Chapter 16
Jude
The flight over to LA is the calm before the storm. Jake and I are relaxed, fed and watered. Every whim is catered for. We arrive at Kell's Malibu beach house to total carnage.
Kids. Everywhere.
Evie is home with the two newborns, who I instantly fall in love with.
The youngest little girl is the spitting image of my sister, and every time the dads look at her, they melt into puddles on the floor.
Both of Evie’s girls are gorgeous. They are going to wield some serious power over their daddy and papa.
Everyone thinks the older twins will be a handful as they grow, but these two girls will wreak havoc, I can see it all now. And I can’t wait.
My older twin nephews are bundles of energy and activity.
I’m stripped and swim-shorted up within ten minutes of entering the house.
Throwing them wildly into the pool, the higher they go the more they scream.
The cacophony of sound is ear splitting, but the giggles of the two-year-olds is music to my ears.
There’s no shortage of willing helpers, either. With all the dads, uncles, nannies, and security, the kids are like pass the parcel, the participants all trying to grab any child they can. It’s complete heaven. And when my two very-grown-up nephews arrive, I get a tear in my eye.
I can’t believe we’re all here. How time has flown, but also hasn’t. It seems only yesterday that James was opening his eyes, and looking into my soul. And Bucky when he first came home with James and Evie, hanging around my legs, hassling me to take him to the shop for ice cream.
They get into a wrestling match as to who is going to hold the babies first, which means the twin boys get involved. They’re loud and raucous. Caring, letting the little ones bounce on them. Totally attuned to the family, loving and open.
I have to gulp back the tears when they hold Evie first. Both together, hugging the life out of her. Their dads get in on the act. Kell’s in tears, the whole circle of life overwhelming us all.
But the love, the men they’ve become, is laid bare when they hold the twins. James openly crying, way more emotional than Bucky. But I see Bucky’s hand touch James’s back. I know that they’ll have each other’s backs for life. The same way we all do. Family above all.
I end up phoning Jonno daily, as he’s the only one not here. His wife and three-month-old son are keeping him at home in Ireland. He looks like a happy man.
All week, I fill up my quota of family. Fill my boots, until I’m drowning in their love.
When I get a call from Lindy for a rendezvous, I take reinforcements.
No way do I want to be on my own with her.
I know I won’t find anything genuine there.
Pushing her and Kasey together, I can see Jackson is clocking my actions, and giving me side-eyes when he thinks no one else is looking.
“What’s going on brother? I thought you and her were in a casual friends with every benefit arrangement.
Has that changed?” Jackson collars me when Kasey pulls Lindy out onto the dance floor.
We’re in a nightclub, and we watch as they put on a performance to go viral.
I didn’t realise Kasey was such a good mover.
“I was, but I’m not bothered as much anymore.
The constant photographers are doing my head in.
Every movement monitored, every step a step to more publicity.
It’s tiring. And at the end of the day, I am not a celebrity—I’m a builder, and an architect.
” He snorts at that. “I am, Jackson. I’m an arm ornament for Lindy.
She’s a great casual girlfriend, but not long-term. ”
“You’ve been seen with her for over a year. Your casual on and off was more on than off.”
I shrug. “Well, now it’s off. I hinted in London I was done, but I’ve told her tonight it’s totally off.
Kasey would definitely be more her sort.
She’d love that level of publicity. He’s way more famous.
And she’s making her name, working those angles.
I just think I’ve taken it as far as I want to go.
She’s headed ever upwards, I’m happy to stop and get off, let someone else go with her on her journey.
She’s an amazing woman. But just not for me.
” I finish the bottle of beer I have in my hand.
I really need a whiskey for this sort of conversation.
Jackson’s staring into my face. Moving his head infinitesimally from side to side.
Sizing me up. “You’ve met someone.” Not a question, a statement of fact.
“And by met, I mean, met. Like interested in them, and not just a ‘Hi how are you?’ type of meeting.” He’s watching every nuance of my face now.
Not even hiding that he’s doing it. The classic Greystone interrogation is about to start.
Thank god Evie is at home. She’s been watching me, a furrowed brow her normal look over the past two days when her attention swings my way.
I’ve been ducking and diving. I know that Jake won’t have said anything yet.
He hasn’t had the chance. But if they ask him directly, he’ll spill his guts, we all would.
Tell one of them is to tell all of them.
There's no point in not letting the group know.
We all work as a collective, always have.
Not one of us likes to be in the dark if the others know.
It always felt disrespectful, like there was a lack of trust. So when we all moved to London to be with Evie and James all those years ago, we vowed not to do it.
It’s been tested to the maximum a few times.
Certainly when Kell and Xander turned back up in our lives it got a bit squirrely for a while, but we’re back on track.
And I for one am so pleased that we are.
Lots of people to discuss things with. Lots of points of view to garner.
Decisions made, however, are always respected, regardless of any I told you so moments if it goes pear-shaped.
Because, to be fair, we’ve all had those.
I look into my big brother's face, full of love and kindness, but I see the steel underneath. The intensity and force of personality. He is a force of nature, and a big softie when it comes to the family.
“I have, I think,” I finally admit. “But, I’m worried about it.” I give my head a slight shake, and roll my own eyes at myself.
“You think? You don’t know?”
“Well, I obviously know I’ve met her. But as for anything else, she’s so—” I pause, whilst I consider what I think Emma Lincoln is. I smile widely at him, and his eyes go huge.
“Fuck me, it’s got that far already? What the hell have you been doing? I need a full run down. This is not the place to do it. Let’s go home. We need a conference.”
I pull a fake mock-scared face, but nod meekly as if I’ve capitulated to his interrogation.
I’m let off lightly, as when we get home, it’s so late—nearly morning really—that only Xander is up and about. He doesn’t sleep much, so is making coffee as we arrive back. He looks worried when it’s only Jackson and me.
“Where’s Carter? Have you had a row?” His eyes are moving from one of us to the other. God knows what he sees in my face, as he carries on with, “What’s wrong, Jude? You’ve been acting weird all week.”
And here I thought I was being normal. Plainly failed on that one.
“Nothing’s wrong,” Jackson answers for me. “Carter decided to stay with Kasey and Lindy. Some of his cast from Jameson Bonney were in the club. He’s talking.” Jackson rolls his eyes. Carter can talk for America.
“Still doesn’t answer what’s wrong with you, Jude?” Undoubtedly I’m not getting off the hook tonight.
“Let’s get a whiskey and I’ll fill you all in.”
I move to the drinks counter and pour three large whiskeys, handing them out as we all go and sit on the terrace. The sound of the ocean is like a soothing sway. It’s the sound of home, the Devon coast. It calms my mind, and gives me strength.
Bolstered by good drink and better company, I dive straight in. “I met a woman.”
Xander points his glass at me in triumph.
“I knew it. I told Kell and Evie it was a woman.” Plainly they’ve been talking.
“Evie has been worried sick, but hasn’t had a chance to collar you yet.
Better get ready, brother.” He grins like a madman at me while Jackson sputters out a laugh.
“She was on the verge of interrogating you and Jake, but Jake escaped home before she got to him. You’re on her hit list.”
We all sit grinning at each other. My sister is a total force of nature. Once you are in her sights, you might as well spill your guts.
“Anyway, as I said, I met a woman.” I can’t even finish my sentence before he jumps in again.
“Is it the building woman?”
I look at him in surprise. The jungle drums have been beating.
I nod. “Yes, the woman who owns the building in front of my new one on South Wharf. I’ve been trying to buy it.”
“You’re not trying to seduce her into selling it, are you? Like actually seducing?” Jackson frowns at me. He plays with a straight bat, mostly. Well, actually, not at all, so I shake my head in annoyance at him.
“Jackson, really? No I’m fucking not. And to be honest, it’s causing me issues the fact that I asked to buy it.
I can see every time I’ve spoken to her or her family they all think I want the building and not her.
” Xander opens his mouth to talk, and I hold my hand up to shut him up.
Fucking hell, they don’t let you finish.
“I realised after I had a meeting with her that I was interested in her, and not just the building.” I let that sink in.
“I don’t give a fuck if I buy it or not.
But I seem to have painted myself into a corner, and am being portrayed by her family as the big bad wolf, who wants to come and eat her up then blow her house—well, building—down. ”