“This fucking idiot here is my youngest brother,” Jeremy says.
“I heard that!” a voice calls out from the living room.
Jeremy winces. “Grams has the best hearing, and she hates swearing,” he explains. “Sorry Grams.” He shouts.
“I’ll be back.” Eliza wanders off.
“I’ll give her a hand.” Chelsea follows.
“She’s upset, right?” Harvey asks.
“Are you seriously asking? Isn’t that obvious?” Jeremy snaps, smacking the back of his head.
“I don’t know women.” Harvey shoves his hands in his pocket.
“Clearly,” Jeremy adds.
“Looks like we need to be introduced too.” Two other guys slide up next to Jeremy. One squeezes Jeremy’s shoulder, the other nods beside him.
Jeremy looks at me. “These are my other brothers, Evan and Oliver. This is Nova, my girlfriend.”
Eliza and Chelsea arrive back with drinks.
“Thanks,” I say, taking the glass. I immediately take a sip, enjoying the fruity Riesling.
“Evan and Oliver, this is Nova’s friend Chelsea.”
Oliver steps forward, his hand ready to shake hers. “I’m one of Jeremy’s younger— “
“And dumber,” Harvey teases.
“Great, there's more of you,” Chelsea mumbles to me. Then drains half her glass.
I smile into my wine glass before drinking some more.
“What do you do for work, Nova?” Oliver asks.
I move my gaze to his to answer. “I’m an accountant.”
“Impressive.”
“What about you?” I ask.
“I own Lincoln Gallery.”
“Nice.”
Evan is quietly standing there. He doesn’t say anything. He’s not angry or scary looking. He’s obviously the quiet one. Happy to assess the situation and only speak when spoken too.
“Evan, what do you do?” I ask, wanting to get to know him.
“I’m the CEO of Lincoln Media.”
“I’ve heard of that. The paper has been around for many years,” Chelsea says.
“Look at all of you. Good jobs and good looking,” I say.
“Only me, right?” Jeremy cuts in.