Pieces (Riverdale #1) by Janine Infante Bosco Page B

asked his eyes pierced Luke.
          “I think it’s overdue.” Luke said calmly.
          Jake looked dumbfounded as he looked back
and forth between Nick and Luke. “This is like a fucking ping pong tournament.”
Wishing Nick would just spit it out, Luke could have his say and Jake could
give his blessing, and then tell them the reason he was here.
          “Okay.” Nick nodded, accepting his fate.
He stared at Luke. “I have feelings for your sister.” He paused. “It’s nothing
new, I don’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t.”
          Jake turned his attention from Nick, and
looked at his brother incredulously. “You’ve been waiting for him to admit
that? Are you blind?” He hopped off the flat bed of the truck. He lit up a
cigarette, for a smart man, his brother was clueless.
          Luke tore his eyes from Nick to look at
Jake. “Shut up, Jake.” Luke said and turned back to Nick. “Jake is right
though.”
          Jake threw his hands up, and sighed. He
was better off, shutting his mouth, he decided because his brother probably
wouldn’t like what was about to come out of it.
            Ignoring him, Luke continued. “We’ve all known
that there was something between you and Sam. Even before the two of you did.”
          “Then why make me say it?” Nick asked.
          “Because it’s real once you say it.” Luke said confidently.
          Nick let out a breath; he hadn’t even
realized he was holding. He swiped a hand down his face. Jake felt bad for him,
and at the same time he admired him he didn’t have the courage to admit what he
was feeling for Cara, so as far as he was concerned it took a real man to speak
up, especially to Luke.
            Nick nodded and looked back at Luke. “I have a
question for you.” Nick said.
          “Shoot.” Luke made himself more
comfortable.
          “If you knew this whole time, why wait
until now to bring it up?” He leaned against a wall. “I’ve been struggling with
this shit for years, man. Part of the reason I never acted on what I was
feeling was because of you.” He glanced at Jake. “No offense.”
          Jake held up a hand. “None taken,” he
said.
          Luke stood up and walked over to Nick
standing in front of him. “Bullshit.” He stared him down. “Don’t blame the fact
that you were a coward on me.” He pointed to him. “You didn’t go after what you
wanted, because you were scared.” He put his hand up to stop Nick from
interrupting him. “And before you say, scared of me, and what I would say, I
call bullshit again. You ran the fuck out of town when you realized Sam was
more than just my little sister.”
          Angrily Nick straightened his shoulders,
rising to his full height, “Yeah, because of the respect I have for you and
your family. I wasn’t ready to accept what I was feeling for her. I knew one
way or another I was going to have to make a move, or that witch of a mother of
mine would ship me out of here. Where would that leave Sam?” He pushed past
Luke and stared out across the lot of cars. “I didn’t know if I was coming or
going, but there was your sister, looking, like my saving grace.” He turned
back and looked at Luke. “Should I have ruined her life too? At the time, I
felt like I had to go. Do you understand that? Would you rather I had been
selfish and had taken her away from you guys? Because she would of came. You
know she would’ve.”
    They
were silent for a moment. Nick walked over to the little fridge and grabbed a
beer.
          “Yeah, she would’ve. What happened when
she came to see you?” Luke asked.
          Nick turned abruptly. “Came to see me?
What are you talking about?”                        
          Jake flicked his cigarette into the lot,
and turned around just as abrupt as Nick. Finding out that Sam had gone to
Seattle to visit Nick was news to him.