Chapter 8
CHAPTER EIGHT
“Thanks for coming to lunch with me,” Sloan said from across the table.
I glanced up from my menu. The food looked delicious, and I was hungrier than I’d realized.
“It’s always nice to get away from the office for a little bit. How are you feeling?”
“Good.” She smiled, placing her hand on her stomach. “Honestly, I’m just ready for the baby to be here. I’m sick of everyone acting like I need to be swaddled in bubble wrap. And my belly is getting so heavy.”
I laughed. “Not much longer now. And then everyone’s focus will shift to your little one.”
“Thank god.” She laughed. We both did. “But if it’s a girl, she’s going to be screwed.”
I shook my head. “All those overprotective uncles. Not to mention her dad.”
Sloan’s smile turned wistful. “She will have Jackson wrapped around her little finger.”
“Can you even imagine?”
If it was a girl, Jackson was going to lose his shit. I couldn’t wait to see him absolutely melt for their daughter.
“Honestly, I’m just really excited to meet this little one.”
“We all are,” I said, beyond thrilled for my friend. She was going to be a great mom. “Are you looking forward to the baby shower?”
“Yes, but I’m completely overwhelmed by the registry. Who knew something so tiny needed so much stuff?” Her eyes bugged out.
I laughed. “Yeah. I remember feeling the same way. Do you want some help?”
“That would be great. My best friend Greer offered. But so much has changed, even since she had her kids.”
“It’s been a while for me too, but we can go through it together.”
After we ordered, I held out my hand. “Show me what you’ve got so far.”
She handed me her phone. I scrolled through the registry website. “Okay, so this—” I pointed to the screen where an item was displayed “—total gimmick.”
“Really?” Sloan scrunched up her nose.
“Definitely. A waste of money.”
“It’s gone. Delete it. Next.”
I deleted it and offered a few more suggestions.
“I feel silly even having a registry,” she admitted after a while. “I don’t want to ask people to buy things for us when we can more than afford to get them ourselves. But Greer insisted on it, and she’s throwing the shower with Kendall and Emerson.”
“Let them have their fun. People love buying stuff for babies.”
Sloan laughed. “That’s what Jackson’s mom said too. I just want to have a party to celebrate, but everyone keeps insisting on gifts.”
“At least you know your baby is very loved.”
She smiled, her features softening. “Yes. They are. And the baby loved being on the water this past weekend. What about Kai? I hope he had fun on Knox’s yacht.”
“A blast,” I said. “And your family was so wonderful to make him feel welcome and let him explore.”
Everyone had gone out of their way to include my son.
I knew I wasn’t part of their family, but they’d certainly welcomed me into their fold.
Kendall and Emerson had invited me to join them for yoga.
And Jasper had continually surprised me—holding Ezra, his great nephew, and making him laugh.
Watching out for Kai and keeping him entertained.
Answering every one of my son’s endless questions about his helicopter or the yacht or whatever else popped into his head.
“We loved having him there,” Sloan said.
“Thanks. He thought it was beyond cool, but he’s obsessed with Lego and transportation. I showed him a picture of me with Jasper’s helicopter, and now he won’t stop asking to fly in it.”
“Jasper took you in the helicopter?” she asked, surprise lighting her tone. “When?”
“Oh, um—” I smoothed my napkin over my lap. “The day we went art shopping. Traffic was awful, so Jasper suggested it.”
“Having a brother who’s a helicopter pilot definitely comes in handy sometimes.”
I nodded. “We would never have made it on time otherwise.”
“I can’t wait to see the new pieces once they arrive.”
I was so excited, I felt as if I might burst. I only hoped Sloan and everyone else would like them as much as I did. “They’re supposed to deliver them later this week.”
“Excellent. And thank you again for handling everything.”
“Absolutely.”
Her expression turned more contemplative. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“You worked with Jasper in the past when he was still an SVP. How do you think he’s handling his new role?”
I, uh…I hadn’t expected that question. It felt as if it had come out of left field.
“Why do you ask?” Maybe I was stalling, but I was also curious.
“He hasn’t been acting like himself lately.”
“Hasn’t been acting like himself…how?” I asked, hoping I didn’t sound overly curious. I was merely a concerned friend and employee inquiring after the welfare of her brother.
“He seems more reserved or withdrawn or something. It’s weird. Honestly, I don’t like it.”
“He’s had a lot of big life changes recently,” I said, understanding her concern but feeling defensive on Jasper’s behalf.
“He’s taken on a huge new role, somewhat unexpectedly.
Graham’s suddenly out of the picture. You’re about to have a baby.
Any one of those things would be a lot. But all three at once… ” I let my statement hang in the air.
Not to mention the fact that with Graham focused on a new subsidiary of the brand, Jasper and Sloan had had to redistribute the workload as well as look for a new SVP to help share that burden.
“Yeah. I guess when you put it that way,” she sighed. Sloan skimmed something on her phone then smiled. “Sorry.”
She typed a response to someone; I assumed it was Jackson. Then she slid her phone back into her purse and returned her attention to me. “Where were we? Oh right…Jasper.” She rolled her eyes, but her smile was warm. “I’m just worried about him, that’s all.”
“He seems to be adjusting well. At least from what I can tell.”
Was he stressed? Sure. Who wouldn’t be in his position? And while I didn’t want to betray Jasper’s confidence, I couldn’t help but wonder… What if I could help?
“You know how you’re sick of everyone treating you like you’re fragile because you’re pregnant?”
She nodded. “Yeah.”
“And there are probably other things you miss about not being pregnant. Like wine.”
“God, I miss wine,” she groaned.
We both laughed.
“I think…well, I can imagine, that Jasper has certain things he misses about his life before he was CEO.”
“Huh.” She sank back against her chair. “I guess I never thought about it that way. And what about you? Are there things you miss about London?”
“Of course,” I said. “But I’m excited about this new chapter in LA.”
“How are you settling in?”
I straightened my silverware. I couldn’t believe we’d already been living in LA for almost two weeks.
But after spending the past decade living in London, I found LA a bit of a culture shock.
There was so much sun, especially moving here in the midst of winter.
It was so warm, it didn’t even feel like winter.
At least, not the dark, blustery winters I’d come to know in London.
And everyone was so…shiny. That was a bad description, but everyone here was so beautiful.
I was living in a sea of actors and wannabe actors.
Models. Everyone seemed to have perfected that no-makeup look that actually took two hours to achieve.
I couldn’t imagine how exhausting it was to maintain that facade.
“I’m sure I’ll feel more settled once we have a more permanent home.”
“I’m sure you’re right,” she said. “And Kai? How is he doing with the move?”
“Good.” He’d adapted more quickly than I had. But he was a kid. They were resilient. “His birthday is coming up, and I’m hoping he’ll make a few friends at pre-K that he’ll want to invite to celebrate. And I need to find us a house before the school year starts.”
I wanted to be settled before Kai started kindergarten in the fall. I wanted a space that was ours. A home we could invite friends over to visit that wasn’t attached to my office, even if it was convenient. Maybe a little too convenient, considering the proximity to Jasper’s penthouse.
A few steps. A short elevator ride. And we were at his place.
Finding a home for Kai was something that had been weighing on me, but I wasn’t even sure where to start. I had a generous relocation package, but LA real estate was expensive. Renting seemed like my only option for now, especially considering the uncertainty surrounding my parents’ situation.
I still hadn’t convinced my mom that moving my dad to a facility was a necessity, despite offering to pay for it.
She knew the circumstances better than I did, so maybe I was overreacting.
But I knew the day would come—probably sooner than later—when we’d have to move him to assisted living.
I didn’t know how I was going to afford that plus a place for Kai and me, but I was determined to figure it out. I had to.
“I can’t help with the friends, but as for the house, have you talked to Alexis?”
Alexis Black. Black Realty. Nate’s friend and owner of one of the top residential real estate brokerages in LA.
I nodded. “I have. I really like her.”
“I had a feeling the two of you would hit it off. You have a lot in common.”
I took that as a compliment. Because Alexis was a badass. Strong, independent, a successful businesswoman.
“She found Jackson and me an amazing home on fairly short notice. I’m sure she’ll help you find what you’re looking for too.”
What if I wasn’t sure what I was looking for? Or what if I found it, but it came at too high a price?
Like Jasper?
I shook my head, wondering where that had come from. Though, honestly, could I really say I was all that surprised? Lately, he was unavoidable.
I shut down that line of thought and tried to focus on the conversation at hand. “I’ll touch base with her. Thanks.”
“It’s strange to be back in this city after such a long time away,” Sloan said. “Visiting LA isn’t the same as living here. It’s definitely an adjustment.”
“I’m sure it’ll get easier,” I said, wondering when I’d start to believe it.