Jett's jaw tightened, glaring at the bruised delicate wrist. "What's that?" He gritted out.
Jamie looked at him and blinked. "What's what?"
He nodded toward it. "Your wrist."
Jamie looked down quickly, pulling his sleeve over it. "It's nothing."
"Doesn't look like nothing."
"Maybe you should stop staring at it, then." Jamie snapped.
The words came sharp, defensive, but there was a flash of embarrassment underneath, something Jett caught even as Jamie turned away.
Matt came around the side just then, oblivious to their heated exchange. "Alright, all set! Jace's cleared, bags are in, let's roll!" He hollered.
Jett lingered a second longer, still watching Jamie adjust his sleeve. His instinct the same one that usually got him into fights, told him to ask again, to push. But he didn't.
Not yet.
He just picked up the last bag and shut the trunk.
The drive back was quiet. Jace had dozed off in the backseat beside his brother, while Matt hummed softly to whatever pop song played through the speakers.
Jett sat in the passenger seat, one arm hanging out the window, the wind catching in his hair.
Every few seconds, Jett's eyes would shift, to the reflection of Jamie's face in the mirror, to the way his hand rested protectively over Jace's arm even while he slept, to the faint mark on his wrist hidden beneath the fabric.
There was something about him, about the way he carried all that fear and still kept standing, that crawled under Jett's skin and refused to leave. He sighed and decided to take his mind off it for the moment.
When they finally arrived at Jamie's house, the air felt lighter and amiliar.
Jett helped unload without being asked this time, carrying box after box up the front steps while Jamie unlocked the door.
"I said you don't have to-" Jamie started.
"And I said I'm fine." Jett cut in again, setting the last box down.
He straightened, towering slightly over Jamie. It was just them downstairs, Matt had taken Jace to his room. Jamie realized that a little too late.
"You gonna tell me what happened to your hand sweetheart?." Jett hadn't meant to use the pet name, it just slipped out.
But the flash of irritation across Jamie's eyes was worth it. Jett realized he liked getting on Jamie's nerves.
"No, it's none of your business." Jamie bit back.
"You always this stubborn?'' Jett asked with a teasing smirk that Jamie wanted to punch off his annoying good looking face.
"Only when people don't listen." Jamie retorted.
"Guess that makes two of us."
Jamie blinked up at him, thrown off for half a second. There was something different in Jett's tone, not teasing, not angry. Just calm. Too calm.
Before he could reply, Matt called out from the top of the stairs.
"Hey, lovebirds, less staring, more moving!."
Jamie's face went red immediately. "We're not-!'
Jett just shook his head, lips twitching. "You're an idiot, Matt.'
"Yeah, yeah." Matt laughed. "Come help with the rest, Romeo."
Jett grabbed the final bag and walked past Jamie, brushing shoulders as he did. For once, Jamie was conflicted, what the hell was going on?.
✧
Upstairs, as they set Jace into his bed, Jamie hovered, adjusting pillows, tucking in blankets, double-checking everything again. Jett stood by the door, watching quietly.
For someone who talked so much, Jamie had gone silent. His eyes were tired, but soft when he looked at his brother.
"Hey." Jett said, after a beat. "He'll be fine."
Jamie looked up. Their eyes met, steady this time. "I know."
He smiled. It was brief, but it was real. "Thanks... for helping."
Jett gave a small nod. "Don't mention it."
"Alright, that's all. Get well soon and get back on your feet Jace, Charles is starting to become a burden while you weren't around." Matt said, earning a short laugh from Jace.
"Okay, I can't wait to start practicing too. I've missed the thrill. But thank you, both of you." Jace said, looking at Matt and Jett with sincere eyes.
"Thank you so much for not leaving my brother alone to deal with everything, needed that support and I'm glad you guys had his back."
His sincerity almost made Jamie tear up. But he masked it with a smile.
"Of course bud. You're welcome." Matt replied softly. Jett only have a nod, locking eyes briefly with Jamie.
But as he followed Matt out of the room, he couldn't stop himself from glancing back one more time.
Jamie was sitting on the edge of the bed now, hand resting gently on Jace's arm. The light from the window caught his profile, sharp nose, dark lashes, faint bruise still visible where the sleeve had slipped again.
And for the second time that week, Jett found himself thinking something he shouldn't.
Has he always looked this pretty?
He cursed quietly under his breath and walked out before he could think any further.