Baby Daddies - Tara Brown Page 0,2

apartment while he whores you out to Liam-fucking-Farringdon, but I can’t give you a dime?”

“Can we not?” I ask, trying not to be frustrated with his need to parent and protect me.

“We promised her, Jenny. We would be superstars. We would live life to the fullest and never hold back because you don’t know what’s going to happen.” He’s ruthless and goes for the last thing we told our mom.

“I am good at my job, Josh. I feel like a superstar there. And not because of hockey or you—” My voice cracks because I’m saying old lines but the truth in them is fading. Those promises I made to my dying mother pushed me to make Team Canada. But they’ve lost some potency in the last few years.

“Yeah, it’s great.” He rolls his eyes under his shaggy hair. “What’s not to love? You’re making up stories to save the worst narcissists on the planet from lying in the beds they made. Mom would be so proud.”

“Fuck you, Josh!” I stand up to leave, but he lashes out and grabs my hand.

“Sorry, you’re right. That was too far.” He pulls me in and holds me tight. “I just hate that you’re dating losers like Ben and letting that asshat Liam put his hands all over you. Makes me psycho.”

“You were already psycho.” I laugh and pull back, recognizing the real anger in his eyes. “Stop sending Ben death threats too.”

He cracks a grin, making me laugh harder. He looks so much like Dad, it hurts. I bury my face in his chest and sigh.

“Promise me you’ll be the girl Mom raised you to be and stop taking shit off these asshats. That’s not you, Jenny. You’re amazing at compartmentalizing yourself, but work Jenny is ruining the rest of the Jennys.”

“I promise.” It’s the worst self-realization I’ve made in a while but he’s right. If my mom saw me getting mauled by some pervert on TV, who wanted to torment me, she would’ve expected me to punch him in the face. Not smile for the camera.

“Okay, I’m gonna get stoned and play some music. You wanna come to the show?”

“Yeah.” I grin, aware leaving the junket before dinner is over is not something work Jenny would do, but seeing my brother and his band is something the other Jennys need.

2

Right hook

Lori

It’s impossible to play the good son with my brain stuck on Jenny and Farringdon. Cap texted me that Sukii said it’s the job and no way was something going on, but the elevator kiss pic Sami sent me with an outraged text message is convincing. None of us like Liam. He made a go at Sami and told everyone they slept together when things were dodgy for her and Matt, adding fuel to that fire. I retaliated by sleeping with his wife, which might explain the Jenny thing. Maybe he’s paying me back. Either way, I’m not assuming anything. If I’ve learned a single lesson from Sami and Matt, it’s that we don’t assume. I need to talk to her. Face to face.

My mother’s laugh snaps me out of my thoughts as she continues regaling our company with facts about me. “He’s had a job since he was nine years old. Been paying a broker friend of ours to play his money in the stock market since he was eleven. He has more money than we do.” Mother laughs again. “Lawrence was always our odd duck. And now this, he’s having his hockey phase.” She shrugs but in that way women of proper breeding do that doesn’t look like a shrug. It’s like she’s flexing her tense neck muscles which force her shoulders to lift.

“How admirable,” Mr. Kamahi says, offering me an approving nod.

I’m so tired of talking about me.

And my sister Callie appears ready to kill me to end this.

It isn’t at all how I wanted to spend the evening with Grandpa whose eyes flash humor from across the parlor where we’re taking our port. He and I haven’t had much of a chance to talk, thanks to the matchmaking ceremony going on.

“Our Helaine was much the same.” Mrs. Kamahi decides to join in on the parenting brag fest. “Law school and passing the bar before her twenty-second birthday. She has recently taken a position with a firm in New York, with a friend I believe we have in common. Stan Levisohn.”

What are the odds?

My stomach tightens.

“Yes, Stan is such a dear friend. His firm is one of the best.