Page 44 of Mine to Keep

Chapter9

Family gatherings these days made Jamison itchy. He scratched his neck and shoulder as he stood in front of the grill. He couldn’t believe that he’d agreed to step foot in Steve’s oceanfront mansion. Of course, he didn’t buy the lame excuse that the venue had changed last minute. Nope. Best kept fucking secret in Lighthouse Cove.

Shit. Wait until his ex-wife showed up. She’d be all up his ass about how he could be working for his biological father and living on Lighthouse Island in a twenty-million-dollar home, too. Well, no fucking way. Besides not being able to wrap his brain around that kind of wealth, he couldn’t see himself living like this. It was over-the-top and way too indulgent.

As he’d told Bryn, he could imagine building a second story onto the house he owned now. But that would cost a few pretty pennies.

And he didn’t have enough of those saved up yet. But he would. Someday. Especially now that he had a website and was working off more than word of mouth.

He lifted the grill, and steam and smoke hit his face. He took the spatula and flipped the burgers, pushing around a couple of the hot dogs and potatoes. His mother had been happy that he’d agreed to do the grilling. However, she’d also wanted him to mingle with the hundred-plus guests that’d shown up.

“Hey, baby brother,” Seth said as he slapped his shoulder. “Looks like you’re still trying to avoid all of us by cooking.” Seth was ten years older. But growing up, they had been tight. Not to mention, Seth had married a woman that Jamison had dated. Sort of. And Farrah and Jamison had been friends all through school. She was still someone Jamison admired and enjoyed being around, though the current climate of the family made that difficult.

He wished things were different. Especially with Seth, though that relationship was getting better. If Jamison had needed advice about anything, he’d call Seth before going to any of his other siblings. It wasn’t because he was older and wiser, though that was part of it. It had more to do with the connection he felt with Seth. As if he always understood where Jamison was coming from and knew how to help solve whatever problems his little brother was faced with in life.

Until Steve had come into the picture.

Seth had been one of the first to accept Steve and his family, and that hurt in ways Jamison couldn’t describe. It was a betrayal that’d burned through his core faster than when his wife had cheated on him.

“Actually, Dad set me on this task.”

“That shouldn’t surprise me.” Seth handed him an ice-cold beer. “Mom said you’re bringing a date.”

“We’re not dating,” Jamison corrected. “Bryn doesn’t know anyone in town, and I thought this would be a good place for her to meet some people. Plus, she’s got a jewelry-making business that she needs to get off the ground.”

“Yes. I’ve heard. Mom is showing off her website to everyone who steps through the doors and talking about how she’s going to use her to make some custom pieces. But Mom thinks you’re bringing Cheryl as your date, not Bryn, and she’s telling people that you’re going to have special jewelry made for her as if you’re getting back together.”

“That, right there, is why I’m not staying long.” He arched a brow. “I don’t know what’s worse. Mom pushing Cheryl on me or Steve.”

“Jamison, don’t start.” Seth took a quick swig of his beer and gave him that big-brother look of disappointment. “Mom just wants you to be happy, and Cheryl is in her ear telling her things and influencing her. You’re not.”

“I can only imagine what Cheryl has been saying. But what’s worse is that Mom is even listening, much less believing her. I’m divorced, and there’s a reason for that. I don’t want Cheryl in my life, and Mom needs to respect that.”

“Well, you need to respect that Steve is in Mom’s life, so don’t go and pick a fight with them today. Or Orlando. He’s struggling with all this, too.”

“He’s only worried I’m going to take his trust fund.” The second the words left Jamison’s mouth, he regretted them. He had no idea what his new siblings really thought because he refused to give them the time of day. And, honestly, they hadn’t tried too hard to reach out to him, either.

“That’s not true.”

Jamison chuckled. “It’s partly true, and you know it.”

“Only because of Cheryl,” Seth said. “For the record, we’ve all told Mom that Cheryl isn’t the one for you.”

“Thanks.”

“But I’m asking you to be on your best behavior today.”

“Keep Steve away from me, and we’ve got nothing to worry about.”

“Come on, man. It’s been two years since all this came out. Why can’t you let it go?” Seth leaned against the outdoor kitchen counter. He looked identical to their father.

To Dalton.

It was a painful reminder that the biology wasn’t there for Jamison.

“I could if everyone would stop trying to force a man who isn’t my father on me.”

“All right. But he’s Mom’s boyfriend. He loves her, and she loves him, and I wouldn’t be surprised if a wedding’s in the near future.”

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