.”

“I’m not taking you, dumb ass.” Jacob got up from the chair and tossed the remote control back on the shelf. He reached for my hands and helped me off the bed.

“Where are you going?” Noah cried as he led me out of the room. “Come on, I’m getting torn up over here.”

Jacob grabbed for the door handle and pulled it shut. He took my hand and walked me to his bedroom. It wasn’t much different than Noah’s, except for no wallpaper and a ton more books. He closed the door.

“I wanted to surprise you but —”

“Disney World? For real?” Would it have been weird if I started to jump up and down? I played it safe and tried to contain my excitement.

“Yeah, I just knew you’d never been, and we’re so close. I remembered that one year you wouldn’t shut up about it when we were nine. I mean, if it’s corny, then we don’t have to go.”

It was freaking Disney World! Not go? Was he kidding?

I wrapped my arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips to shut him up.

“Does that mean you want to go?” he asked when I pulled away.

“I can’t wait.”

He smiled and kissed me again. I felt the familiar ache start to simmer deep