Holden and Harlow both roll their eyes, but neither are upset.
“So, you want to explain what the fuck happened?” Declan, my control freak big brother demands, his arms crossed as he leans against a wall, frowning at me.
“Dude, calm down. I’m sure she has a perfectly acceptable excuse.” Kai, the peacemaker, waves his hand at Dec.
“She fucking better,” Jax growls, and I wince. I love all of my siblings equally, but there’s a part of me that is programmed to care most about what my twin thinks. When he looks at me with anything like he is now—disgust, anger, or disappointment—my heart just hurts. There’s no other way to describe it.
“Guys, she’s an adult, and what she chooses to do in her private life is her own.” Thomas sits at Harlow’s feet and leans back against her legs. Her hands drift down to his hair, running her fingers through it.
“Yes, butprivateis the key word in that statement. Not splashed all over page one.” I flip Declan off, so not in the mood to deal with one of his tantrums.
“Like I fucking meant for that to happen!” Before I can say anything else, Cole jumps in.
“Look, why don’t you let her explain before you all jump down her throat?”
Holy shit. Did he just stick up for me?
“Cole’s right. Tell us what happened, Jazzy,” Emma quietly coaxes.
I explain exactly what happened, leaving out the reason I was partying in the first place since Cole and I agreed we wouldn’t tell them what we were doing. By the end of the story, they’re all laughing except Dec.
“Fucking Camilla is a pain in the ass. Always trying to paint us in a bad light.” He’s got his growly voice on. “Can’t we sue her for something?”
“Well, with evidence such as that photo, I don’t think we have a leg to stand on,” Hope points out dryly.
“I’m so sorry. I know we’re trying to look better for the shareholders. I really was just helping out a friend.”
“Of course you were. Poor Ashton, having to hide his sexuality. His grandmother is a real dragon. She’s all that’s left of his family since his mother died just after he was born, and his father drank himself to death. Poor dear was raised by nannies and that monster.” Nana sighs. “That estate of theirs is falling down around their shoulders. She’s been trying to marry him off to a wealthy family for years. Although she threatens to disinherit him, he already has the title, and the estate goes with the title, I’m sure she’s guilted him enough over the years that he may believe what she says is true. But she’s actually living there on his good nature.”
“Bullshit. He doesn’t hide his sexuality at all. He’s just usually very careful. There’s no photographic proof of anything with any male partners. There’s plenty of him with women.”
“I don’t know. I recognized that look of panic on his face when he thought he was going to get caught. He wasn’t faking it,” I say, arguing with Jaxon. I’m not sure why, but I feel protective of Ash. I can kind of relate to the whole pretending to be someone I’m not thing.
He shrugs. “Well, he owes you after that. It doesn’t hurt to have him owe you a favor.”
“Indeed, but be careful. That grandmother will probably set her sights on you now. You are wealthy in your own right and have a title yourself. You’re exactly the kind of woman she wants him to marry,” Nana warns as the guys take their leave and return to their movie for the rest of the flight.
“Yeah, well, I hope this doesn’t ruin what chance I had with Alex, Shane, and Jace.” I look around, not wanting to admit to my family that we’re going to ask Ashton if he’ll pretend with me for a while. “Where are the security guys?” I’m a little sad that Riku isn’t here, though I don’t regret him missing another explanation of the blow job closet fiasco.
“They were watching the movie too. They must have decided to let us have a family chat,” Hope explains as Poppy goes back to his book and Dad, Emma, and Molly return to their puzzle.
“Family plus Cole,” I grumble, and Hope leans forward to look at Harlow.
“Ask Jazzy how Batman became her favorite superhero.”
“You bitch,” I hiss out of the side of my mouth before proceeding to tell my other sister about my wild birthday adventure. Minus the coke, of course. I think I’ll still keep that one to myself for now.
ChapterTwenty-Three
Jacinta
The manager of the hotel comes bustling out to greet the family on arrival. He and Jaxon put their heads together to arrange our room allocation. Dad, Molly, and Emma, as well as Nana and Poppy, are all here because we’re meeting Aunt Merideth for a late lunch. They’ll check in at the other hotel after, so their luggage was sent separately.
The foyer is teeming with familiar faces as everyone checks in prior to the opening party the following night. I’m standing off to the side with Hope and Harlow, waiting to be issued my key, when a voice sounds out from the other side of the room.
“Yoo-hoo! Summers family.” The slightly British accented voice has me spinning around, a genuine smile breaking out across my face. “Aunt Mer!” I call as we watch the tall, statuesque older woman sashay from the elevators. Her chestnut-colored hair is artfully styled, and the pantsuit she’s wearing fits her svelte figure to perfection. My aunt’s heels can be heard clicking on the marble floors from the other side of the room.
“Brace yourselves! Incoming,” I announce to my family. Poor Harlow and Cole look clueless, but the rest of us are ready for Hurricane Merideth.
