James looks at Kate, hoping she’ll interject so he doesn’t have to answer, but she only stares at him like this question intrigues her, too. Her brows edge together, creating the slightest line between them, as if this question is a hypothesis in need of study. She’s watching him as he says, “I wasn’t married, but yes, I had a family. My parents were alive, and I had a sister.”
Abby’s face pops into his mind. It’s his sister who Lessa’s nervous perfectionism reminds him of. But he hasn’t spared his sister a single thought this entire time. Does he have any living ancestors? Abby had children. He makes a mental note to look into it. But what would be the point if some event wiped out all personal wealth?
Kate is staring at him as if she can see right through him. Like she knows he isn’t being forthcoming. Jett, with his sharp, appraising scrutiny makes James want to take charge and redirect the conversation. That’s what he would have done in the past, but at the moment he feels a little off-center.
Lessa seems to be the only one he’s managed to convince. Probably because they only appear to be half-paying attention. They say, “Poor thing. I can’t imagine what you must be going through, wondering what happened to them all those years ago.”
They’re all dead nowis implied. It doesn’t hurt as much as one might think. For all James knows, they lived long and fulfilling lives. Is that a consolation, or is James really that callous? Never mind.
Lessa pats Jett on the knee, which is apparently a signal to put away his device because he tucks it into his pocket. Then they say, “How can we help?”
Kate claps her hands in front of her chest, content to put away the prior conversation. James is too. “I think we need to practice. Then, drinks on me,” she says.
Jett stands to pace in front of the particle panes. “Okay, from now until you pass the inspection, you must remain one hundred percentin character.” James can’t help but notice the sly look he shoots Kate.
Kate, to her credit, only shakes her head.
James scoffs. “And what exactly does that entail?”
“Well, to start, you should at least act like you like yourowner,” Jett says, pointedly emphasizing the wordowneras though he knows it will needle him.
James raises an eyebrow at the irritating man.
“You’re meant to be ultra masculine, so you can get away with being a little gruff, but you need to let your body language speak for itself. Like this.” Jett sits back down next to Lessa and slips a casual arm on the couch behind them. Then his fingers absently pick up a strand of their shiny silver hair. As he keeps his attention focused on James, his body gravitates toward Lessa. “See?” Jett asks, reverting to his former position.
Lessa gives him an exaggerated shiver, fanning themself. “That was quite effective, Jett. I didn’t know you had such skills.”
James rolls his eyes. “I know how to flirt.”
Jett’s smirk taunts him. “Are you sure?”
He stares at Kate for a moment. Something about fake flirting with her feels different. Whether it feels like betrayal to his resolve oropening Pandora’s box, he isn’t sure. But this ishis lifethat hangs in the balance. He needs to treat this as any other job and do it.
James takes another look at Kate, then a deep breath as he steels himself to take on the character of fake lover. He can do this.
Right as he leans sideways, Kate jumps to her feet. Out of nowhere, tears burst from her eyes. Between sobs, she bites out, “I can’t be that bad. I can’t.” She dashes to her room, leaving James dumbfounded.
“Kate, honey,” Lessa calls after her, only a few steps behind.
“There’s something wrong with me,” Kate cries. Lessa makes it into the room before Kate slams the door.
James sits frozen on the couch, staring across the room at the closed door. “What just happened?”
Jett’s voice draws him back to reality. “You fucked that up, didn’t you?”
James whips his head in Jett’s direction. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”
Jett only laughs. “If you get recycled, it’s on you. Kate is putting herself out there by trying to help you, and you act as if you’re loath to touch her. Do you have any idea the trouble she could get in by violating the terms and conditions of the GROW agreement?”
James shakes his head, a little ashamed that he didn’t give it a second thought when Kate mentioned it after he submitted the GROW survey for her.
Jett continues. “Did you even think to ask, or were you only thinking of yourself?”
Guilt nips at James’s conscience. “I know she’s trying to help, and I appreciate it, but I’m not used to accepting help unless it’s from the people I’ve hired. Otherwise, I like to figure things out myself.”
As if reading James’s thoughts, Jett says, “So you’re hyperindependent. You realize that isn’t an admirable quality, right?” When James doesn’t respond, he says, “I think maybeyou’rethe asshole.”
“You’re right,” he admits. “I’ve been selfish.” He’s always seen himself as self-reliant, but is that only a clever way to excuse his selfishness? God, why is the future so intent on highlighting his flaws?
