Page 83 of Sweet Wicked Vows
Dinner was mercifully anything but awkward, thanks to Olivier.
The man was a rainbow after a storm. It was hard to stay mad with Jaxon in his brother’s presence.
Jaxon and I didn’t speak the entire length of dinner and dessert, with us both using Olivier as a buffer. If the youngest Dade picked up on any of the animosity between us, he kept it to himself and talked away as if there wasn’t a single worry in the world.
In our small world, I found out that Olivier was inNYUand currently finishing his master’s degree in economics with business management. The same degree as Flynn. He spoke highly of my brother and informed me that he was currently helping Flynn in one-to-one study sessions.
A ripple of sadness washed over me. I wanted to reach out to Flynn, to check in on him, and also to tell him that I was proud to hear he was doing well with his degree. But any previous attempts I made to speak to him, he ignored.
After dessert, I excused myself to freshen up while Jaxon showed Olivier around the house. A pointless exercise seeing that come August, Jaxon would be gone and on the next flight back to Ontario, but Olivier insisted on seeing the place.
I still was reeling about what happened before dinner.
Something caused Jaxon to revert back into his colder self, and all my guesses were pointing directly to the phone call that resulted in him shattering a wine glass against a wall. Jaxon wasn’t fooling anyone.
I didn’t understand why he wouldn’t talk to me. We’d come so far since August. I truly thought we were becoming friends—more than friends.
Because my friends didn’t make my heart skip a beat, nor did I fantasize about constantly touching and kissing my friends.
On my way back to join the brothers, I stilled outside the kitchen door at the distinct sharpness of Jaxon’s tone. “You cango straight to hell if you think I am spending Christmas with him or that useless sperm donor.”
“You’re a real charmer tonight,” Olivier said. “Was it one or maybe two whole words you spoke to your wife all night?”
“That doesn’t concern you.”
Olivier laughed. “Seriously, what has Freddie done this time to turn you into such a massive dickhead tonight?”
“He’s all the way back home, trying to sort out his own disaster of a life, and he still can’t resist butting his nose into things he shouldn’t. Now I am left cleaning up the mess from his latest stunt.”
“What did he do?”
Silence.
Olivier sighed. “Okay, then do you knowwhyhe did it?”
“He believed I was too weak.”
Bingo!
The cause of Jaxon’s broodiness and new-level scowling was none other than Frederic Dade.
“We all know what he is like,” Olivier said. “He can’t help himself. He’s always been the same, acting like our puppet master. Jax, it’s about time you cut the strings.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Isn’t it?” Olivier pushed. “You could have a life here with an amazing woman at your side. Have you considered this has the potential to be more? Whatever it is Freddie wants from you, screw it. If there’s a chance Evelyn could be more…”
“Stop.” Jaxon cut him off. “Evelyn knows exactly what this is, and so do I. I’m not going to sit and play pretend with you.”
Unable to listen any further, my chest struggling to shift the pinching tightness at Jaxon’s words, I walked into the kitchen, silencing both men.
“Speak of the devil.” Olivier offered me a warm smile. “We were just discussing the plans for Christmas.”
Liar.
“Oh?” I sat down, ignoring the glass ofMerlotJaxon poured for me. I’d rather drink poison than accept it from him. “Are you spending it here?”
“God, no.Grand-mèrewould castrate me if I didn’t come home.” Olivier laughed. “You and Jaxon are coming to Monaco for Christmas, right?”