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Chapter Five
“Thought for sure I’d see you at the gym again last night,” Clark said. “I guess whatever had you all frustrated, it worked itself out.”
“Told you before, I wasn’t frustrated,” Jerry snapped.
“You mean like now?” he asked. “Because if anything, you’re tenser than Friday night. Does this have anything to do with you being the best man for Kenneth?”
“Why should that stress me? It’s not like I’m the groom.” Then I’d be fucking running. Not getting caught in that trap.
Jerry thought spending Saturday night with Reanna would’ve gotten her out of his system. It had the opposite effect. Never had he ached for someone before. It was beyond a want; he needed her. That was all the more reason to stay the fuck away. Even when she offered to cook him breakfast before he had left her house several hours earlier, Jerry had told her he needed to get back to Boston. It was true, but she had no clue as to why. He needed to make sure Clark stayed ignorant to that fact as well.
“Jerry, we all know how you feel about marriage. It fits in your life, just like it does ours. Well, who the hell knows what happened to Kenneth? I even called Phillip last night over my concerns. Now I’m wondering if I should’ve brought up your name as well.”
“Kenneth is in love. Nothing we say is going to change that,” Jerry said. And he actually wasn’t sure he wanted to. It was nice seeing at least one member of the Heart family genuinely happy about something other than a business deal.
“That is exactly what Phillip said too. I know that is not your problem. Yet something is off. Can’t figure it out,” Clark said.
“I would say the same thing about you. Is your business suffering, because you seem to have a lot of time on your hands to hang around and talk?” He knew that would shut Clark up. At least on that topic.
“Shit. I don’t know what’s wrong. I never blew a deal before, but last week, everything I worked for went to hell. It was like someone was a step ahead of me and I just don’t know who. But trust me, I’ll find out,” Clark snarled. “And they’ll find I’m not one to mess with.”
“Are you serious? You think someone is intentionally fucking with you?” Jerry asked, totally surprised. They were used to people trying, but succeeding was another story. The Heart family didn’t play, and they sure as hell weren’t used to losing either.
“I wouldn’t joke about such things. But don’t worry, I’m looking into it.”
“Want my help?” he offered. Jerry could use the distraction right now.
“You know that we Hearts like to do things ourselves.”
He was no different. They were family, but each so fucking independent that sometimes they got in their own way. It was possible that was happening with Clark now. But no matter what Jerry said, it was falling on deaf ears, no different than with Kenneth.
“Good luck with it. You have my number if you change your mind.” Which won’t happen.
“Same here. When you’re ready to talk about whatever, or whoever, has you this distracted, call me,” Clark replied. “And if you choose not to, then I guess we will all just have to go along with Mother’s guess.”
He hated to ask, but needed to know. “What is she saying now?”
Clark chuckled. “That you’re jealous about Kenneth and it’s eating at you.”
Jerry burst out laughing. “That’s a good one. I was just thinking about packing my bags and moving next to a dairy farm.”
“I would’ve laughed my ass off a few months ago. Now I’m not so sure. Whatever Kenneth has could be contagious. You have been hanging around him quite a bit lately. Maybe Cupid is going to work his magic on you next,” Clark joked.
“And maybe you should quit talking to Mother so much and concentrate on finding out who’s out to destroy your business,” Jerry responded.
“Good point. Oh, by the way, Mother is having a dinner party for Kenneth and Shanda on Thursday.”
“What for?” All these family dinners and gatherings were getting to be way too frequent. Won’t be surprised if all our businesses start to tank at this rate.
“Does she really need a reason?” Clark asked.
“I do if she expects me to be there.”
“It’s your choice, but you know how she is. If you don’t show up, she’ll go looking for you. That’s always worse.”
“You do know that we’re not children any longer and we all have our own lives, right?” Jerry reminded him.
“Try telling her that. Maybe on Thursday when I’m there to witness her response. Have to say, that is one way to get the rest of us eager to be there,” he joked.
