Beautiful Brute (Court University 3)

He definitely noticed me with my adoptive father.

Something I took for heat touched Jax’s eyes, something I most certainly took note of. Rick dropped his arm from around me, and Jax noticed that too. His eyes flicked to it before finding my eyes. Honestly, it had taken me aback a little bit.

I’d gotten so used to him being another way as of late.

“Hey,” I said, immediately coming over. I wanted to redirect his attention, get some of that light back.

Shifting, he didn’t give me much of that, though. “Hey.”

“You came.”

“Yeah,” he said, but it took a second for him to actually see me. He’d been staring back at my dad. His lips parted. “That’s, um, if it’s still okay.”

“Of course, it is.” Mom had said it, Dad just standing there. I think, mostly due to shock. He hadn’t moved since Jax arrived. Mom waved a hand in his direction. “Right, Rick.”

“Of course, yes.” Awestruck, Dad blinked for the first time since the environment had changed. He pushed a hand behind his neck. “I’m happy you came. Yes, and thank you. For coming that is.”

“Happy birthday,” Jax said, but parted their gazes to glance at me. He put the wine out. “I brought, um…”

Smiling, I took it. And God, did I want to kiss him. God, did I want to thank him. It was so good he was here.

Good for both of them.

“Thank you… son,” Dad said, so awkward when, before that weekend, he’d never been around Jax. Dad wrestled with his hands. “We were just about to start, so perfect timing.”

A nod on Jax’s end, and with this exchange, Mom appeared absolutely giddy. She took the wine from me, beaming. “Well, I’ll go get the bucket for this. Cleo, wine glasses?”

I could definitely do that. Quickly, I went to get them while Mom directed other duties. She had Dad go ahead and go to the dining room since he was the guest of honor.

“And if you don’t mind, the rolls, Jax?” she requested, smiling at him. She had the wine and bucket at this point, raising it. “We’re really happy you’re here.?

?

“Thank you.”

Another smile before she winked at me. All too quickly, she skidded out of the room, and though Jax got the bread and I got the glasses, I touched his arm before we left the kitchen.

Instead of saying anything to him, I just kissed his cheek, lingering there.

I think I said all I had to say, so grateful he was here.

I just hoped this night went okay.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Cleo

I’d like to say the evening produced some miracles after that, that after more than one occurrence of tension and unsaid words, suddenly all parties involved were forthcoming. I wanted to say, around the dinner table on my adoptive father’s birthday, that my stepbrother smiled and engaged. That he’d been open like he seemed to be finally doing with me and that he and Dad really had a moment.

But that just didn’t happen.

Dinner ended up being nothing more than clanking dishes and awkward silences when my mom was trying to make the room mingle. That was just who she was, the fixer, the helper. Whenever there was tension, she handled it, and though I aided her, trying to push on those conversations, Dad and Jax still didn’t directly talk to one other. Jaxen himself basically only spoke when directly addressed, and Dad, though he did probe conversation, never did so distinctly to his biological son. My adoptive father would mention open topics, ones for all, and never pushed Jax to speak.

Maybe he should have.

Maybe then the dinner wouldn’t have been basically Mom and me trying to play happy family. The two were stubborn as hell, clearly, and if my family didn’t think I knew something was up, they thought me stupid. People just didn’t not talk to each other.

Not unless they had a reason anyway.