She pats him on the shoulder. “All good. It’ll give me a chance to speak with Maverick.”
“Sib,” Jackson growls.
“Start clearing the table, Jaxi. That’s your job.” She points at me. “And you, follow me.”
I say goodbye to everyone and thank Clancy for the wonderful meal. He tells me it’s no bother and to come by anytime we like this afternoon, and I follow Sibella to her car. When we reach it, she leans against the side and lets out an almighty sigh. “Fuck, I want a cigarette.”
“You smoke?”
“If anyone inside that house and especially Tim asks, the answer is no. But yeah. Before I was pregnant, I’d have one or two a day. It’s a bad habit I can’t seem to shake.”
“I know a thing or two about those.”
She runs her intense green eyes up and down me. I summon all my willpower not to squirm beneath her intimidating stare. Eager to move things along, I ask, “So where’s that box of drinks?”
“There is no box. I lied. It’s being delivered here tomorrow. I just wanted to talk to you.”
“About what?”
She glances back toward the house. “Jackson. He’s complicated, okay? I know he can be prickly. And difficult. A real handful. But the reason he’s so guarded is because he’s sensitive. Too sensitive, if you ask me. Have you ever seen him with a horse?”
“I have.”
“That’shim. That’s who he really is. Patient. Kind. Intuitive. Open. Loving. Trusting.” She lets out a long breath, and if she wanted a cigarette before, I’d bet money she’d kill for one now. “We’ve gone through some fucked-up family shit, and he’s gothis own situation to deal with, but there’s one thing you need to know. Jackson does this thing where he takes it all on. Being angry is his way of gaining control in a situation where he feels powerless but wants to do something.”
“I’m not sure I follow.”
She sucks in a breath through her nose. “It’s not my place to say anything, but if you like him, don’t let him push you away.”
“Okay.”
I’m in shock.
What exactly has Jackson been telling his sisters? Because I was under the impression he’d put up a firm boundary around me. Around the possibility of there being anus. So why is Sibella doing the whole overprotective big sister thing you’d expect if someone were new to dating her brother?
She’s not finished yet. “And don’t be a pushover either. He doesn’t like that.”
“Has he had many relationships?” I hedge, hoping to score some much-needed extra information about him.
“One in high school. A few after. Nothing serious or long-term. Nothing recent.” She pushes off the car and stares straight into my eyes. “He’s not easy, but I promise you this—he’s worth it.”
11
Jackson
This lunch has not gone to planat all.
First, Maverick shows up out of the blue with chicken soup. Then, Clancy invites him to stay, and the guy has to witness my family in complete out-of-control mode. Then, Sib takes him outside and says god knows what to him. I’ve begged her three times since Maverick’s gone to tell me, and three times, all she’s said is to mind my own business—the irony—and to wear something nicer for when Maverick comes over later.
It probably costs less than a shoelace on one of his high-priced sneakers, but my red crew-neck T-shirt and cargo shorts are just fine, thank you very much. I’m not putting on a show just because Maverickmightbe coming over.
Besides, I have more important things to worry about than my appearance. I’ve got to tell everyone about my condition, which I’m seriously considering not doing. It was already bound to be a major bummer, but now that Maverick and his family might be coming over later, do I really want them showing up to a party that’s had all the buzz sucked out of it? What’s the harm in delaying it until next week’s family lunch?
“Hey.” Clancy appears next to me as I rinse the cutlery under warm water.
“Hey.”
“Sorry about inviting Maverick in,” he says. “It completely slipped my mind that you were going to tell everyone today.”
