Page 56 of AJ’s Fire

Even so, I was excited to get to the station and see Jackson again, ready to try hard and show him that we could act normally in front of our friends and coworkers. He was still my best friend, and despite the fact that everything had changed, really nothing had changed. I was just going to have to convince Jackson of that.

My phone rang as I was walking to the station.

“Hey, Nat.”

“Hi, AJ. I’m worried about your brother.”

“You’re going to have to narrow that down, Nat.”

“Jamison. I’m worried about Jamison. He got Josh’s friend staying with him, and now Vera’s going to Florida.”

“You’re worried about that Devon kid? Why? Should I be worried?”

“No. Devon is perfectly lovely, but he’s very ambitious.”

“Yeah, sounds like he reminds everyone a little bit of Anna. Jamie and I actually talked about that. He’ll be all right, Nat. It’s not like Jamie’s married to the guy; he’s just using the old junk room for a month.”

“Yeah, no, of course not,” Nat agreed, though someone who knew her well might think her tone was a bit sarcastic. I decided I must have imagined it, or that the noise of the city street had drowned out any subtlety in Nat’s voice. I continued to be reassuring. “Vera seems to adore the guy, and I think Jamie actually likes having him around. I was with them last night, but with Vera gone for the week, I’ll make sure to check in on him. Make sure he’s okay.”

“Thank you, AJ. And how have you been? Did you boys have fun on New Year's Eve?”

“New Year’s Eve was … interesting.”

“You know I’m not asking about your … antics.”

“My antics?” I could feel my eyebrows raise in humor. “So you weren’t asking if I’d hooked …”

“Alexander Jeremy!”

Laughing, I continued, “We had a nice time. Jackson’s friends joined us, and they’re going to help us with this charity event for a local LGBT+ shelter that’s down the block from the station.”

“Oh, that sounds interesting. And your dates?”

“There’s the Nat I know and love! They’re just friends of Jackson’s, they weren’t really dates. I thought maybe Jamie would hit it off with one of the women, but it doesn’t seem like it. We had a nice time, though. As a group.”

“Good,” I thought I heard her say, but then she laughed into the phone and clearly said, “You sound like a teenager. Just friends, hanging out as a group. You know, AJ, it might be time for you, and maybe even Jamie, to think about settling down.”

“Nat …” I chastised her like I always did when she tried to lecture me about my wild ways. But for once, her words cut close.

“I know, I know. My wild child needs to run into burning buildings and to run free.”

I had arrived at the station, and it was a bit cold, but I leaned against the bricks of the building and stayed outside to continue my talk with Nat in private.

“I don’t know, Nat. Maybe, maybe I am getting a little old for all that. The part about the women, not the part about running into burning buildings. I love my job.”

“Oh, AJ, that’s amazing! I have this grad student …”

“Nat! You’re unbelievable! You didn’t even wait for me to take a breath. I don’t need to be set up.”

“You don’t?” Yeah, I walked right into that one.

“Certainly not with someone from HU. I live in New York City, Nat.”

“Oh, well, she’s a student, she’s not going to stay in Hampstead forever.”

“Nat. I’m gonna need you to promise not to try and set me, or Jamie for that matter, up with someone. I think he’ll be in a good place, maybe, once we get past all this Welling Financial bullshit. I’ll focus on him, and who knows, maybe someday one of us will find our Perennial Synergies.”

“Your father’s book isn’t all about me.”