Page 76 of Forking the Billionaire

As the serversdelivered our food, I thanked my lucky stars that I had Marc to handle any of Brenda’s mishaps while I was away.

Me: Have I told you you’re a lifesaver? Thank you again for managing Brenda while I’m away.

Marc: I still refuse to refer to a building by a woman’s name. And you’re welcome.

I grinnedand slipped my phone back into my pocket.

Esme absently twisted a lock of hair around her finger as she watched the sisters bicker. She looked at me and quirked her lips to the side. A simple glance, a tiny smile, and my heart pitter-pattered.

The conversation went from reality show shenanigans to honeymoon plans, which apparently entailed Gabriel and Layana leaving here to visit other islands in the area before heading to Europe where they would spend another week before settling in Germany for a month for Gabriel’s new business merger.

I listened and tried not to let my attention linger too long on Esme, or on the way she’d tied her windswept hair over her shoulder in a loose twisted braid, or the way the soft lightingcaught a ring of gold along the edge of her irises that I’d somehow never noticed before.

“Jasper.”

It was my brother’s voice. I glanced in his direction. The entire table was staring at me. I guessed I wasn’t listening well enough.

And hopefully they hadn’t been staring long, or they would realize who had captured my attention.

“Hmm?” I flashed Oscar a smile.

I could tell the truth and let them know I was feeling a little slow today after trying and failing to sleep on the beach. But mentioning any of that would only end in more questions I didn’t want to answer, including why I hadn’t slept in my own room or how I smelled clean if I hadn’t returned to my room.

The answer to the second was that I’d stolen a few minutes in the outdoor shower by Oscar’s room while he and Morgan were at the pool.

“Recommendations for Layana during her stay in Germany,” Oscar said, his expression flat.

“I haven’t been to Germany,” I said.

We blinked at each other a moment, me wondering if he’d noticed me staring at Esme, him probably wondering what was wrong with me.

I took a bite of whatever fish everyone had ordered. My tastebuds told me it was good, even though I hardly registered any of it.

“I thought there was a trip for one of Sebastian’s birthdays,” Oscar said. “Fourteen or thereabouts.”

“He went. I didn’t.”

A pang of knowing regret crossed Oscar’s features for a quick second before Morgan navigated the conversation back into safer waters.

Oscar had been excluded from most of the Carrington family activities when we were kids. That didn’t mean I’d been included in everything. I didn’t expect him to know all of the details, and the reminder didn’t hurt me, even if he seemed to think it could.

Nothing hurt if I didn’t let it. It was easier and more pleasant to go with the flow. If he’d continued to press the point, I’d have told him so, but the conversation had already moved along.

“Morgan and LayLay grew up together, we all know this, but what about you two?” Juno pointed at Gabriel and me. “I hear you have serious history, too.”

I took another bite of my food, still not tasting it.

“Jasper moved in next door when I was fourteen,” Gabriel said.

“I was twelve,” I added.

“I was five,” Esme said.

Juno snapped a picture of the group of us with her phone. Then she asked, “Has Gabriel always been so reserved?”

“Yes,” Gabriel said.

Esme barked a laugh.

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