Pen nods. “Shit, I hadn’t thought about the board.”
“Welcome to my life.”
“As for your brothers. They’ll get over it. You have April, Leah, and me to ensure they do,” she says with a wink. “Have you spoken to Jax since you landed?”
“It’s only been twenty-four hours,” I say.
“So?”
I shrug. “No. He was heading to the US after we landed.” My hand moves to my cutlery again, and Pen’s eyes follow the movement. I stop. “He has some issues to clear up. I’m not anticipating hearing from him until the board meeting when he presents his proposal.”
Pen is silent.
“I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention any of this to Eli,” I say.
“My lips are sealed. You’re my friend. Despite Eli being my lover and baby daddy, that means a lot to me. I won’t break your confidence.”
“Thank you.”
Pen rolls her eyes. “And don’t worry, April and I had words with both Eli and Caleb. They won’t be pulling any more stunts.”
She has more faith in my brothers than me.
“But know it came from a place of love.”
I chuckle. I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for that conversation.
“I’m used to them trying to protect me. It’s ingrained in the Frazer men. My brothers seem to forget I can be a force of nature all by myself.”
Pen raises her glass of water and chinks it against mine.
“I keep having to remind Eli I’m not a delicate wallflower, especially with the baby coming. That I run my own multi-million-pound company and have done for years.”
“To protective males,” I say with a smile.
Pen grins.
There’s a long pause.
“To think, you and Jax… I can’t believe I never saw it before.”
“We were good at covering our tracks, although clearly not good enough. You had more than enough on your plate at the time, with Eli and Darra.”
Pen inclines her head, not denying my words. It was a difficult time for everyone.
“I always thought you two would be good together. The way you would sit and talk when you thought no one was looking. How he would always come and support you at your piano recitals.”
“Jax was like you, the Frazer name never bothered him. Or at least never appeared to.”
“It didn’t, he was just happy to be included in the family stuff. His home life wasn’t great, as you know. His mum leaving, then getting together with his dad’s best friend. No siblings to help him through. Holidays with you and your family were an escape from reality. It was, for all of us. Even Darra.”
“Don’t mention that woman.”
Pen shrugs. “She’s Lottie’s mum. I can’t ignore her. Even if Lottie is refusing to speak to her at the moment.”
“Still?”
Pen nods. “She’s digging her heels in. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear she was Eli’s daughter. They both have the same stubborn streak.”
