"Well. I'm here for that and anything else you need." She slipped her hand into his. "Where is our first stop?"
"We're having drinks and an early dinner with my brother and his wife." Alex held her hand loosely, which was so different from the emotion he'd shown just the night before.
"What's her name again?"
"Paula." He closed his eyes, and Jamie realized that the conversation was over for the time being. It was probably best, seeing as how the only news she had about her own day was regarding two guys who Alex would want to hear nothing about. The way he was acting the day before, he would most likely get jealous over nothing and blow up.
She leaned her head against his arm and watched the world go by until the car stopped. The antiquated restaurant that sat just outside the window was beautiful, and sparked her interest.
"This looks nice." She got out of the car behind him, taking his hand as he offered it.
"I'm dreading this shit." He kept his hand in hers. "Tell me it's going to be over soon."
"It is, and I would be asking for the same pep talk if this was my family and we were here to see them." Jamie smiled as she caught sight of the slight lifting of his lips. Maybe she’d need to offer a prize if he kept it together over dinner. She understood his stress, and sympathized with him. He didn’t mean to take it out on her; he just needed an outlet. I’m rubber, you’re glue... She could be his rubber for now.
"Just keep the liquor coming and talk Mark's ear off. I have very little to say to my brother." He shrugged and held the door open for her.
Jamie smiled as Mark stood beside a dark-haired woman, a huge smile sliding across his handsome face. "There you guys are. I was getting worried."
"We're not even late," Alex grumbled as Jamie let his younger brother pull her into a friendly hug.
"True." Mark motioned for the woman to stand. "Jamie, this is my wife, Paula."
The woman tilted her head and lifted her lips in a less-than-pleasant smirk. "Hmmm. Nice to meet you. Not the woman I would expect Alex to date, but still very pretty."
Jamie wasn't sure how to respond. The comment would be more appropriate had Jamie not been in front of her. And they had met at the house after Alex’s dad had passed. It had been brief, but still.
"She's a good friend." Alex touched Jamie's back and extended his hand. "Nice to see you again, Paula. Mark."
"Right." Mark lifted his eyebrows and turned to the hostess. "We're ready to be seated."
"Bring a huge bottle of wine, please." Jamie moved up next to Mark and smiled, leaving the other two behind them. She would catch hell from Alex over it later, but she didn't mind so much. She would make it up to him.
They worked through casual conversation as best they could as they ate their salads and shared a bottle of wine. Alex had a call come in as the food was being delivered, and excused himself.
Paula sat there for a minute longer and got up to go to the bathroom, leaving Jamie to wonder how the night had gotten so off.
"Wow. This is fucking uncomfortable. You would think you and I were old lovers and now you're with my brother, or he and Paula were and now we’re together. The damn tension is so thick I couldn't cut it with my knife," he chuckled.
Jamie relaxed immediately and sank back into her seat. "My sister actually married my ex-boyfriend. Talk about odd family gatherings."
Mark laughed. "No way. Seriously?"
"Yeah, but it's all good. I honestly never know what in the world I saw in him." She picked up her wine glass. "However, nothing is as tense as this has been."
"It's my fault. Alex and I have no relationship at all. It doesn’t help that Paula and I are struggling as well. I'm the common denominator, but I'm more content with myself than I’ve ever been." He shrugged, and finished his wine before pouring himself another glass. He tilted the bottle toward her. "More?"
"Hell, yes." She lifted her glass. "So tomorrow we’ll just be going through the house and then you and Alex will meet with the lawyers?"
"Just the house. I'll do all the legal work in a few days by myself. If Alex is needed, I'll call him and pull him in. I'll probably bring a handful of papers with me back up to New York to get his signature on. I'll just work through you. I'd hate to take up any more of his time." He sighed and glanced toward the front door. "Dad wants us to work on this, but I honestly don't know how."
"Yeah. I wish I could help. I can't stand my own family, so giving advice to you and yours would be ridiculous." Jamie took another sip of her wine. "I think you should just keep trying and push the best parts of your personality toward him. Tell him how much you care, how much you notice him, and how you’re proud of him. It's all the things he's been missing in his life."
"That's good. I like it." Mark glanced back toward her. "Here they come. Ready for round two?"
"Nope. Order more liquor."
Mark chuckled. "I like you."