Chapter 26
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
The Leatherbacks’ stadium was buzzing with activity. The game was about to start, and Knox had packed the owner’s suite with friends and family. All my siblings, minus Graham, were here. Their families. And some family friends like Alexis Black and Emerson’s twin, Astrid.
Halle was deep in conversation with Emerson, and Kai had been hanging out with me. “I’m hungry.”
“Let’s grab some food.” I placed my hand on his shoulder and steered him through the room toward the buffet.
“Can I have this?” He pointed at some sandwiches.
I skimmed the label. “See this.” I pointed out the wheat symbol, indicating there was gluten. “This means it has gluten. So not this one.”
He frowned. “But it looks so good.”
“I know, bud. But you don’t want to feel sick, do you?”
He shook his head vehemently. “No way. Nuh-uh.”
“Okay.” I ushered him farther down the table. “Let’s see what we can find. It’s important to always read the labels—”
“But I can’t always read those long words.”
“I know.” I tried not to laugh. “But one day, you will. Until then, always ask for help. ’Kay?” After he nodded, I asked, “How about some tortilla chips?” I pointed to the sign. “No wheat symbol. And I think you’d like the queso.”
“It’s not spicy, is it?” He scrunched up his face. Adorable. God, I loved this kid.
“Tell you what.” I put some chips and queso on my plate. “I’ll try it first.” I took a bite and confirmed it wasn’t spicy.
We grabbed a few more items for his plate, then searched for empty seats to enjoy our food while we watched the game. Sloan waved us over, and we joined her and Nate.
The match started, and everyone’s attention was glued to the field. The Leatherbacks were playing well, but the score was close. Come halftime, the Leatherbacks were in the lead, but they’d have to work to maintain it.
Kai yawned, leaned his head against me, and I was grateful Sloan was distracted by the action on the field.
“Can we have another sleepover tonight?” Kai asked, and I swear to god, my heart stopped.
I could feel Sloan’s shock. It reverberated through me like a slap. But Nate was smirking, almost as if he’d known. I tried my best to ignore their reactions. Right now, Kai was my priority. Then, minimizing the fallout, if possible.
“Another sleepover?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
“Yeah. Like the night you slept on the couch when I was sick.”
Oh. That. I let out the breath I’d been holding. Still not ideal, but definitely better than if Kai had seen me sneaking out of his mom’s room as I did nearly every night.
“Probably not,” I said, though I wanted to spend the night at Halle’s more than anything. One day. Soon.
“When can we fly in your helicopter again?”
Jesus. This kid was going to be the death of me.
“You got to fly in Jasper’s helicopter?” Sloan asked. Her tone might be casual, but I could sense the underlying tension in her words. Fuck fucking fuck. So much for minimizing the fallout.
“Yeah.” Kai perked up. “Jasper took Mum and me to Legoland for my birthday.”
“Wow,” Nate said, eyes pinging between Sloan and Kai and me. “That was really nice of him.”
“It was the best day ever!” Kai was growing more animated. “He got me a stuffed dog that looks just like Rosie. And we flew in the helicopter, and we rode on all the best rides.”
My mind was spinning with how to do damage control. Nate continued to engage with Kai, but Sloan was eerily silent, watching me. Finally, Alexis’s daughter Blair asked Kai if he wanted to play a game with her. He ran off, leaving me alone with Sloan and Nate.
“So…” I scanned the room, seeking an out. “I, uh—” I was at a loss for words. Because anything I would say was only going to make this worse.
Nate grinned. “Fucking finally.”
I jerked my head back. “What?”
Sloan’s attention whipped to him. “What does that mean? You knew?”
He lifted a shoulder. “Suspected.”
I trusted that Pierce wouldn’t tell anyone, but damn. Had Halle and I really been that obvious? Or was Nate just that perceptive? And if he’d suspected my relationship with Halle, had anyone else?
Sloan was deathly still, and I was bracing myself for her reaction. The suite erupted into cheers, and she blinked a few times as if only just remembering where we were.
She stood. “Come with me. Both of you. And where’s Knox?”
Nate met my eyes and cringed. “I’ll get Knox. We’ll meet you in his office.”
“And Halle,” I said, trying to steel myself for the discussion ahead. “She needs to be a part of this conversation.”
“I’ll ask Em to keep an eye on Kai,” Nate said before rushing off.
Sloan and I headed down the hall to Knox’s office, the sounds of the game quieting the farther we got from the field. I couldn’t get a read on her. Was she mad? Disappointed? Probably a bit of both.
I kept my gaze trained on the floor, a tight ball forming in my stomach.
I hated it. Hated that I’d let her down.
I was only reaffirming what everyone had always thought of me—I’d never be as good of a CEO as Graham.
He’d always put the company first. And here I was, yet again, putting my desires before anything else.
“I’m sorry,” I said, the words thick in my throat. My thoughts were spiraling, and I had to do something, say something, to dispel the growing tension. The last thing I’d wanted was to hurt Sloan. “I know you’re friends with her—”
Sloan sliced a hand through the air. “I don’t care about that.”
I frowned. “You don’t?”
“No.” She laughed. “Actually, I think the two of you would be good together. And if it weren’t for the fact that she works for Huxley, I’d be thrilled.” I blinked a few times, and she dragged a hand through her hair. “But another scandal is the last thing we need.”
I ducked my head. “I know.”
I was relieved my sister wasn’t upset about the fact that I was dating her friend. Sloan was more concerned about how this would impact the company.
“Ugh.” Sloan shoved my shoulder as we entered Knox’s office. “Why her? You know how hard it’s been to find an SVP, and Halle’s perfect for the role.”
“She’s still perfect for the role,” I gritted out. I would not let our relationship jeopardize what Halle deserved. “And everyone knows it.”
“Right, but…” Sloan’s expression was sympathetic. “You can see how this might reflect poorly on both of you. Not to mention the company.”
My gut twisted with guilt. “I know, and I’m sorry.”
While we waited for the others to join us, she grabbed her phone and tapped on the screen.
I furrowed my brow. “What are you doing?”
“Calling Graham.”
What? No.
I grabbed her phone, switching it off before she could connect the call. “Hey!”
I started pacing, Sloan’s phone clutched firmly in my fist. I could only imagine what Graham would think when he found out.
I tugged at my hair, imagining his disappointment.
Or maybe…worse still. Maybe he wouldn’t even be surprised.
Maybe he’d expected something like this all along. Maybe everyone had.
Sloan placed her hand on my shoulder, and I flinched. “Jasper?” Her tone was soft, concerned.
I shook my head. “I’m not asking Graham to bail us out of a mess I made.”
“Is that what you think?” Sloan asked, meeting my gaze.
When I lifted my shoulder, she stepped closer.
“Jasper,” she chided, though there was no bite to her tone.
“I’m not calling him for help. I’m calling to inform him.
He needs to know, so we can present a united front to the board and in public.
I know you can handle this, but we’re a family. And you don’t have to do it alone.”
“I know,” I said, toeing the carpet.
“Do you?” She arched one brow. “Because lately, it seems as if you’ve not only taken on Graham’s former position within the company but also his determination to do everything yourself.”
I opened my mouth to protest, to remind her that I hadn’t had a choice—not with Graham leaving and her out on leave.
But then the door swung open and Nate strode in.
Halle was behind him, and I met her eyes, trying to reassure her.
This wasn’t what we’d planned, but it wasn’t as bad as it could have been.
Pierce came in next, then Knox, closing the door behind him.
Halle came to stand beside me, and I linked my pinkie with hers. I leaned in, our shoulders brushing, setting me at ease. “You okay?” I asked, keeping my voice low.
She nodded, whispering, “Are you?”
“Yes.”
When I lifted my head, everyone was looking at us. Nate and Knox were wearing matching bemused smiles. Pierce’s hands were in his pockets, his expression blank. And Sloan was studying us with a mixture of surprise, curiosity, and concern.
Halle took a deep breath and straightened. “I just wanted to say that I’m sorry. To all of you, but mostly—” she turned to my sister “—to Sloan.”
Sloan shook her head. “You have nothing to apologize for. You have become an indispensable part of the company and a great friend to me. I think almost everyone in this room knows what it’s like to fall for someone you shouldn’t. And personally, I’m thrilled that Jasper’s found happiness with you.”
Halle released my pinkie and went over to Sloan. “Thank you.”
They hugged, and something in my chest eased. I should’ve known that Sloan would be supportive, despite the less-than-ideal circumstances. She’d said as much. But seeing her now, with Halle, confirmed it.
Sloan was right; Graham should be a part of this conversation. What was decided would affect him as well.
I handed Sloan her phone. “Call him.”
“Who?” Halle asked.
“Graham,” I said.
Sloan’s gaze met mine and held. A silent question. I inclined my head—a response. She tapped on the screen, and then the sound of a phone ringing pierced the air. After three rings, I’d resigned myself to the fact that we’d have to leave a message. But then Graham answered.
“Hello? Sloan?” he rasped, his voice deep from sleep. “Is everything okay?”
“Sorry to wake you,” Sloan said. “But we have a bit of a situation here.”