As I enter the house, Pierce looks at me with an annoyed face.
“What happened?” I ask out of politeness, not because I care.
Hayes is the one who gives a shit about everyone’s business. However, he’s setting up his medical practice and working on the rehabilitation of our younger brother, Mills, who blew his knee out and might not be able to play hockey again. On top of that, he’s worried sick about his fiancée who is pregnant and barely retains any food. So now, I’m the one taking his place as the concerned brother. Not that I do a good job at it.
“The more I go through our father’s will the more I hate him. Did I tune the lawyer out when he said that if any of his single sons enter into a serious relationship—like marriage or engagement—the significant other has to stay in this house too?”
I nod. “Yes. I heard that pretty clear. I’m sure you were too busy trying to figure out how to get rid of your…wife.”
He runs a hand through his hair. “Yet, she’s still here.”
“Get yourself a mistress. Maybe she’ll give you the divorce,” I joke.
Really, I’m kidding.
Whatever is happening between him and Leyla is none of my business. They have to end their marriage or find a solution to their crazy relationship. I wouldn’t support my brother if he cheats on her, even when things are so screwed up between them. One thing I hate is cheaters—well that, and relationships.
Of course, he takes it in a totally different way because he has a horrified face.
“I lose custody of the kids,” he explains. “I know you see them as animals, but they are more than that.”
Honestly, I see them as a nuisance. From never having a pet in my life, I now have to share this place with two horses, an alpaca, two dogs, and chickens. Leyla and Pierce call them “the kids.” I’m pretty sure they have names. Honestly, I don’t care much about them at all.
“Have I mentioned that you have a very strange concept of family?” …And marriage.
“It’s complicated.”
“Isn’t all of this fucking complicated?” I ask, referring to our situation.
Who the fuck lives with their brothers at my age?
It’s like our father decided to shove us into one place to find out who might become a mass murderer. I’m pretty sure it might be me—or Vance, who used to be part of some classified special forces. He still refuses to tell us what he used to do before he retired.
My attention moves to the commotion going on in the dining room, and I realize that Blaire, Sophia, and Leyla are chatting in hushed voices.
“Should I be concerned?” I ask Pierce.
He glances in their direction and responds, “I’m sure it’s about Hayes’ surprise party.”
“Do you know she closed one of the Lodge’s restaurants for tomorrow’s celebration?” I complain.
“Blaire did?” he asks confused.
“No, Sophia. Sometimes I feel like she doesn’t respect my authority.”
He laughs. “You think? That woman has you tied by the nuts, but you refuse to acknowledge it.”
“Fuck off,” I warn him. “She’s my assistant.”
“Keep telling yourself that.” He pats my shoulder and says, “I’ll be at the office if you need me.”
I look up at the three friends and hesitate to break the happy reunion. A few months back I’d say that people don’t know their place. Sophia is nothing more than my assistant. Except, things aren’t that simple anymore. It’s not just about the way she makes me feel, but Blaire and Leyla see her as family, as if she’s part of the Aldridges.
Inexplicably, the bond between the three of them has grown out of proportion in such a short time. Offend one and you’re raising havoc.
News flash ladies, we aren’t a family.
“Sophia, we need to work,” I announce, knowing that my interrupting might bring me some backlash from the other two. “You can chat with your friends later.”
I don’t know much about women. I lived with my mom up until I was eight, and she then sent me to boarding school. I never had a steady girlfriend or the time to get to know more about how women behave. However, I have common sense, and when three women glare at a man the way they glare at me, the smart thing to do is to walk away.
“Okay then, I’ll be at the office,” I announce. “Come over when you are free?”
She looks at her watch and says, “I’ve been working since six o’clock in the morning. I spent most of the flight working on the presentation for Tuesday and the numbers of Aldry’s Sweets. I emailed you everything that you requested. You said you didn’t want to discuss the acquisitions until Monday. What else do we have to cover?”
“A lot more,” I respond.
“Blaire needs a hand with the party,” she explains. “If you don’t mind, I’m taking the rest of the day off—maybe Saturday too.”
“Shall I remind you that you came to work?”
“We have Sunday,” she offers, and I hold my breath because for her to agree to work on a Sunday, that’s major.
“We could work that day.”
“Are you sure?”
“It’s not like I can spend time with my family. They are on the other side of the country,” she reminds me and there’s a hint of bitterness in her voice.
Before I piss her off, I nod and walk away. Up until now, I haven’t thought about the impact that being in Baker’s Creek created for Sophia. She’s close to her family. Mostly her parents, and she literally lives for her mother.
When I look at the car, I decide to park it in the garage and just walk to The Lodge. As I walk to the gate, I bump into my youngest brother, Beacon.
“Hey,” he greets me. “Where’s hottie?”
“Stop calling Sophia, ‘hottie’,” I order him.
“Whatever, man. Where is she?”
“In the house,” I answer and look at the piece of clothing he’s carrying under his arms and grab the vinyl album he’s holding. “What is that?”
“A Too Far from Grace signed T-shirt for her niece and a collectible,” he answers, giving me a quizzical look, and then smirks. “It is allowed to be nice to her family, right?”
“Is it fuck with Henry day?”
“Every day is fuck with Henry day,” he states seriously taking back the album.
“Fucker,” I grumble. “Do you always have to have a comeback?”
“I understand your frustration, not everyone is as smart as I am. What can I say, I got the brains,” he replies. “Daddy dearest left the best for last.”
Someone, anyone should tell him that he’s in his late twenties and not a child who should be taunting his siblings. It won’t be me though. There’s something fun about watching him do this to the other guys.
However, he’s right about one thing. He’s the smartest one of the bunch. I’ve seen him work at The Lodge and the factory, and he not only learns what I teach him fast, he masters it and implements new things. Not that he’s happy doing it. He’s just resigned to do his part until the term is over. He’d rather be in his studio playing music.