Page 112 of A Hard Fit

“You would have been coming from, like, a foosball tournament or something. I was atwork,” Jackson snapped.

“Everything sorted?” Jonathan asked. His cheeks were pink and hair mussed. Finn wondered how many Straw-Bailey margaritas he had sampled before the party.

“For now.” Jackson sighed, so put upon. He loosened his tie. “We really need to take another look at our distributor in the south-east—”

“Can I get you a Straw-Bailey margarita?” Bailey interrupted. “Dad made them. They’re so good.”

“Uh…” He eyed the pink beverages dotting the table. “I’ll have a beer, thanks.”

Davis slipped from the room with his tray.

“You made it,” Amy said dryly when Jackson took his seat next to her.

He muttered something in reply that Finn couldn’t make out. Jackson’s gaze flicked up and met Finn’s.

Neither of them looked away.

Jackson curled his lip and lifted his beer at Finn in a sarcastic salute.

Without breaking eye contact, Finn lifted Rory’s knuckles to his lips.

Davis stepped between them as he leaned over to place Jackson’s beer on the table and the moment was over.

For now.

Once the meal was completed and the plates cleared, Lainey stood with her drink in hand. “Time for presents and cake!” she announced. “Everyone to the living room.”

“Jackson,” Rory called, hanging back as the room cleared. “Can we have a second, please?”

Jackson stopped with a sigh. “Whatever you’re going to say, can it wait? I’ve had a long day.”

“It can’t.”

Jackson rolled his eyes and leaned against the sideboard. “So, talk.”

“Mom said you were going to call me,” Rory said.

Jackson shrugged as he took a swig of beer. “She mentioned I should call you, like once.”

“Yeah, and you didn’t.”

“I’ve been busy.”

“Jackson, I need you to understand something, and I hope I don’t ever have to repeat myself, or it’s going to be a serious problem. I love Finn. He is the most important person in my life. He’s not going anywhere. In fact…” Rory paused to look at Finn and take his hand. “We are engaged.”

“You’reengaged?” Jackson’s eyes bugged out.

“That’s right. So, you will stop being a fucking snob and you will be respectful to him at all times. And if you pull any more shit again, you won’t be invited to the wedding.”

Jackson looked back and forth between them a few times, then bobbed his head. “Okay. You’re right.”

Finn and Rory exchanged a look. “Really?” Rory said.

“Really.” He offered a hand to Finn. “I hope you can accept my apology, Finn.”

“Er…yeah, of course.” They shook.

“And welcome to the family,” Jackson added.

---