Fit for the Job (22 page)

“I won’t, I won’t say anything, Jesus. But how the hell do you know this?”

“Ingrid and I are close.”

Jay raised his eyebrows.

Evelyn gave him a sour look. “Not
that
close. We’re friends. I’m straight.”

Jay hunched over, looking at the floor. “Does Sassy know?”

Evelyn stayed quiet.

Jay looked up and met her eyes. “Well does she?”

She nodded. “Yeah. She does now. That’s part of why she wants to leave.” Evelyn sighed, shaking her head as she looked at the floor. “That’s what happened on her winter break. Sassy found out that both her parents are gay. Their marriage is a sham. And that she’s basically a turkey-baster baby.”

“Ah, shit,” Jay said, rubbing his temples. He nodded. “That’s why she was asking me about coming out. That’s why she said all that stuff about people in the closet.” He looked at Evelyn. “So she’s pretty traumatized by it?”

Evelyn shrugged. “Probably not so much the fact that they’re gay as the fact she’s now convinced that they never loved her, and that she’s just a prop for their careers to hide their secret lives.”

“Is she?”

“No!” Evelyn shook her head, looking tormented. “Of course not. They love the hell out of that girl. They
wanted
Sassy, that’s why they had her. She’s just confused right now. Sassy told me she feels like a Prada bag that looked good on her mother’s arm until it got older and went out of style. She’s wrong. They love Sassy to death, and they’re heartbroken with regret over this.”

Jay held Evelyn’s gaze. “I know about the blackmail,” he said.

Evelyn nodded. “I figured as much. Kind of hard to hide that around here, what with Sassy’s restrictions and you being her trainer.”

“Do you know what’s on the tape?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“But we can guess.”

She nodded. “Yeah.”

“Fuck,” Jay said, resting his face in his palms.

“Yeah.”

“Does Bodie know?”

“I’m not sure,” Evelyn said. “But I don’t think so.” She shrugged. “You better get to bed. We’ve got an early start. I’m sorry about...this. I fucked up.
Bad
. Please, please,
please
don’t repeat this. I’d never have told you, but I couldn’t have you thinking Eben smacks Sassy around.”

Jay stood. “Don’t worry about it. You can trust me. I’m just...wow.”

Evelyn stood. “Go on, get out of here. You’ll have plenty of time to think about it tomorrow while we’re canoeing down the river.”

“All right.” Jay gave his head a shake. “All right. Goodnight. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Yep.”

Jay left the house and went back to his cottage. After getting cleaned up he climbed into bed, staring at the ceiling. He hoped sleep would come. But now his head was a three ring circus. Eben and Ingrid were gay. Sassy was blackmailing Eben for her trust fund. And there was a possibility Bodie was only sleeping with Jay as a call of duty.

And without a doubt, that last item on the list was the one that bothered him most.

Chapter Ten

Jay was up and dressed, stuffing the last of his provisions in his duffle bag when Bodie knocked.

Despite his new misgivings about Bodie, Jay’s pulse sped a bit when he opened the door. Bodie looked more drool-worthy than ever, in camouflage shorts that fell to his knees, a black tank top showing off his muscular arms, hair tied back off his face.

Unable to help himself, Jay smiled at him. “You realize we’re not gonna be attacked by Viet Cong out there, right?”

Bodie smirked, eyebrow lifting. “Well, someone’s wide awake. Already busting my balls.”

“What’s up?” Jay asked, still standing at the door.

Bodie turned around and looked behind him, pointing. Jay leaned out the door and saw a red SUV with two large, orange canoes strapped to the top. “Everything’s set,” Bodie said. “Eben’s gonna drive us down to the river, but he wants us to have breakfast on the sun patio first for Sassy’s birthday.”

Jay’s mouth fell open. “Eben’s up? And
functional?
”

Bodie chuckled. “Tate told me about your adventures in fake blood last night.”

“Isn’t he hung over?”

“Sure.” Bodie shrugged. “But he’s a seasoned pro.”

“But he was slaughtered last night!” Jay said. “And I mean that metaphorically, thank God. I nearly had a heart attack when I saw him lying on the floor.”

Bodie looked Jay up and down. “Are you planning to invite me in anytime soon?”

“Sorry. Come in.” He stepped back away from the door.

Bodie looked Jay over as he stepped into the cottage. He leaned in, and Jay stiffened a bit as Bodie kissed him.

Bodie stepped back. “Everything all right with you?”

Jay nodded, probably too enthusiastically. “Yeah. Yeah, I’m great.”

Bodie frowned. “Okay...” He looked over at Jay’s duffle bag on the chair. “You got everything? Eben’s got bottled water and all that, and I guess everything else is at the cabin.”

Jay sat down on the small, floral sofa and tied his shoes. “Good. Give me one second here.”

Bodie was staring at Jay, an odd look on his face. Jay wasn’t trying to be rude or cold to Bodie. But now that Bodie was here, standing before him in all his fuckable glory, Jay couldn’t put Eben’s drunken words out of his mind.

Bodie moved over and sat down next to Jay on the sofa. “Sassy said she saw you last night, too. I must have been sleeping pretty good, I missed all the fun.”

“Yep,” Jay said. “Just a quick visit. Don’t worry, Evelyn patted me down before I left.”

Bodie chuckled. “I wasn’t worried. Just curious what you talked about.”

“Nothing of import,” Jay said. “Nothing about blackmail or Eben or anything cloak and dagger, if that’s why you’re asking.”

Bodie frowned at Jay. “That wasn’t why I was asking,” he said. “I was just curious, making conversation. You sure you’re all right? You’re acting kind of weird.”

Part of Jay wanted to confront Bodie right then and there about what Eben said. Okay, a big part. But at the same time, he was afraid of coming off as insecure, and it was so early in their budding romance. Or affair. Or whatever it was. But mostly, he was afraid of what Bodie’s answer would be. “No, I’m fine,” he said. “Just didn’t sleep very well.”

“Well, let’s go over to the house. I’m sure there will be plenty of coffee at breakfast.”

“Okay.” Jay stood.

Bodie got up and grabbed Jay’s bag off the chair. “I’ll throw this in the truck for you.”

“Thanks.”

Bodie gave Jay one more curious glance, then they both left the cottage.

When they walked into the main house, Jay could hear Sassy’s raised voice, and he groaned. “What now?” he muttered.

“Let’s find out,” Bodie said, and led them to the kitchen, where the shouting was coming from.

“I don’t want to.” Sassy was shouting at Libby. “I’m not even hungry!”

“Sassafras Harvest Wright, you will go out there and have breakfast with your father! I don’t want to hear another word about it,” Libby said.

“Stop calling me Sassafras! I hate that name! I tell you all the time and you still call me that!” Sassy looked up when Jay and Bodie stepped into the kitchen.

“Happy birthday, Sassy,” Jay said.

“No, it’s not,” Sassy said. “My father tricked me. Now not only do I have to have breakfast with him, but he’s driving us to the river, too!”

“Oh, the tortures of the damned,” Bodie said.

Sassy shot him a look.

“Come on, Sass,” Jay said. “I’m hungry and I need coffee and your voice is like a screwdriver through my brain right now. Can’t we just get through this part so we can get out on the water?”

“Fine,” she said. “I’ll do it for
you
, Jay.” She made a face at Libby.

Libby shook her head as she wiped down the counter. Her expression was pinched in distaste, more visible with her red hair tied up in a tight bun. “Sixteen years old,” Libby said. “You’d think she was six.”

“I can hear you,” Sassy said. “I’m standing right here.”

“I know you can, honey.”

“Come on,” Bodie said. “Let’s go eat.”

When Jay, Bodie, and Sassy walked outside onto the patio, Jay had to bite his tongue to keep from laughing at the sight that greeted them. Seated before a large round table covered in fruit and cheese and various pastries, was Eben. He wore dark sunglasses and a baseball cap. In Bermuda shorts with a Hawaiian shirt, his cheek rested on his arm like he was sleeping—and perhaps he was.

“Good morning,” Bodie said, and Eben jolted, then raised his head.

“Oh.” Eben stretched back in his chair, scratching his cheek. “Morning.”

“Well, aren’t you a sight,” Sassy said, taking the chair as far away from her father as she could get.

“Happy birthday, Baby,” Eben said, then yawned.

Sassy repeated his words in a mocking tone under her breath, pulling a comical face.

“This looks good,” Jay said, taking one of the chairs between Sassy and Eben. Bodie did the same on the opposite side of the table, the two of them serving as buffers between father and daughter. Jay immediately poured himself a cup of coffee as the others began piling food on their plates.

“Nice day you’ve got,” Eben said, placing a croissant on his plate. “Whole weekend’s supposed to be like this.”

“Great,” Bodie said. “So you’ve got the day off?” He glanced at Eben.

“Thank
God
,” Eben said dramatically. “I feel like crap.”

“Aw, must be the flu,” Sassy quipped.

Eben leaned his forearm on the table, pointing at Jay. “Did I see you last night?”

Jay smiled at him and nodded. “Uh huh.”

“Huh.” Eben pushed his sunglasses up on his nose. “I thought it was a dream.”

Bodie met Jay’s eyes across the table, giving him a small smile. Jay felt his resolve weaken in an instant, the memory of their sex flooding back to him. He focused on his coffee.

“I’m done eating,” Sassy said and rose from her chair.

“Sit down,” Eben said, turning his pointed finger to Sassy. “You’re not done, cut the crap.”

She stiffened, then caught Jay’s eye. Sighing, she sat back down, poking at a slice of melon with her fork.

While they ate, Eben downed three full glasses of orange juice. As he set down the third glass, he turned to Jay. “How are Sassy’s workouts going?”

“Good,” Jay said.

“I can speak for myself,” Sassy said.

Dear God, let this be over soon so we can go
, Jay thought.

Eben gave Sassy an exaggerated smile. “How are the workouts going,
Sassy
?”

“How are yours going,
Dad?
” she said pleasantly. “Lifted any bottles lately?”

Bodie groaned quietly.

Evelyn blessedly appeared, approaching the table. “Morning, all! Happy birthday, Sass.” She took the chair right next to Eben on Bodie’s side of the table.

“Evelyn!” Eben said enthusiastically. “Am I working you too hard?”

“You certainly are,” Evelyn said with a smile.

He laughed and poked her shoulder. “Am I paying you too much? Because we could fix that.”

“Ha!” She laughed. “You’re a riot.”

After another fifteen minutes of the most awkward breakfast Jay had ever had, Eben announced that it was time to go. Jay thanked the heavens for small miracles.

As they headed toward the car, Bodie stepped up beside Jay and playfully tugged a lock of his hair. “Ready to have some fun this weekend?” he said softly.

Jay looked at him, slowing his steps to let the others get farther ahead. “Yeah,” he said. “Should be great out on the river today.”

“That’s not what I meant,” Bodie said.

Jay knew what he meant, but didn’t want to make any promises. He was still feeling that knot in his stomach, still on the fence about Bodie’s sincerity. “I don’t know,” he said. “We’ll have to play it by ear.”

Bodie scowled at him. “Sassy and Evelyn are staying in their own room. It’ll be easy to be careful. What’s to play by ear? It’s a cabin in the woods. You know, rustic, romantic. You don’t want to take advantage of that?”

Jay gave him a quick smile, then looked away as they approached the car. “Better talk later,” he said.

He felt Bodie’s eyes drilling a hole into the back of his head as he climbed into the backseat next to Sassy. It probably seemed to Bodie that Jay was toying with him. That wasn’t his intention. And he realized it wasn’t really fair. He’d have to be a grownup and just talk to Bodie about the whole Eben thing later, when they were alone. And he hoped to hell it wouldn’t be too awkward.

Jay watched Eben climb into the driver’s seat, his face pale and sweaty, looking like crap warmed over.

“Jesus, Dad!” Sassy snapped. “You smell like whiskey and farts.”

Yeah, there was already enough awkwardness to go around.

****

The river was gorgeous, shrouded on both sides with trees and heavy vines, greenish water glimmering in the sunlight. Bodie shared a canoe with Evelyn, he in the front, her in the back. He kept pace with Jay and Sassy’s boat as they rowed their way along. Bodie stole glances at Jay, admiring his physique as he rowed, and also wondering what the hell his problem was. The signals he was getting from Jay all said
back off
. Especially after their discussion on the way to the car.

And so he had. But what the hell had changed so fast?
Figures. Finally find a guy I actually like and he’s gonna blow me off.

Sassy, seated in the front of the canoe, put down her oar down and turned around, facing Jay in the back. “Ah,” she said, leaning back with her hands behind her head. “So relaxing.”

“Don’t even think about it, princess,” Jay said. “Keep rowing. This is supposed to be a workout.”

“But it’s my sixteenth birthday!” She laughed. “I should be able to just lie back here while you be my slave.”

“You want to see your seventeenth birthday?” Evelyn called over.

Sassy frowned. “You guys are so serious.” She turned around and picked up her oar.

After another thirty minutes of pleasant rowing, Sassy asked if they could take a water break, so Jay suggested they row over to the shore on the right. Bodie and Evelyn paddled over, sidling their canoe up alongside the other in the water.