“Married to the good-looking gangster,” Nana says. “Give up taking a look at me like that. There are worse issues.”

“You actually suppose I ought to do it?”

Nana gestures within the air with the cigarette earlier than taking a drag. “I believe you can see this as a possibility. Give him an opportunity at the very least. Possibly you two hit it off and issues aren’t so unhealthy, or perhaps he’s an actual bastard and we’ve got to maneuver to Taiwan. Both manner, it’s a danger, however we aren’t getting anyplace with out taking a couple of of these.”

I shake my head. “We’d transfer to Florida. No manner you’d make it to Taiwan.”

“No such factor as Taiwan,” Jason murmurs with a decent smile. “That’s simply China’s chip manufacturing sector.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Hilarious.”

“I do know, I’m humorous.” His sheepish grin fades. “However severely, Molls, why are you contemplating this? Nana’s proper, marrying the man is a danger, and who is aware of what’s going to occur? We’re getting by proper now. The infant will make issues laborious, however we will handle. We at all times appear to handle.”

I grip the sting of the counter. I need to scream, we solely ever handle as a result of I work ten occasions more durable than everybody else, however once more, triggers. I maintain my tongue and let it cross. I do know Jason means properly. He doesn’t need me to marry a man I’ve solely met a couple of occasions all thanks to at least one unintended bare-dick thrust, however Nana’s proper. We have to take a danger, and Saul looks as if our greatest probability at making our lives simpler.

“He received’t be a stranger quickly,” I inform him as soon as my heartrate lowers a notch. “You may vet him for me in a couple of minutes.”

Jason’s eyebrows increase. “He’s coming over?”

“Bringing breakfast. Bagels, espresso, cream cheese.” I waggle my eyebrows at him. “Not so unhealthy, huh?”

Jason doesn’t look satisfied. “Why are you two appearing like that is remotely cheap? I’m not as naive as you suppose, Molls. I do know we don’t have some huge cash. I understand how laborious you’re employed to maintain us afloat. However what’s that in comparison with marrying a complete stranger? A man who may grow to be abusive, or creepy, or terrible, or worse? I don’t need you to get up ten years from now and understand you made a horrible mistake. This isn’t like looking for a brand new job or one thing. That is altering your entire life.”

“I do know you’re proper,” I say however cease there. I need to inform him about coming residence after working a double shift with an aching again and toes that really feel like sharpened pencils solely to sleep for a couple of hours, get up, and do it over again. I need to inform him about stealing Saul’s watch simply so we may afford hire for an additional couple of months, present him our payments, or make him money Nana’s pitiful Social Safety verify solely to purchase groceries we will barely afford.

However I don’t. As a result of if any of that stress triggered a seizure, I’d by no means forgive myself.

I like my brother. He’s a very good particular person and he cares about our household. He works laborious at college, kills himself to get excellent grades, and works promoting sneakers all summer time and on weekends simply to afford his books.

It’s simply that typically I resent him, not for being who he’s, however due to how laborious I’ve labored so he doesn’t must understand how unhealthy issues actually are.

The argument will get interrupted by the downstairs buzzer. I let Saul up and he seems with extra baggage of groceries. “Thought you’d like these,” he says, following me into the kitchen. He’s in darkish denims and a button-down shirt. Enterprise informal, besides he appears to be like like his enterprise is runway modeling. I’m at all times struck by how good-looking the man is, from his chiseled jaw to his muscular thighs. Critically, Saul’s received some unimaginable, beefy legs. I need to chew down on them.

“We haven’t even gone by means of the opposite meals you introduced.”

He solely shrugs and his eyes are glowing. “That’s okay. You’ll handle.”

Within the kitchen, I introduce him to Jason. They shake arms. My brother appears to be like like a bit of child in comparison with Saul, and there’s a bit of little bit of rigidity, however Saul helps to defuse it by asking Jason questions on college. He unpacks the groceries, units up the bagels, and casually arms Nana two cartons of her cigarettes.

Nana stares at the moment in her lap then appears to be like up at me and nods as soon as. “Marry that man.”

I burst out laughing however cowl my mouth. Jason groans, and Saul’s making an attempt to fake like he hadn’t heard.

“Nana, cease it,” I inform her, however she’s shaking her head.

“Sorry, Molly woman, however any man that brings me cigarettes is a keeper in my ebook. Lock him down.”

Saul clears his throat. “Breakfast?” he asks.

“Sure,” I say loudly earlier than Nana could make issues much more uncomfortable.

Saul will get everybody arrange. He slices, toasts, and smears earlier than we’re all sitting across the desk. Even Nana joins in, although she barely eats. Saul makes espresso in our low-cost little drip machine earlier than pouring mugs. Jason’s quiet, however he participates in small speak concerning the day, and appears when Saul talks about his sports activities playing enterprise.

“It’s loopy how briskly that received authorized,” Jason says, consuming a bagel. “It appears like everybody I do know has cash on the video games on a regular basis.”

“It’s an enormous business. I perceive it isn’t probably the most healthful of companies, however I benefit from the problem.”

I’m cautious the entire time we’re consuming. Saul’s drawing Jason out an increasing number of whereas ensuring to maintain Nana within the dialog. I sit again and watch as my household is charmed by him, and I don’t understand how he does it. Nana’s straightforward—cigarettes and a reasonably face are all she wants—however Jason got here into this breakfast very skeptical. By the point he’s accomplished together with his bagel, his face is all lit up and fascinated as Saul tells a narrative about his household, principally revolving round assembly politicians, actors, and musicians.

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