Page 51 of Fumbling for Perfection

Am I? I haven’t a fucking clue. Instead of saying something that will only embarrass myself and most likely Jackson and Riley, I ignore the couple and work my way through the crowd to find my brother.

I make it to the end of a hall and come to a dead end. Taking the stairs, I head up to the second floor and step into a heated conversation.

“What are you thinking, Jackson? Do you know how this makes the company look?”

“I wasn’t thinking of the company, Dad. I was thinking about Riley. And me. It’s not fair to her.”

“To her?” Sebastian scoffs. “I read the contract. She was due to get a hefty settlement. No wonder Meredith is so distraught. She just lost out on over a million dollars.”

“Ri—” I start to say from the corner I’m hiding in as Jackson says, “Margaret. Preferably Riley. And no, Riley is not upset about the money. She didn’t want any of it.”

“That’s bullshit and you know it.”

“Dad. Can we not talk about this right now?”

“There’s serious damage control you need to get started on.”

“On the contrary, I don’t anticipate any. Our company is an equal opportunity employer. More than half our management team is either female, gay, or a minority. I don’t anticipate our board having an issue with me being gay.”

I lean against the wall and watch our father, expecting him to turn on Jackson. Only he doesn’t. I don’t know if I admire this about him or if it pisses me the hell off even more. Why can he be accepting of Jackson but not of me?

I’m a professional NFL player. I’m respected, sought after, and have won numerous awards. So what makes Sebastian and Lydia so ashamed of me?

The resentment that has been building for nearly all my life erupts to the surface. I push off the wall and march down the hallway toward them.

My father snaps his head my way and narrows his eyes like all of this is my fault. “What are you doing here?”

“Checking on my brother. What areyoudoing here?” I counter, crossing my arms over my chest.

He ignores me and turns his attention back to Jackson. “You need to get to the country club and do damage control.”

“I don’t have my car. I let Riley take it back to the hotel.”

“You let her drive?” I ask. She was in no condition to be behind the wheel.

“What if she doesn’t return your car? The Bentley is worth a hundred grand.”

Fucking Sebastianwouldworry more about the hunk of steel than a human being.

“She was okay to drive, and the hotel isn’t far.”

“I think I have everything,” Kendall says, coming out of the room we’re standing in front of, a large bag draped over her shoulder.

“We’ll take care of her,” Rowan says, placing a hand on Jackson’s shoulder.

Shouldn’t Riley’s friends be pissed at him? I’m so fucking confused right now. I hate that the only people who seem upset over this shitshow are Riley, my father, and me.

“I’ll go with you to the club, Mr. Bankes. Jackson, you can take my car.” Taylor hands Jackson his keys, and their hands linger longer than I’d expect for a quick hand off.

“Fine.” Sebastian straightens his coat. “Don’t take too long. You have board members and investors who will want a word with you.”

When they’re gone and it’s just my brother and me in the hallway, Jackson’s shoulders relax. “Thanks for sticking around.”

I narrow my eyes on him. He’s Mr. Popular. I’ve been back in his life for less than twenty-four hours. There has to be someone else he confides in.

“What happened?”

He tucks his hands in his pockets and rocks back on his heels. “You were there.”

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