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I smile. “I will definitely have a drink.”

TEN

We take our drinks to the strange little sitting room, mostly because the lack of windows means we can close the door and not hear any buzzing. I stretch out on the sofa under the glass-eyed dolls while Jin takes the recliner and grumbles when the footrest smacks into the love seat.

“Are we sure this is actually a sitting room?” he says. “And not just the place where they store all the extra furniture and stuff no one wants to see, like freaky dolls?”

I tap a book. “We could call it the reading room instead.”

“Yeah, I hate to break it to you, Nic, but for some people, books are as unappealing as those dolls.”

I sigh. “Poor Jin. You just need to find the right one.”

He reaches over to kick my foot. “I don’t meanme.But I read this article a few months back about redecorating your apartment so it doesn’t turn off potential lovers. Removing visible books was high on the list.”

“The fuck you say.”

“I do say. Apparently, it’s a huge turnoff.”

“The turnoff would be going into a guy’s apartment and not findinganybooks.” I peer at him. “Why are you reading those articles? If you’re dumping my brother, I want my wedding gift back.”

He tosses a throw pillow at me. “I read the article because I saw it going around online, mostly for that ‘get rid of books’ bullshit. Now, personally, if a guy didn’t have any books, I’d stay… I’d just be gone by morning. One night does not require intelligent conversation. In fact, it can kinda get in the way.” He waggles his brows.

“True,” I say. “Long-term, though, I want to see books.” I lean back into the sofa. “And books that look read. I dated a guy once who had this really impressive bookcase. Turned out it came—already filled—with the apartment.”

“Ouch.”

“Anton had books,” I say. “Not a lot, because they were mostly fiction, and his apartment was tiny so he’d donate them after he was done. I pointed out the existence of libraries, but he liked new books. New paperbacks. Not hardcovers. Definitely not ebooks. Paperbacks he could read on the subway. And, to completely shut down that bullshit article, he got a lot of attention for his subway reading. People were always trying to strike up conversations about what he was reading, completely ignoring the fact that, for most of us, reading means we don’twantconversation. But you know Anton. He was always polite, and always amazed by how many women wanted to talk books.”

Jin lets out a snorting laugh. “Because that’s really why they were talking to him on the subway.”

“Why else? So many fellow book lovers in the world.”

Jin shakes his head. A happy quiet settles, as that memory washes over me, but then it starts dragging along the reminder that I’m never again going to hear Anton telling me about the book a fellow subway rider recommended, writing down the title on the back of her business card.

I clear my throat. “So, how is married life? Everything you expected?”

He barks a laugh and then slaps a hand over his mouth, gaze shooting up toward those sleeping overhead. “If it was everything I expected, I really would be looking at those articles.”

“So it has surpassed your very low expectations?”

“It has.” He settles in, legs outstretched until his feet are on the love seat. “I never thought I’d get married. I mean, I knew I legallycould.It’s been an option since before I went on my first date. But my parents—as much as I love them—did not set a good example for marriage. Have you ever had two friends who just didn’t get along? They only hung out together because of you?”

“Mmm, yeah. If it wasn’t for me, you and Libby wouldn’t be caught in the same room together.” I smile over at him. “But yes, I understand the principle and the analogy. Your parents are good people, and you love them both, but you didn’t want to be the reason for them staying together.”

“Exactly. When they finally split, it was a relief, and they went on to happy and fulfilling lives apart, while my siblings and I learned that marriage might not be the can’t-miss life experience the world says it is. I wasn’t dead set against it, but if I did settle in with one guy, it would definitely not be a man with an ex-wife, two kids, and one foot still in the closet. I don’t have time for that shit. And then along comes Keith and…” He shakes his head. “And suddenly I’m ready to make time for that shit.”

“I’m glad you did. Keith is probably glad, too.”

“Probably. Hard to tell sometimes. You know your brother.”

“I do, and I know exactly how he feels about you, which you should never question even if I joke about it.”

Jin shifts on his seat, the fake leather squeaking under his sweatpants. “I don’t. That’s the thing with Keith. He might have a toe in the closet even now, but that’s just his nature.”

“Takes him twenty minutes to wade past his knees in the lake, too.”

“If he even goes that far, because first he has to check for pollutionflags and undertow warnings, and where are the kids? Are they safe? Is anyone in too deep? Has he left anyone behind?”