Jacque elbowed him lightly in the ribs. “Be nice. It’s best not to judge people in this situation until you’re a parent yourself. I learned that with my sister. You never know how you’re going to react when it’s your turn.”
“Iambeing nice,” he said, smirking as he looked at her. “I could’ve called him a neurotic helicopter parent who needs to chill out before he kills himself, but I didn’t. Besides, I’m not like that with Little J, so I’m pretty sure I won’t be that kind of father.”
“Sure, but Will and Eliza are responsible for keeping Little J alive,” Kate countered. “Not you. Nate wasn’t like that with Cameron or any of your cousins’ kids either, but his own? That’s a different story.”
“Are we really going to keep calling Bennet Little J?” Theo asked no one in particular.
Jesse gasped like someone had punched him. “Of course, we are. He can be Bennet to all the Brits. To us, he’s always going to be Little J.”
The conversation drifted from there, sometimes serious and sometimes nonsense. Apparently Jane and Cameron had gone to DC with Alex in the end, which meant he was marginally happier about the trip. Will and Eliza were knee deep in more renovations to the castle in England. Charlotte and Trent were counting down the weeks until the baby came.
Due to neither Dad nor Alex being here, it was probably the most informal family dinner we’d ever had, but while I was physically present, I wasn’t really there either. My head was stuck between an art market, a dog park, and a pair of bright blue eyes I hadn’t planned on ever seeing again.
“Okay,” Jesse said suddenly, cutting through the noise in my head. “What’s going on with you?”
When I glanced over at him, I realized he was speaking to me. “What?”
“You’re weird today. Weird is my thing, and Theo’s, and apparently Nate’s now that he’s become a dad, but weird is not you.”
I scoffed. “Fuck you. I’m always weird. Just in my own way.”
I took another bite of pizza like that might convince him to end the conversation, but it didn’t work. Ever since Jesse had moved back to Chicago and fallen in love with Jacque, he’d been on a mission to be a better brother, and frankly, that made things difficult for me.
“Come on,” he said, standing up from the stair he’d been sitting on. “Walk with me.”
I sighed and finished the last bite of my slice. “If I come back and all the pizza is gone?—”
“It will be,” Theo said.
“I’m blaming all of you,” I finally finished, but Jesse just laughed from down the hall.
“Blame them as much as you like. No one will care. Now come on. We’re walking.”
I groaned and wiped my hands on a paper towel, then followed him, hoping he’d at least be quick about this check-in. Jesse could usually be counted on not to waste time, but hell. A year ago, I could also count on him not to interfere. That wasn’t true anymore either.
We ended up in our father’s old study where the good liquor was still kept. I wasn’t surprised when Jesse headed right over to the bar cart in the corner and poured himself a drink, then glanced at me. “Do you want one?”
“No, thanks.”
“Suit yourself.”
He took a sip before leaning back against the desk and turning to me. “What’s up your ass today?”
“Nothing.”
He did a really bad imitation of a buzzer sound and shook his head. “Try again.”
I crossed my arms, still standing right inside the door and not planning on going any further into the room. “I’m fine.”
“You’re not fine,” he said easily. “You’ve been off since you opened the door.”
“That’s impressive,” I muttered. “You managed to diagnose me in under ten seconds.”
He rolled his eyes. “I’ve known you my entire life.”
“How unfortunate for you,” I shot back. “Seriously, Jesse. Just drop it.”
He eyed me for another beat before he lifted his hands in surrender, but instead of taking his drink and heading back to the Staircase of Impending Death, he waited me out.
