Chapter 12
JACE
Friday was an eventful day in the Connor family. Since Lori’s birthday had been the day before, we were supposed to have the party for which Milo and I had been preparing for months today. We ended up celebrating it at the hospital, because Lori went into labor at eleven o’clock in the morning.
At three o’clock, we welcomed a beautiful baby girl into our family.
Evelyn looked a bit like Lori, who was the only blonde in the family.
The rest of us had brown hair ranging from light to dark, and except for Will and Hailey, who had brown eyes, everyone had green eyes.
The entire clan was gathered around my sister in the hospital room, which made the place too crowded.
“I swear to teach her tricks and shenanigans,” I informed my sister.
Lori smiled. “I don’t doubt you will.”
“I’ll do my best to keep him in check,” Will added.
I clapped his shoulder. “Buddy, you’re welcome to try.”
Lori all but kicked us out at five o’clock, insisting that only Graham stay, and the rest of us headed to Val’s house, where the would-be birthday party for Lori was supposed to take place.
On the way, I checked my messages and noticed one from Brooke.
Brooke: Dad says you skipped practice today because Lori went into labor. Is everything okay?
Jace: Perfect. They’re healthy. I just left the hospital.
Brooke: Do they need anything? Is there something I can do? Do you have a picture with Evelyn?
I chuckled as I typed back, wishing I had taken a pic so I could send it to Brooke. I liked sharing details of my life with her, and that was new to me, but Brooke made it so easy.
Once we arrived at Val’s house, I noticed Milo was a bit more silent than usual. He’d been excited and all smiles at the hospital, but now something was weighing on him. My suspicion was confirmed when Hailey exchanged a few words with him, but he simply shook his head.
“Can you talk to him?” she whispered when we entered Val’s house.
“Sure.” I followed him into the backyard, sitting next to him on the grass.
“Milo, what’s wrong?”
He hesitated.
“Come on, you can tell me. Man to man.”
“You promise not to tell anyone?”
“I promise.”
“Do you think now that little Evelyn is here, Graham won’t want to be my dad anymore? Like my other dad?”
I felt as if someone had punched me straight in the face. I had no idea Milo had these fears, and I was not sure how to tread. Telling him his biological father was simply a scumbag who couldn’t handle responsibility was not the way forward, so I chose to focus on the positive.
“Milo,” I said softly, “that will never happen. Graham is your dad no matter what. Even if you have ten more sisters or brothers, it won’t mean he won’t be your dad, or that he’ll love you any less. Okay?”
Milo pondered that for a few seconds before nodding.
“How is it to have a sister?”
“Buddy, I have a lot to say about that. I can give you extensive advice on everything, from annoying your sister to protecting her. Ready to take notes?”
“Ready,” he declared with a grin.
Dinner was delicious, as usual. We made plans for repairing Hailey’s shed the next day. I’d convinced Will and Landon easily, and they said they’d bring over Paige and Maddie as well.
Now, Val announced she’d stop by too, with her gang.
“I’ll bring some perfume samples too,” Val said. “You can all try them out.”
My brothers and I carefully avoided looking at each other. Trying out samples was not our favorite activity. I, for one, simply couldn’t pick up on the finer notes. The things we did for our sisters.
“I convince you two to shoulder some work, and this is how we’re rewarded.” I shook my head mockingly. Will gave me a thumbs-up.
“Careful, don’t anger Val before dessert,” Landon said.
“I will pretend I have not heard a thing,” Val assured us. “Besides, we’re all going to shoulder some of the work.”
Will raised his eyebrows. “Oh… like that time when we were painting Hailey’s living room, and Jace and I ended up doing all the work.”
“That was just one time.” Val grinned sheepishly before looking to Landon for support.
“Don’t look at me, I wasn’t here for a few years.” He glanced at me. Traitor. Throwing me under the bus, huh? I could butter up Val, but that was not my style.
“I’m with Will on this one. It’s usually gossip central between you girls while he and I work.”
“No, it’s not. You’ll see tomorrow,” Val said.
I couldn’t help myself. “Anyone up for taking bets?”
Val and Hailey narrowed their eyes. Will took me up on it. Landon chuckled, taking his daughter from Maddie’s arms.
“Jace, I’m surprised you don’t have any plans tomorrow evening. Dry spell?”
“You wound me. You know I’m always up for helping out my sisters.”
“Hmm… sure, but I sense there’s something more here. Anything you want to tell us?”
I’d been subjected to enough interrogations, ambushes, and interventions to know Val wasn’t just fishing for info. Pippa had talked to her.
“No. Nothing at all.”
Val watched me suspiciously but didn’t press the matter, though I knew better than to think she was giving up. She was just waiting for the right time.
After dinner, we all moved into the living room. I sat on the couch next to Hailey.
“What did Milo say?”
“Just asked me what it’s like to have a sister,” I said vaguely. The little man had asked me to keep his secret, and I planned to do just that.
“Oh, okay. By the way, I have an idea: why don’t you ask Brooke to come to my house tomorrow too? I’ve spoken to her a few times, but I’ve never met her. She’d love sniffing samples.”
“She has plans with her family.”
“Right. Well, you can… wait a second, what’s with that face?”
I tried with all my might to look innocent. “What face?”
“That expression here. Your left eye is twitching a bit. You’re jumpy.”
“I’m not.”
“Started when I mentioned Brooke. Is something wrong??”
“No, Hailey.”
She took a long look at me. “Something’s off with you. I just can’t tell what.”
“Just been a busy week.”
Hailey grimaced. “And now you’re placating me. Holy shit, something is off. Anyone bothering you with absurd claims again? Just tell me, Jace. I’ll take care of it.”
Oh, crap. And now she was going to start worrying about me.
My plan had been to leave her in the dark.
I was closest to Hailey. I’d always been, and growing up we’d been in competition with each other as to who gave Landon and Val more white hair.
But now I realized that if I didn’t at least tangentially tell her what was going on, she was going to construct her own scenarios and worry for no reason.
Everyone else was engaged in their own conversations, not paying me or Hailey any attention, so in a low voice, I filled her in.
Hailey’s eyes widened. “I can’t believe Pippa was right.”
“Oh, you’ve already talked to her.”
“Yep. I thought she was just being overly optimistic, as usual. But holy shit, Brooke, huh? Hmm… well, I don’t know what advice to give you. But I’m sure Landon and Will have plenty to share. You can ask them for tips, at the very least.”
“How about I do my own thing?”
Hailey flashed me an apologetic smile. “Your chances of failure increase?”
I wasn’t going to allow anyone’s lack of confidence to deter me. Which was why on Monday morning, I went to the club earlier than usual. My plan was simple: arrive before anyone else, sneak into Brooke’s office, place the stress ball on her desk and hang the painting on the wall behind it.
She’d shown them to me yesterday online, which was why I woke up earlier today and stopped at Target to buy them.
We’d had a laid-back afternoon yesterday, and I hadn’t touched on the topic of us. Despite what I’d told her, I didn’t want her to feel pressured. I was prepared to wait… for a while.
I placed my toolbox on the floor and worked on hanging the painting. It took me all of fifteen minutes. After putting the stress ball right in front of her keyboard, I rushed to bring the toolbox to my car.
Then, instead of heading to the gym or the locker room, I went back to the upper floor.
While waiting for management to arrive, I made myself a coffee.
No one would question my presence here, since everyone was welcome to the kitchen and we all often had lunch together here.
But I wasn’t just lingering for the coffee.
I had a specific purpose. I’d never been a fan of the Lords office remake, which went from separate offices to an open-plan office space for each department.
They were separated by glass partitions.
Now, however, I could appreciate the benefits.
From where I stood, I had a direct view to Brooke’s desk.
I just wanted to see her reaction, that was all.
Did I risk her getting mad at me? Probably.
Even though I’d been careful. Everyone else would probably assume Brooke herself had brought the stress ball and hung the painting.
Two girls from the PR department arrived first. Finally, at eight thirty, the elevator doors opened and my Brooke strutted out. She was flustered and a little out of sorts. Had she overslept?
She whizzed past the kitchen without seeing me and stilled when she reached her desk.
For a few seconds, she had no reaction at all.
But then she lifted the ball with both hands, and turned, noticing the painting.
Even though I was far away, and I could only see her profile, there was no missing her reaction.
That smile right there? Yeah, it had been worth getting up at five o’clock.