Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Jackson
Z ack and Laurel are wearing matching hot pink outfits. She’s in a short dress with a sash that says Maid of Dishonor , and he's wearing a pink button-up shirt and slacks.
His messy hair is cut short.
Her waves are pulled into a low bun, and her makeup is colorful shades of gold, silver, and red.
As always, she looks chic, and he looks like a movie star at a premiere.
As usual, they're wearing expressions that say I'm going to make your life so difficult and I'm going to love every minute.
"Hey." Laurel nods hello to me and waves wildly at Daphne. "I think your brother is occupied at the moment."
So Damon and Cassie aren't here. Are they skipping dinner for work or sex? No. I don't want to know.
Daphne's nose scrunches. "Does it not bother you to think of your sister occupied the same way?"
Laurel shakes her head. "Do I occasionally go 'ick' at the thought of my sister's sex life? Sure. But do I push through it to enjoy this"—she points to my face—"I mean, look at it. He's horrified. The very thought of your brother railing Cassie makes him want to throw up."
Daphne holds her nose.
Zack laughs.
Laurel laughs with him. "You too, huh? I'm surprised you're so traditional."
"Are those the options? Either she's a traditional bore or she wants to hear you talk about her brother's sex life?" I ask.
But, of course, that's what Laurel wants. She smiles with victory. She even motions to me again look how it bothers him! Isn't this fun?
Zack nods along with her it is fun .
As always, they're in their own universe, where they cause everyone trouble and find it incredibly amusing.
A part of me is proud of them for developing such strong, take no shit personalities.
The other part wants to tell them to shut the fuck up for once in their lives.
But this is a celebration. They're supposed to push buttons. I need to go with it.
I try to channel an inner calm. A detachment. Daphne's interest is unimportant. My siblings' jests are irrelevant.
This is dinner before a friend's party.
I'm happy to celebrate marriage, whatever my feelings on the matter. That's the goal for tonight. Hooray marriage.
And finding a fling for Daphne.
Everything else is irrelevant.
Laurel tires of enjoying my pain and turns her attention back to Daphne. "Aren't you a sex researcher?"
Daphne's brow furrows.
Right. That's not news she's delivered. The last we heard, she's studying addiction.
How did Laurel find out?
Or maybe she misremembered. For a long time, Daphne was torn between the two topics.
"Not yet." Daphne goes with a non-answer.
I shoot Laurel a stop look.
Laurel smiles, enjoying my annoyance, but she nods okay . "Cass and D-man are going to join for the show."
"Then leave early for another session, probably," Zack says.
"Well, who can blame them after"—Laurel drops her voice to a deep tone, in an imitation of a wrestling announcer—"The Thunder From Down Under."
"What about Nathan and…" Daphne struggles to remember his fiancé's name. "Kenji."
"They're running late. Same issue probably." Laurel laughs.
"Is it just us then?" Daphne asks.
"No." Laurel checks her slim silver watch with faux disinterest. "Uncle Pete's mentee is joining."
"Why do you still call him Uncle Pete's mentee?" Zack asks. "You've known Romeo for five years."
"You call him Romeo?" Daphne's nose scrunches in confusion. She doesn't remember the guy. Or she doesn't recognize their dynamic.
Laurel and Zack both pretend they don't care about anything. Even their jobs.
Deep down, they're passionate.
But Laurel wouldn't be caught dead admitting she still has a crush on the guy she's known since she was a teenager. Even if he was obviously interested in her.
"You don't know Romeo?" Zack asks. "Really? I thought Uncle Pete liked your dad way better."
"Why would Uncle Pete like her dad better than his own brother?" Laurel asks.
"I think Jackson can explain that one. He likes Damon better than both of us," Zack says.
"Speak for yourself," Laurel says. "You like me more than Damon. Right, big bro?"
They're fucking with me on purpose now.
I match their level with a so-so gesture.
Zack smiles called it . Laurel laughs, enjoying the return of teasing.
Daphne looks between them, noting their ridiculousness and ignoring it. (The smartest move). "Oh. You mean Rome. Isn't it short for Roman?" Daphne asks.
Zack and Laurel exchange a look. "Is it?" he asks.
Laurel shrugs in an attempt to sell her disinterest. But she shrugs too hard, makes her voice too bored. She overdoes it so much it's obvious she's playing a part. "How should I know?"
"'Cause you're obsessed with him," Zack says.
"No. He's obsessed with me." Irritation slips into Laurel's voice.
"Obsessed with how annoying you are," Zack says.
"Yeah, well, I don't think about him at all," she says with very little conviction.
They aren't enemies, exactly. They're not friends either.
I suppose they're something like frenemies.
The way Cassie and Damon were.
Only that was different. Cassie had a crush on Damon.
Or is it different?
I study my sister's expression, trying to find the truth underneath it, but it's impossible. She's too good at the poker I don't give a fuck about anything face.
Crush or no crush, she doesn't get along with Rome. The two of them are fire and ice.
Rome is a steady, responsible guy who worked hard for everything he has and who would do anything to keep working with our dad and his brother at their label.
Well, it's Dad's label. He doesn't co-own it with his brother. He owns it, and his brother, our uncle Pete, has his own division. Dad is way too uptight to partner with someone as relaxed as Uncle Pete.
I don't know their corporate structure. Only that Dad is the man in charge, and Uncle Pete heads some division. They were both richer than god when they retired from touring, so neither is in it for money.
Dad is in it to prove he can run the world.
Uncle Pete is in it to mentor at-risk kids. A more honorable motivation, but he never really sees it that way. He just loves sharing music with people, the way Dad loves, well, control.
Way back when, Rome was one of Uncle Pete's at-risk mentees. When Laurel took an interest in music, she joined the program unofficially.
Immediately, she and Rome rubbed each other the wrong way.
He resented Laurel because she didn't appreciate the life she had. She hated his pretentious attitude and rolled her eyes at the chip on his shoulder.
But they were teenagers back then.
Do they still care about their mutual animosity?
Don't get me wrong. They don't get along now. But it's not like I get along with Zack.
There's no rule you need to get along with family.
"I love this, by the way." Laurel motions to Daphne's tank top and shorts. "Total casual California girl."
"No one has ever called me a California girl," Daphne laughs.
"That's 'cause you've never left," Laurel says. "Just wait until you spend time in New York or Chicago. Men love to point out your California accent, hair, love of sunshine, whatever. They go on and on about how cute it is you think it's supposed to be sunny in December."
"Sounds like a story," Daphne says.
Laurel nods is it ever . "Let's sit down. Romeo and Juliette can join us when they get here. They got stuck doing something important."
"There's a Juliette?" Daphne asks.
"Romeo's girlfriend," Zack says. "Not that Laurel is jealous."
"As if! Gross. Seriously, Zack, I will throw you off the fake Eiffel Tower." Laurel tosses her hair over her shoulder in another move of faux disinterest. She turns and moves into the restaurant.
She doesn't wait for us. She goes to the host stand and follows a man in a suit to a table.
"She is so hot for me." Zack shakes his head it's sad she can't admit it and follows his partner-in-irritation to the table.
Daphne laughs as she watches him. "Cass always complains about how ridiculous they are, but I forget."
Cassie. My sister.
The reason I need to stop thinking about Daphne naked.
The reason I'm here in Las Vegas.
To keep an eye on Cassie.
Not to fall for her best friend.
But, of course, when Daphne offers her hand, I take it and follow her to the table.
And my body doesn't hear this is a friendly move .
It hears she wants your dick.
It's the only thing I hear through appetizers and dinner.
It's the only thing I hear until we leave the cozy French-inspired bistro, find our place in the lobby, and finally see the person in question.
My sister Cassie, in a short black dress and wedge sandals, looking at her boyfriend Damon like he hangs the moon.
My sister.
Daphne's brother.
If they can do it, we can do it.
But that isn't true. It's one thing for Daphne to pursue me.
It's another for me to pursue her.
I'm the older one. The responsible one. The mature one.
I'm the Damon in this situation.
And that's the last thing I want to be: A guy who everyone worries isn't good enough for a woman.
I'm sure that's a painful experience for him, but my sympathy only goes so far.
Cassie's safety comes first. And, sure, she looks fine, but I made Dad a promise.
So, I greet her, hello, and I pull her aside. I find a quiet enough spot in the lobby, a few feet away from the bar.
I ask, "Is everything good?"
My sister's green eyes bore into mine. "Jackson."
"It's an honest question," I say.
"No. It's not." She skips the pleasantries. Straight to the point. "I know Dad asked you to keep an eye on me. I know Dad doesn't trust Damon. I know you don't trust Damon, even though you're friends now."
"I don't trust him with you," I say.
"That's okay." She presses her hands together and recites the words as if she's practiced this speech. "I understand why you don't. It took me a long time to trust him too. But here's the thing, Jackson, and I say this with all the love I have for you, because I love you so much, and I so appreciate that you look out for me. I really do."
"You're my baby sister," I say.
She doesn't melt at the reminder. She holds strong. "I'm your sister, yes, but I'm a fully grown adult. I'm capable of making my own decisions. And I promise I'll call you if I need you."
"Will you though?" I ask.
She bites her lip. "That's fair. I don't usually." Cassie, like me, tries to take care of herself. "But for this trip, I promise I will."
"Even for something small?" I ask.
"What small thing would I need?" she asks.
"A condom," I offer.
She laughs. "How about a ride? Or just someone to talk to. Whatever it is, if I am hurt in any way, I promise I'll call you. If Damon steps out of line in any way, I promise you can step in, and kick his ass."
"I could kick his ass," I say.
She nods I know . "You can watch him from afar, if you want. You can check on me at the party. But only in the normal, I want you to have fun way. Damon's sobriety is his business. Not mine. Not yours. So, kindly, with all my love, you need to fuck off."
I swallow hard. "I know."
"You and Daphne are having fun," she says. "Why don't you stick with her. She likes you, you know?"
"She likes me?"
Cassie's cheeks flush. "I didn't mean it that way."
But it's there in her eyes.
During some girl talk session, when Cassie and Daphne finally tired of discussing The Matrix trilogy for the eight millionth time, Daphne confessed an interest in me.
An interest Cassie encouraged.
Or at least an interest Cassie didn't discourage.
What the fuck?
"What did she say?" I ask.
"Nothing," she says. "And I said nothing. Stop being so observant."
"You first." I default to a typical comeback, but the defense doesn't stick.
How could I be mad about anything?
Daphne likes me.
Suddenly, I'm fourteen again. I'm ready to skip home because a girl likes me.
I want to send her a note let's meet in the library after class . I want to kiss her between the stacks of books.
"She's not looking for serious though," Cassie says. "Only a fling. And we both know you can't do that. And if anyone found out—" She shakes her head. "Mom and Dad would start planning the wedding. Her parents too."
Sure, our parents would be happy to see us settle down, but I doubt they'd rush headfirst into wedding planning. They're not exactly begging Cassie and Damon to set a date.
"I can do it," I say.
Cassie shoots me one of those Steele-family don't looks. "Seriously, Jackson. She isn't in the place for a relationship. And neither are you. What happened to Maddie?"
"You knew we were dating?"
"Was it a secret?" She shakes her head. "No wonder her Instagram comments are awkward." Cassie looks to her deep pink nail polish. "No. I know you'll do the right thing. You always do. And you're both adults and, obviously, it would be peak hypocrisy for me to tell you not to date her."
It would, but that doesn't stop most people.
"Just promise you won't break her heart, okay? Whatever you do, please be careful with her. If you promise that, I'll drop my defense for the weekend. You can check on me and Damon as much as you want. You can even get updates for Dad so he stops bugging you."
"He doesn't ask for updates."
She raises a brow sure, he doesn't .
Okay, he did ask me to send updates, but I didn't agree. "I'm not sending updates."
"Sure. But you can. Just be careful with my best friend. Okay?"
"Of course." I offer her my hand to shake. "I'd never hurt her."
Unless she asked me to.
But that's not what my sister means.
She doesn't mean don't break her heart, but do bend her over your knee and spank her so hard you leave marks .