Chapter 26 Jason #4
Joe let me lead the way from the elevators to the ballroom. That was the only way to describe it. Huge with massive glass walls that overlooked the night sky. Somewhere between sex and now, the clouds had come back. Snow was falling, wispy and sweet as it batted at the windows.
The room was crowded, like always. The titter of laughter could be heard even from the corner as I took Joe straight to the dessert table so he could pile up.
Baby needed calories.
Joe didn’t ask me why we were here. Didn’t ask me about the suits.
Didn’t ask me a single thing—aside from where the bathroom was in case he needed it.
And for the next few hours, he ate snacks and stayed by my side.
He wandered around behind me while I schmoozed the people my mother wanted me to schmooze.
I hadn’t seen her yet.
Which was unsurprising.
When she did eventually show up, Joe stiffened a little at my side.
He didn’t say anything, though, just stared at her as he shoved a handful of olives in his mouth.
Olives he’d been collecting from the drinks he’d had.
It’d been a while since his last one, however, and I could tell he wasn’t even close to drunk.
I kind of wanted to see drunk Joe.
I bet he was clingy as hell.
Probably a happy drunk.
“Hi, sweet boy,” Mom said as she approached. She was dressed to the nines in some sort of silk and chiffon get-up that made her look half swan. When she coaxed me into a hug, I grinned, squeezing her tight.
“Hi, Mom,” I said into her perfect hair. When I shifted back, she was beaming.
“Who’s your friend?” she asked. Her eyes flitted over Joe, widening a little. “He’s handsome.”
“He’s the one I told you about,” I explained. “Remember?”
“The marshmallow?”
Joe’s face was bright red. He had so many olives in his mouth he resembled a chipmunk. I had a newfound appreciation for the animal, because Joe had fed me animal facts about them on the car ride over.
“That’s him,” I answered, amused but a little annoyed that she really hadn’t been listening.
“Have we met?” Mom asked Joe, curious. “You look familiar.”
Joe glanced at me for help.
“I probably showed you a picture.”
“Oh.” She nodded. “Maybe.” Her smile softened. “Did you talk to the Petersons?”
“I did.” I sighed. I’d talked to everyone she wanted me to. No doubt, by the end of the night, the donation pool would be twice as large after all the kissing-ass I’d done. She’d feel good giving that away. Could lord that win over her friends for the rest of the year.
“You know…” Mom turned back to Joe. “It’s bothering me.”
Joe swallowed his olives, red face now positively green. Mom squinted, trying to figure it out.
“I meet a lot of people,” she informed him with an air of importance. “And I never forget a face.”
Joe nodded slowly.
“Ah! I’ve got it.” She snapped her fingers. They were as glittery as her dress. “This may be a long shot, but do you know Alex James?”
Joe sighed. “I do.”
“That’s what it was.” She grinned wolfishly. “You were at his wedding. I saw you in the photos.” Joe nodded. “Good family, the Jameses. They’ve got a lot of money in real estate. Did you know that, Jason?” Mom turned to me. “That your new friend had connections to the Jameses?”
“I did not.” I shook my head. Glancing sidelong at Joe, I tried to convey how sorry I was.
“My brother is Alex’s husband,” Joe piped up, putting in effort where he really didn’t have to. It was cute, though. Him trying. For me. He was relaxing by the minute now that Mom was no longer scrutinizing him.
“Ah!” Mom perked up even more. “Is he? Yes. I think I’ve seen a few things on Netbook about that. I like to keep up,” she explained. “Their father is one of my favorite donors. Very nice man. Big pockets. New money, but you’d never know it with how graceful he can be.”
Ugh.
“He is nice,” Joe agreed. He was being so patient with her. So…devastatingly patient. I couldn’t help but melt. “He’s been real good to my brother. They have Sunday dinner together.”
“How cute!” Mom smiled. “Do you, by chance, have their numbers?” she asked. For some reason, that made Joe flinch a little, his guard going back up.
“Ah…Alex’s dad?” he clarified. “Or Alex?”
“Yes. Or Juniper, the sister. I’m not picky.”
“Yeah, sure.” Joe pulled his phone out. He was stiff as a board as he gave Mom the information she wanted.
When she’d finished interrogating him, she turned to me.
“To your left!” she said, high-pitched and eager.
“Wendell. With his fiancé.” I twisted a little to see what she was talking about. “Oh, aren’t they cute?”
“They are.” Wendell looked happier than I’d ever seen him.
“They owe me a bouquet or something,” Mom gushed. “An acknowledgment? At their wedding maybe. A toast!” she tittered.
“Maybe you should go tell them that,” I laughed.
“Good idea!” She beamed at me. “Always such a pleasure, darling.” I bent down, and she kissed my cheeks. “I’ll see you next year?”
“Yep. As always.”
That was it.
Then she was gone. Flouncing away to mingle with the rest of the guests. I sighed, turning back to Joe to do some damage control. When he pushed a champagne flute in my hand, I blinked.
“You need a break?” Joe offered as I sipped the drink gratefully. “I saw a corner in the back with less people. You have to be here the whole night, right? For your mom?”
I nodded.
She wasn’t likely to talk to me again. But she still wanted me present. Till the very end.
Joe didn’t leave my side once. He used his bulk to block me from the rest of the room when we were in the corner. Gave me a chance to get my head screwed on straight. And best of all…he didn’t comment about my mom.
Didn’t ask me why I came here, when I was mostly a means to an end.
Didn’t complain about the way she’d treated him.
Just…accepted me.
Accepted her.
Accepted this room and its people for what they were.
The way I’d never thought someone else would.