Page 95 of So in Love
“Just like Crystal.What else do you have in common?”Trent asked.
Jamie didn’t want to feel like he was under interrogation, but it was difficult not to with all of them focused on him.Plus, he was seated at a lower vantage point on the hearth.Maybe he should’ve remained standing.That way he could flee at a moment’s notice.
He told himself to chill out.This wasn’t Sadie’s family.God, he remembered that introduction at their manor house outside London.It had looked like something out of an English period drama complete with a reclining mastiff at Sir Geoffrey’s feet.Thathadn’t been intimidating.
This was better.Wasn’t it?No dog, but four rather large men who were all likely devoted to their daughter and sister’s protection and well-being.
No, not better.
“Uh, what do we have in common?”Jamie racked his brain for something.Anything.“She likes wine too.”Ugh, really?
“And beer,” Sam said.“How’d you meet up?”
“I guess through Alaina?”Jamie hadn’t meant for that to come out as a question.He’d just tried to throw something out before his filter-poor brain said something like,We had hot sex on New Year’s Eve!He took a long drink of beer both to fortify himself and keep his mouth from spewing things he’d instantly regret.
“He lives in Ribbon Ridge,” Chuck explained.“Where Alaina lives.”
“I didn’t realize Crystal spent much time there,” Sam said.
Chuck grinned.“You’re awfully busy with three kids under the age of five.”
“Very true.Don’t mind me if I fall asleep over here.”Sam sank farther down into the couch.
“So does she spend a lot of time there or is your relationship long distance?”Fitz asked before swigging his beer.
“I guess long distance.Ish.She’s been spending a lot of time in Ribbon Ridge working on a project.”He wasn’t sure if he should talk about her screenplay.It seemed like her thing.But then it wasn’t a secret, especially with the coverage it was getting right now.He looked around the room at the guys who looked more comfortable on a farm than at a movie premiere and decided they weren’t readingVariety.
“The screenplay,” Chuck said.“She told us about it last night.Sounds fantastic.I’m so proud of my girl.”
Jamie lifted his bottle.“I can drink to that.”
Everyone else raised their beers and drank.
Chuck looked at Jamie.“Though I guess that means she’ll be in LA more.Long distance is tough.”
Yes, it was.They’d only been apart two weeks at a time, but he hated every moment.And now that they’d said they loved each other, he knew it would be worse.All afternoon, he’d floated on a haze of love and happiness—pure joy.Knowing they lived in different states twisted his gut into a knot.
Jamie sipped his beer, not knowing what to say.
“So what do you do at the winery?”Trent asked.“Stomp grapes?”He laughed.“Sorry, I know you don’t actually do that.”
“No, we have machines.But I don’t get involved in that stuff.I’m the money guy.”
“Hey, Alaina told me you were a super smarty-pants, that you went to the London School of Economics,” Sam said.
“Mick Jagger went there,” Chuck said.He looked around at his sons.“Google it if you don’t believe me.”
“Oh, I believe you,” Trent said, shaking his head with a laugh.He sent Jamie an intense stare.“Dad loves everything to do with the Stones.Donotknock their music, or things won’t go well for you.”
“I’m notthatbad.”Chuck looked over at Jamie.“You like them, right?How could you have gone to the London School of Economics and not?”
“You Can’t Always Get What You Wantis a classic, sir.”
“Sir?You call me Chuck.If you’re dating my daughter, call me by my name.”He glanced around at his sons.“What else do we need to know, boys?Oh, I know.”He looked back at Jamie.“What does your dad do?”
“He’s a middle school principal.”Jamie’s palms started to sweat.Thiswasan interrogation.“And my mom’s the elementary school secretary,” he added, figuring they would ask.“And if you know about Crystal’s screenplay you probably know that a couple of my ancestors were KKK leaders.”And there went his pathetic filter.
Chuck’s eyes widened.“That wasyourfamily?I think I missed that part.Hell’s bells, son, that’s pretty terrible.”
