Welcome to the Big Apple

Tapping my foot, I waited in baggage claim at JFK for Melissa and Dean. Tempted to bring a super-embarrassing fake sign congratulating them on the birth of their sextuplets, I’d nixed that idea and waited empty-handed instead, an anxious smile plastered all over my face. Melissa’s head covered with bouncy curls appeared first, followed by Dean’s muscular frame towering over her.

When Melissa caught wind of Dean’s impending trip, she invited herself along, claiming she still hadn’t seen our place yet and it wasn’t fair if Dean saw it first. Even though she’d been to New York a hundred times before, it had been years since she’d last visited. I said yes immediately, but reminded them both that we only had one guest room, so no fighting over the bed and the couch. In the end, they each agreed to share the one bed and I secretly wondered if I could cast a love spell on it before they arrived. I might have even searched for one online.

Hell, I think we were all tired of waiting for the inevitable coupling that should be Dean and Melissa. But maybe it was just inevitable to all of us on the outside? Especially since no one really knew what had happened between them.

Melissa looked around curiously as she grabbed me with both hands. “No Jack?” she asked and I breathed out a sarcastic sound.

Dean eyed me with sympathy. “I’ll kick his ass, Sis. It’s all good.” Then he wrapped his strong arms around me and gave me a tight squeeze.

I shook my head. “It’s definitely not all good, Dean. It’s not even close to all good.”

The three of us walked side by side toward the baggage claim carousel. “Is it that bad?” Melissa asked in a low voice.

I nodded. “I’ve never seen this side of him.” Unable to compare Jack’s current personality to any of his moods I’d witnessed since knowing him, I turned to Dean. “Has he ever been like this before?”

Dean shrugged. “Not that I can think of. I mean, he was a wreck when he lost you, but he wasn’t a dick. The things you’ve been telling me don’t sound like my brother at all.”

His words actually relieved me. “I was hoping you’d say that.”

“Why?”

“Because then this isn’t really a part of him, you know? It’s just something he’s going through right now.” I nodded to myself before continuing. “And I think I can deal with that if I know for certain it’s eventually going to come to an end.”

“Well then, you’d better pray he can pitch in six weeks.”

The truth of that sentence sucked the air from my lungs and I almost doubled over in the middle of the airport. Dean was right. And even though I wasn’t the type of person who prayed, I would definitely start praying tonight.

We stopped walking as other people from their flight started filling in the space around us. Melissa looked around. “Any paparazzi follow you here?”

I smiled. “They’ve backed off since the article with Vanessa came out. You know that. Although I am a little surprised they aren’t more up my ass since Jack got hurt.”

“Be thankful.”

“Oh, trust me, I am. The last thing I need is for them to catch wind of Jack’s piss-and-vinegar attitude.”

Melissa glanced around. “So, where’s our hot driver? Meow,” she said playfully, raising her eyebrows as I smacked her shoulder.

“He’s home with his pregnant wife, you whore. She wasn’t feeling well and I told him I’d go with another driver.”

“Well, that’s no fun.” Her bow-shaped lips puckered into that famous Meli pout.

I glanced at Dean, who tried to pretend like her words didn’t bother him, but his body language said otherwise. His back had stiffened and his lips had pressed together into a slight snarl. Glancing back at Melissa, I asked, “Who needs Matteo when you have Dean?”

Dean glanced at me, a sarcastic smirk replacing the snarl. “We all know I’m not good enough for Princess Melissa here.” He waved his hand in her direction.

“What?” Melissa snapped back. “Whoever said you weren’t good enough for me? And don’t call me Princess!”

Tension practically crackled in the air between them, and I sighed.

Dean squinted his hazel eyes and lowered his face to hers. “If you actually liked me back, Princess, then we’d be together right now.”

She rolled her eyes. “We are together right now, dummy.”

“No. I mean we’d be a couple and you know it. Stop avoiding the subject.”

“I’m not avoiding anything. You’ve never even asked,” Melissa half-shouted over the sound of the baggage claim carousel kicking into gear.

“Asked? Asked you what? I don’t even know what the hell you’re talking about right now!” Dean threw his hands into the air before pacing back and forth. “You make me crazy, you know that?”

Melissa shrugged her slim shoulders. “I don’t even do anything.”

He stopped pacing and pointed a finger at her. “You don’t even do anything? YOU DON’T EVEN DO ANYTHING?” he repeated as his face reddened.

“That’s what I said.” She looked at me before smiling and flipping her hair.

Listening to this verbal ping-pong match all weekend was going to be the death of me. I stepped between them and gritted out, “Holy shit, you two, shut up. Work it out in the bedroom. Please, for the love of all that’s holy … just work it out.”

“I’ve been trying for the last two years,” Dean said through gritted teeth.

“He always makes me the bad guy!” Melissa yelled before stomping away.

Dean’s hands flew to the back of his head, where he threaded his fingers through his hair. “She is going to fucking kill me. Look at her.”

I did as he asked and stifled a laugh. Melissa was currently struggling to get her suitcase off the spinning carousel. The damn thing looked twice her size and she was being dragged along as she yanked at it, unable to maneuver it over the edge and onto the floor.

“Come on, let’s get out of here.” I nudged his rib cage with my shoulder.

When we got into the car, I positioned myself in the rear seat between Dean and Melissa, feeling like a referee just waiting to blow my whistle and shout, “Interference!” or “Offside!” But neither of them so much as looked at the other. This was going to be a long few days.

Dean stared out the car window, his eyes widening as he took in the views. I remembered how alive I felt the first time I came here. In the midst of my Jack-shattered heart, New York seemed to be the only place that could mend it. It buzzed with energy in the day, but it created it at night. I loved this city.

“Wait until you see the view from our balcony.”

Dean turned to me. “I can’t believe you guys live here.”

“It’s pretty awesome, right?” I smiled.

“I’ve never seen anything like it.”

The car slowed to a stop as we pulled in front of our building. “We’re here.”

Dean didn’t wait for our driver to open his door. “This looks like something straight out of Disneyland,” he said, glancing up at the light bulbs that lined the awning over our building’s entrance, and I laughed.

“It’s just those lights. I know. They look like the movie theater on Main Street. But you won’t think that in the daytime. Come on.”

“Thanks, Pete.” I smiled at the driver as he unloaded the last of the suitcases from the trunk.

Melissa looked straight up into the night sky. “Twenty-three floors up, right?”

“Yep,” I responded before wrapping an arm around her. “It’s not that bad. Just don’t look down.” A small sound squeaked out of my best friend.

The doorman held open the front door for us to walk through. “Evening, Mrs. Carter.”

“Good evening, Antonio. This is Jack’s brother, Dean, and my best friend, Melissa. They’re staying with us for a few days, so be sure to give them access.”

Antonio studied their faces, as if committing them to memory. “You got it. I hope you enjoy your stay.” He tipped his head. “Oh, and Mrs. Carter, tell Mr. Carter we miss him on the field and to get better soon.”

Forcing a smile, I told him I would pass along his message, but inside I started to crumble. “I hope you’re ready for this,” I warned Dean as the elevator dinged and we stepped inside.

Dean nodded. “But can I just say that this place is awesome? A doorman? Lights like Disneyland? I can’t wait to see what your apartment looks like.”

I held back a chuckle; he sounded like an excited kid. “It’s ridiculously nice. We’re really lucky.”

My mind shot back to the day we first toured this apartment. Jack had the rare day off and had found us this place after researching all morning. It was love at first sight for me, what with the granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, enormous master bedroom, and equally huge marble bathroom. The balcony with its view of the city was simply an added perk that called to my photographic side. To put it mildly, I fell in love the moment I walked through the front door.

Jack, on the other hand, didn’t even explore the apartment at all. Waiting for my approval, he said all that mattered was that I liked it. He had been sold on the doorman, the twenty-four hour security, and the private gym.

“Cassie? Hellooo.” Melissa waved a hand in front of my eyes, forcing me back to reality.

“Sorry,” I said with a sheepish smile. “I was just remembering the first time we saw this place.” I shook off the memory and stepped out of the elevator.

When I opened the front door, the shadows from the television and the city lights danced across the otherwise darkened walls. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided the most beautiful views of the city, and Melissa gasped as she pulled her suitcase through the entryway.

“Wow. That’s stunning. What a view, Cass.”

“Holy shit, that’s gorgeous,” Dean agreed as the wheels on his suitcase squeaked.

Melissa leaned toward me and whispered, “Where’s Jack?”

“I’m trying to sleep, but you’re all so fucking loud.” Jack’s snarky voice sliced through our otherwise enjoyable moment, putting us all on notice.

I pursed my lips together, my eyes instantly filling with tears, and waved a hand in the direction of the couch.

“Aren’t you a peach?” Dean mocked, before walking through the living room and flipping on every switch he could find.

The apartment lit up like a showroom and Jack cursed. “Turn those off. Fuck.” He glared at his brother in the bright light, and for a moment I was embarrassed at his appearance. He refused to shave and wouldn’t let me help him, so his beard was overgrown and he looked really scruffy.

“Stop being a dick,” Dean snapped back.

“Stop being here,” Jack growled before covering his eyes with a pillow.

“Nice to see you, too.” Dean moved away from his brother and walked back toward his things. “Where’s the guest room?”