“That sounds very noble. A very noble cause indeed.” Uncle Mick was giving Jackson his full attention now. “I hope you don’t mind me mentioning this, but you’re Rob Caine’s son, aren’t you? I never knew your father, but I heard a lot about him. He’d be very proud of you for doing something like that. Very… fitting.”
I glanced between Uncle Mick and the devil beside me. Uncle Mick looked embarrassed or guilty, and Jackson? He looked distracted, like mentioning his father had unlocked some hidden weakness in his tough man façade.
“It’s something close to my heart,” Jackson spoke, but his eyes stayed slightly downcast.
“Indeed. I’m sure it is.”
I was lost for words. I didn’t know what to say to diffuse some of the tension that’d surfaced.
“Ryley. It’s been a long time since we had a good catch up with you. Gloria and I will be having one of our infamous family barbecues soon. We’d love it if you came, and bring Jackson with you. Maybe we can talk about your charity and what I can do to help get that off the ground.”
“We’d love to.” I looked to my left at Jackson, and a massive grin had spread over his handsome face. I’d hit the jackpot.
“Do we need to bring anything with us?” I’d take a bottle with me, I’d never dream of turning up empty-handed.
“No, just yourselves. Ben and Sally will be there. They’ll be pleased to have someone else their age there to talk to.”
I was pleased to hear that too. Ben and Sally were Mick and Gloria’s children. I’d known them since I was eight years old, and always got on well with Sally. Ben was the same age as Travis, and although I didn’t really know him that well, he was just like Uncle Mick; a good guy.
“I’ll get Gloria to text you with the details. Ryley, Jackson, it’s been a pleasure. Enjoy the rest of your evening.”
With that, Uncle Mick turned and walked away to chat to another suit from across the room.
“She really is the golden goose, isn’t she?” A familiar voice at the bar spoke to us.
“How long have you been lurking in the shadows?” I asked Cillian, as he shifted off the bar stool he’d been perched on and made his way over to us.
“Oh, I heard the lot, Tink, and I gotta say, I’m impressed.”
“Impressed? How?”
He waggled his flirty eyebrows at me and pointed over at Jackson. “Impressed because, in two minutes, you managed to achieve what this hulk hasn’t been able to do for two months.”
“Come again?”
“The mayor? The contracts? This idiot has been trying to get his applications signed off for months. One chat with you and the mayor’s all, ‘let me look into that, I’ll sort that out for you’ and let’s not forget the invitation to his house.” Cillian leaned down to whisper in my ear, and I noticed Jackson flinch slightly. “Tell me, how did you do that?”
“Do what? Get an invite to my Uncle Mick’s house?”
Cillian almost choked on his whiskey at my confession. I don’t know why, it’s not like I was consciously keeping it a secret.
“He’s your uncle?” Cillian laughed at the irony of it all.
“Yes, kind of. I’ve known him since I was eight. He’s my little brother Nate’s godfather. He plays golf with my dad every Friday, and Gloria is my mum’s best friend.”
“Holy shit, you could’ve had this wrapped up hours ago.” Cillian looked amused, but Jackson just looked pissed.
“Why didn’t you tell me before?” he hissed over his whiskey tumbler.
“Tell you what? The mayor is my dad’s best friend? It’s not the kind of thing you go around telling people, is it? If I’d known he was your mark for the night I might have. Then again, seeing you grovel was much more fun.”
His nostrils flared as I spoke, and he threw back the last mouthful of his whiskey.
“And you think you don’t fit in with these people? You’re as fake as them, you just don’t like to admit it.”
I went to argue, but he stalked away, leaving me and a smug-looking Cillian alone. Why did I suddenly feel ashamed? I had nothing to feel guilty about.
“I had no idea he was working for a charity.” I tried to break the ice by talking about something positive.