AllFreeNovel
Share Us
His father’s halfhearted efforts at the barbecue were fortunately being closely overseen by the family chef, who pointedly refused to take the day off just in case something went wrong. Edward had a solid track record of burning the meat.
This should be a fun day, but I wish Chloe was here. Today would have been the perfect day to introduce her to my family.
He’d been an unmitigated ass to Chloe. Missing her album launch as well as the All American Music Awards had put him in the running for his own award.Shittiest Boyfriend of the Year.If such an award did indeed exist, he’d be a shoo-in for the prize.
She wasn’t returning his calls. His emails went unanswered. There was anger in her silence. He’d sent flowers, but according to Sheila their delivery hadn’t been accepted.
Their relationship was teetering on the verge of collapse, and while both were struggling with other pressing commitments, he was the one who had to shoulder a great deal of the blame for their current situation.
Once I get back to LA, we need to talk. I have to let Chloe know how I feel about her. We have to find a way to make this work.
He wasn’t used to having this sort of relationship with a woman. By now he would have normally ended things, said goodbye, and walked away with no regrets. But what he had with Chloe was different. There was a connection he hadn’t ever felt before, one he was desperate to keep. The problem was, he didn’t have a clue as to how he could go about it.
“Earth to Jordan. Earth to Jordan. Are you receiving?”
Matthew’s voice stirred Jordan from his private mental battle. He glared at his brother. “Very funny, Matty boy. Some of us have a lot of things on our plate at the moment. Not everyone has the time to go wandering the Colorado wilderness and staring up at the trees. Or was that hugging them?”
He got a clip over the ear for his troubles. On any other day if Matthew had done this to him, Jordan would have retaliated. But not today. His mind was too full of indecision for him to summon up the energy.
Over at the barbecue, Edward was protesting his meat-handling skills with the chef. Alice gave atskand hurried over to her husband.
That’s one relationship that has stood the test of time.
While his parents had always made their marriage and family a priority, Jordan was frustrated with himself over not being able to do the same for Chloe.
Matthew gave him a gentle nudge. “I will have you know that my trips out to Colorado have not been all fun and games. The owners of the old Green Tree resort are still holding out for a ridiculous amount of money. And the planning laws in the city are designed to drive everyone mad. Your resort is almost finished, mine hasn’t even started.”
Be careful what you wish for, bro.
Jordan shook his head. In his current tired and distressed state, he couldn’t muster an ounce of sympathy for Matthew. “Yeah, well when you wake to several hundred emails every day, then come and talk to me. Until then, you can keep playing at pretend. Trust me, it’s better than the real deal.”
“What’s got you in such a down and miserable mood? I thought you’d be happy to be back home,” asked Matthew.
He hadn’t told anyone in his family about Chloe, but now seemed the right moment to share with his brother. “Can I trust you to keep a secret?”
“Hmm.”
“You know the pop star Chloe? Well, I’ve been in a relationship with her for the past three or so months. No one else knows, so please don’t tell a soul. Things aren’t going great at the moment, and all the stuff with the resort launch is not making it any easier for us.”
Matthew let out a low whistle. “Shit, Jordan. How on earth did you land a girl like Chloe?”
Their mother moved away from her husband and began to slowly make her way back toward where Jordan and Matthew stood. Any moment now she would be within earshot.
“I met her in Berlin. I think I’m in love, but juggling the new resort along with dad’s sky high expectations is doing my head in. I just wish Chloe could be here with me today.”
Matthew leaned in closer. “Priorities suck at the best of times. I hope you are doing everything you can to keep her. It would be brilliant if come this time next year she is able to be here with us.”
“I’m trying. And yes, it would be wonderful for her to share this day.”
As their mother drew closer, Jordan quickly changed the subject. “The staffing rosters are a struggle, finding good people is impossible.”
“Yeah, I hear LA is a tough market,” replied Matthew, loud enough for Alice to hear. She gave a tut of parental displeasure as she came to stand between her youngest two sons. “What have I said about not discussing business at family gatherings? It’s hard enough to get us in the one place, at the one time, we shouldn’t be wasting such an opportunity on talking about work.”
“Sorry, Mom,” offered the brothers. Matthew who was standing on the other side of Jordan and out of his mother’s clear line of sight, gave him a wink. Jordan’s secret would be safe.
“How long are you back in New York, Jordan? I’ve barely seen you all year. It’s bad enough that we haven’t seen Bryce since Christmas.” It was the first question Alice usually asked of any of her sons the moment they set foot in the front door when they returned home.
“What about me? I’m home all the time.” Matthew huffed. Moving from his spot beside Alice, Jordan came to stand next to his brother. He slung an arm around Matthew, then dropped a wet, sloppy kiss on his cheek. “Yes, but you don’t really count.”
