31
EMERSYN
“Well, that could have been a fucking text.”
Gabe flopped onto the king-sized bed. Our room was the middle one, right between Tyler and Lauren, and Jake and Amelia. Each room had an ensuite, and there was nothing to hint that the boys ever claimed the rooms as their own. They were all the same: plain walls, sparse furniture, strange artwork on the walls—Billie’s touch, according to Gabe.
“What did he say?” I feigned ignorance.
“Nothing new,” Gabe replied. “Apparently he’s stepping down from the company for good. Retiring, basically.”
“Do you think he’s okay? He’s kind of young to be retiring, isn’t he? I thought men like him held onto power until someone pried it from their cold, dead fingers.”
Gabe scoffed. “He’s fine. He just likes to be the center of attention. Tyler’s basically been in charge for months. I don’t see why he needed some big announcement with everyone present. That should have been done at a board meeting, not a family meeting. Typical Hamish wanting us all to bow and scrape, no doubt. He probably expected us to get on our knees and thank him for all the sacrifices he’s made. Fucking asshole.” Gabe shook his head and turned to look at me across the bumps of the covers. “So, now that you’ve met the whole family, what did you think?”
“They didn’t seem anywhere near as fucked up as you’ve made them out to be,” I teased.
“Just wait until the alcohol starts to flow. That’s when we Thorntons let our true colors show.” He turned again, lying on his back and staring at the ceiling. “And what did you think of Tyler?”
“I’d already met him. At the fight, remember?”
“I know. But you didn’t say what you thought of him.” There was a hint of hesitation in Gabe’s voice.
I let out a low whistle. “Well, he’s pretty hot.”
Gabe looked at me sharply.
“I mean, no wonder Lauren left you for him.” I bit my tongue and grinned.
Gabe shook his head and then grabbed the pillow and hit me with it. “You’re cruel, you know that?”
I lifted my hands, laughing as I shielded myself from the soft blows. “Okay, okay. Maybe ‘hot’ was the wrong word.” I sat up. “Maybe I should have said super-hot, like scorching, blistering, molten—”
The pillow whacked the side of my head.
“Seriously though.” I grabbed the pillow from him and hugged it, deciding I’d teased him enough. “That dark and brooding thing is overrated. Stop putting yourself down. All of you Thornton brothers are gorgeous, but you have something that—as far as I can tell—the others don’t.”
Gabe looked up, a glimmer of hope sparking in his eyes. “What?”
“A personality.”
Gabe just grinned at that. “Yeah.” He nodded with a smirk. “I am pretty awesome. I mean, Ollie loves me, and he’s a great judge of character. He cried the moment he met Hamish, so that’s saying something.”
He climbed off the bed and held out his hand. “Come on, we better go down for drinks in the lounge.” I placed my hand in his. “I can’t wait to see what sort of mood Hamish is in after this little announcement.” He rolled his eyes again.
Billie looked like she’d already consumed several glasses of wine by the time we joined everyone back in the lounge. She had a glass of red in her hand and was talking animatedly, detailing the theme for her next branding launch. She was in the middle of explaining that the previous one had been ‘Winter in Summer by Billie August.’ I assumed August was her maiden name. It made sense, I guess. All the photos I’d seen were of scantily clad models dressed in what would normally be associated with winter materials.
“Now I’ve thought long and hard about what the theme of my next line should be, and I’ve come up with something perfect. Are you ready?” She paused, waiting for the glazed eyes of her captive audience to turn to her. “Summer in Winter by Billie August.” She splayed her hands as she said it, as though imagining the words in lights.
“Isn’t that the same as last time?” Lauren looked confused.
“No, no.” Billie shook her head and took another sip of wine. “Last time it was Winter in Summer. This one will be Summer in Winter.”
“Ah,” Lauren said, nodding as though she cared.
“I do wish you’d consider modeling for me, boys,” she addressed all three of the brothers. “Especially you, Jake. You’d be perfect for this line. I can just see it now. The thick, long hair, the beard dusted in snow. Not literal snow, of course. It would be just like the glitter we used last time, only it would be white instead of gold, or maybe it could be silver.” She clapped her hands excitedly. “So, what do you think?”
“She’s talking to you, dude,” Gabe said, prodding Jake when no one answered. “I’ve already done my time.”
Jake was sitting on the sofa, one ankle resting on the knee of his other leg, his arm slung over the back, close enough to just brush Amelia’s shoulders if he needed to.
“No,” he said without hesitation or explanation.
“You could at least give it a little thought,” Gabe said with a laugh.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Jake said. He plucked at his beard as though in deep thought. “Let me try that again. Hmmm,” he pondered. “No.”
“You guys are no fun.” Billie pouted as she finished off her drink.
“Where’s Hamish?” Tyler asked, looking around as though he expected his father to appear at any moment.
“He’s in his office.” Billie walked over to the bar and poured herself another drink.
“He spends a lot of time in his office for someone who doesn’t work anymore,” Jake said.
Billie just shot him a look. “Actually, I’m just going to pop up to the sewing room and grab the piece I’m working on. I know you said you wouldn’t model in the runway show, Jake, but perhaps you could just give it a little try-on now!” She wiggled her shoulders in excitement.
Jake’s hand clamped down on Amelia’s knee, and she immediately yawned. “It’s been a rather big day with all the traveling,” Jake said. “I think I need to get this one,” he thumbed in Amelia’s direction, “off to bed.”
“Oh.” Billie’s shoulders slumped. But not for long. She turned to Gabe. “Maybe you could try it on, Gabe?”
“We're probably going to head off to bed too, aren’t we, Syn?” He yawned exaggeratedly.
“Actually, I’m feeling fine.” I shrugged, turning to Gabe with a glint in my eye. “Not too tired at all.”
His eyes widened, and he twisted his head in my direction.
Lauren mimicked Gabe’s yawn and got to her feet, stretching into the air. “Nothing like a long day sitting in a car to take it out of you. Don’t you think we should hit the sack too, Tyler?” She looked at him pointedly.
“You guys are such party poopers.” Billie placed her hands on her hips. “I’ve been wanting a good blow-out night for ages now, and you’re all heading to bed on me!”
“Tomorrow night?” Amelia suggested.
“Just so tired,” Gabe yawned loudly.
“Was lovely to—” I started to say as the others left, but Gabe grabbed my hand and yanked me away.
“Don’t engage,” he warned. “You’ll never survive.”
We joined the others who had stopped in the hallway outside the bedrooms.
“Something doesn’t add up about this whole announcement thing,” Gabe said, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. I got momentarily distracted by the bulge of his biceps.
“It’s bullshit, is what it is,” Jake muttered, then turned to Tyler. “Did he discuss this with you?”
Tyler shook his head. “I mean, it’s always been talked about that I would take over the company when he retired, but he didn’t specifically discuss a date or anything. Besides, he’s been doing fuck all lately anyway. And we all know he won’t be able to keep his nose out of things for long. Even if he’s officially declared me the head of the company, whatever the fuck that means, we all know he’ll still think he’s running things.”
“Did anyone notice that something was off with Billie too?” Lauren asked. She leaned back against Tyler, and he loosely hooked his arm around her neck.
“Oh god,” Gabe groaned. “You don’t think she’s pregnant again, do you?”
Lauren scoffed. “She was literally just talking about starting her fashion brand or whatever it is again because she’s got more time to herself. There’s no way she’s pregnant.”
“And she was chugging back the wine like a freaking train,” Amelia muttered, covering her belly protectively.
Gabe cocked his head to the side and grimaced. “With Billie, that doesn’t necessarily mean she isn’t pregnant.”
“You don’t think he’s sick or something, do you?” Jake asked. “I mean, it’s not like him to call us all here just for a business announcement.”
“But it is like him to insist we’re all here because he just wants attention,” Gabe pointed out.
I got lost in my own thoughts as they discussed the reasons behind Hamish’s actions. Once again, I was struck by that feeling of having fictional characters come to life. Tyler, Jake, and Gabe all crowded into the narrow hallway, with Lauren and Amelia interjecting into the conversation, both with a hand or an arm casually draped over them.
I felt sick thinking of the words I’d used to describe them in the past. The way I’d covertly encouraged the criticism of Lauren’s appearance. The accusations I’d thrown at Gabe and Tyler. The photos I’d released of their fight during the casino launch. It weighed on me so heavily that I felt like I could barely lift my head.
“Are you okay?” Gabe whispered in my ear, startling me out of my spiraling thoughts.
“I’m fine.” I flashed him a smile to reinforce my words.
I couldn’t tell him about the guilt I felt at the thought of what he and his family would think if they knew the words I’d written. I couldn’t tell him I was debating whether the stress of them finding out was more or less crippling than the stress of them already knowing.
“It’s too much, isn’t it? I’ve scared you by bringing you here and exposing you to them all at once, haven’t I?”
“Don’t be silly. I’m fine. Besides, I had already met Tyler, Jake, and Amelia, so it wasn’t all at once.” He looked at me skeptically, and I rolled my eyes. “I’m fine,” I said again.
I stood a little straighter and adjusted myself. I’d decided I was going to tell Gabe before we fell asleep tonight. I wouldn’t let him distract me with his mouth or his tongue or any part of his body this time.
“You’ve been very quiet,” Gabe continued whispering as the others talked.
“I thought it might be best if I didn’t overwhelm your family with the full force of my personality just yet. And things are a little…” I paused, trying to think of the right word for the hum of agitation that buzzed throughout the house.
“Tense?” Gabe offered.
“Something like that.” I intertwined my fingers through his. “Do you think we might talk about something later?”
No sooner were the words out of my mouth than the door to the hallway burst open, slamming against the wall, and a bleary-eyed Hamish appeared. “I’d like to see you all back around the table,” he said. “There’s more I need to say.”
Gabe rolled his eyes. “What now?” he hissed as we walked single file back down the hallway, reminding me of children heading to see the principal.
Billie was already seated at the table, her eyes blurry with tears she was trying to wipe away.
“Oh god,” Gabe muttered in my ear. “She is pregnant.”
“I think I’ll just go back down to the bedroom,” I whispered.
“No, no,” Hamish said. “You may as well stay, if that’s what Gable wants. I was rude before. I’m sorry I didn’t welcome you properly. It’s nice to meet you.”
Gabe muttered in my ear again. “I think hell just froze over.”
“We’ve actually met before, years ago.” I stood and shook Hamish’s extended hand. “Merrick Cabot is my father.”
Hamish frowned. “Merrick Cabot, you say?” There was zero recognition in his tone.
“He used to be your driver,” I prompted.
Hamish blinked, and my heart sank a little for my father, knowing how little he meant to his boss after working for him for so long.
“Hoagie,” Gabe offered.
Hamish just stood there with a blank expression until finally it clicked. “Oh, Hoagie.” Hamish lowered himself into the chair at the head of the table. “How is the old bastard?”
I wanted to tell him how much my father’s life had fallen apart since he’d fired him, but instead I said, “He’s fine,” with a touch of resentment.
“Why do you all call him Hoagie?” I asked Gabe as everyone found their seats.
“It’s his name, isn’t it?” Gabe looked confused.
“His name is Merrick Cabot.”
Gabe shrugged. “Huh, we all thought his name was Hogan.”
“And what is it you do for a living?” Hamish asked.
Gabe narrowed his eyes in suspicion. I guess he wasn’t used to his father showing any interest in anyone other than himself.
“Ah, um…” I hesitated. “I work in telemarketing.”
“Telemarketing,” Hamish repeated absently. Billie reached out and covered his hand with her own before nodding her head pointedly at everyone seated around the table.
Hamish nodded back and cleared his throat. “Well, yes. Sorry about before. I was supposed to tell you something else, but I just couldn’t quite bring myself to. If I’m being honest, I don’t feel like it’s something the whole family needs to be bothered with, but Billie feels differently.”
We all waited patiently as Hamish and Billie exchanged a look I couldn’t quite decipher.
“Recently, I’ve been experiencing a little memory loss. Nothing major, nothing to worry about, but it is part of the reason I decided to take a step back. I’m not getting any younger, so it might be time to focus on my health.”
“And…” Billie prompted.
Hamish shot her a warning glare. “And,” he continued, “it did remind me of the fragility of life and the fact that I’ve got a young son and a beautiful wife I’d like to spend more time with. Hence my reason for stepping down from the company.”
“So you’re actually serious about that?” Tyler asked.
“Yes,” Hamish said firmly. “But I don’t want any of you to worry. The doctor assures me it’s nothing.”
“Nothing?” Billie admonished.
“Nothing serious,” Hamish corrected himself, glaring sternly at Billie.
“The doctor said—” Billie started.
“It’s nothing!” Hamish shouted. “The doctor is just being overly cautious. I’m going to have a few tests, take a little rest, reduce my stress, and everything will be fine.”
“But—” Billie tried again.
“Everything will be fine,” Hamish repeated firmly, talking over Billie. He got to his feet. “So that’s it. That’s all I have to say. You can go back to whatever it was you were all yapping about in the hallway.” He took Billie’s hand and led her upstairs to their bedroom, leaving the rest of us staring down at the empty table. The muttered words, “Are you happy now?” floated back down to us.