Page 61 of Golden Rule

“Oh, check this out,” Sterling pipes up, and everyone’s attention shifts toward him.

He takes a moment to pull something up on his phone, then turns the screen. It’s a pic he took of a very colorful, surprisingly detailed drawing.

“Jax did this,” he shares. “It’s actuallyallhe draws these days. He stayed over this past weekend, and I swear the kid was spitting these things out like a copy machine.”

There’s this look of pride in his eyes that I don’t miss, and it warms my heart. It’s amazing what a good dad he’s become, despite issues with hisownfather. It’s all the proof I need—if I needed it—that West can one day be just as loving towardourchildren.

Sadness attempts to creep in, but I’m able to shove the feeling aside when Sterling’s phone gets passed around the table for everyone to see.

Hunter squints when it gets to him. “Does that sayGooseat the top?” he asks, drawing a quiet laugh out of Sterling.

“Yeah, that’s what he kept calling it. I told him over and over that it’s a dog, but he insisted it’s a goose, so I wrote it in for him.”

The corner of Hunter’s mouth tugs up with a grin. “Nice.”

The phone gets passed to Joss next, and Lexi leans in for a better look. There’s this uncomfortable expression on her face as she rubs the side of her neck. Almost like there’s something she wants to say, but maybe she isn’t sure she should say it.

“Actually… I think I may know why he’s calling it a goose,” she says. “That’s the name of Matt’s chocolate lab. Jax is obsessed with him, and it looks like he’s now resorted to drawing him, so…”

She smiles, but it’s an awkward expression as realization settles in with not just Sterling, buteveryone.We all have oursuspicions about the nature of her relationship with Matt, but she insists it’s purely plutonic. Well, onherend, anyway. She can feed us that line as much as she wants to about Matt, but none of us are buying that he isn’t in love with her. Even if she doesn’t see it herself.

The phone makes it back into Sterling’s possession, and it’s clear the light has gone out of his eyes. Whether due to the fact that this is yetanotherreminder of Jaxon’s closeness to Matt, or… perhaps because it’s an indicator ofLexi’scloseness to Matt. Who knows, though, because Sterling would never admit to that if it were true.

“So, speaking of pictures,” Joss chimes in. “Tiffany… I saw you posted a pic the other day. Looked like you and April had lunch at The Vine. How was that?”

Joss sips from her glass, leveling some intense eye contact Tiffany’s way. Tiffany seems to notice the awkward energy and shifts in her seat.

“It was nice,” she says, forcing a smile. “She called, I didn’t have anything going on, so she invited me out. Her treat.”

Joss smiles, too, but it never reaches her eyes. “Sounds fun.”

I swallow deeply, wanting to talk about something else.

Anythingelse.

“Scar,” I blurt out, cringing at the odd tone of my voice. “How are things going now that you’re interning with Joss? Anything interesting going on there?”

Please, God, let there be something interesting going on there. Forallour sakes.

I take a huge gulp of water while Scar answers.

“It’s going great! Haven’t landed any eight-figure deals yet, but the boss says I’m well on my way,” she teases, and I don’t miss the look of admiration that flashes in her eyes when she glances toward Joss.

“She’s doing awesome,” Joss states, and it’s clear that the enjoyment goes both ways. “It’s only been a month, but she’s a natural. If she likes it well enough, I’ve already told her she might want to consider sticking with me. With plans to expand into other industries, I’d like to build a solid team and, who knows, maybe she can dip her toes into doing PR for the entertainment industry. Music maybe.”

Scar lights up, hearing Joss’s praise, and the diversion I prayed for seems to have arrived.

“I’d love to,” Scar chimes in again. “My dad’s going to have to fend for himself more, though. He’s gotten spoiled by me doing most of the cooking. Then again, I suppose Hannah can handle that part.”

We were doing so well, but just like that, my mood’s gone south. I haven’t met the woman, but my father’s world seems to be revolving around her now. Not that that’s an issue, but he’s notorious for going to a dark place when his relationships become challenging. Like with Mom. And I’m not sure my siblings and I can handle him putting us through that again.

As a matter of fact, Iknowwe couldn’t. Nor should we have to.

“Well, let’s just hope Hannah sticks around,” I say with a sigh, downing the last of my water right after.

“I don’t know. I think you’d like her,” Scar says. “She’s been good for Dad.”

“I’m sure she is. Until she isn’t.”

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