“Did you know about this?” I asked my mother who was quietly listening while continuing to work.

“Yes, I did,” she said simply.

“Mom helped me pull myself together.” Jacks shot an appreciative smile towards our mother. “To this day I don’t really know if it was just one-sided with Ethan, like a figment of my imagination or if it was real. It felt real to me at least,” she explained, giving me a sideways somewhat defeated smile.

“I’m so sorry, Jacks. Why didn’t you ever tell me?” My sister and I had always been close but she had never mentioned Ethan Wellington or her epic heartbreak.

“You were in school and you didn’t need to hear about my broken heart. I knew you would worry about me and I didn’t want that. It was bad enough I was going through it, I didn’t need you to go through it with me.”

“You should have told me,” I scolded her.

“Maybe so, but it’s in the past now. Life is funny that way, just when you think things couldn’t get worse something amazing can happen to turn it completely around.” She said rubbing her growing belly again. I knew she was talking about Lukas and it made me happy to know my sister had found her happiness.

“So you met Jamieson during that time?” Even though Jacks had explained her relationship with Ethan, I still wanted to know how she had come to know Jamieson.

“I only met him once; it was at some birthday party for one of their childhood friends. I only briefly talked to him.”

“Hmm…” I said still contemplating how Jamieson clearly knew my sister and didn’t seem surprised to see her.

“What?” she asked catching my suspicion.

“It’s just that he acted as if he knew you more than that.”

“Well maybe Ethan has told him about us and he put it together that we were sisters.” she offered.

“Maybe.” I knew Jacks could tell that I wouldn’t just let this go.

“If you’re that curious Jens, just ask him.”

“I think I will.” I replied and began to turn to leave the kitchen in search of Jamieson.

“Jens…” Jacks’ voice stopped me.

“Yeah?”

My mother had stopped cooking and was now looking at me along with Jacks. “Just be careful, okay? The Wellingtons are a strange and complicated family. You would be smart to keep your guard up.”

I didn’t know exactly how to respond to everything she was saying so I just nodded and left the kitchen.

Part of me wanted to drag Jamieson aside as soon as I could and demand to know what he knew of my sister and his brother, but another part of me said to be smart and ask when the time was right. I choose to go with the calm rational choice and bide my time until the right moment presented itself to ask him. If there is more to the relationship with him and Jacks it will come out. Secrets always have a nasty way of coming to the surface, eventually.

“Mr. and Mrs. Middleton, I must thank you for inviting me today. I have had a wonderful time.” Jamieson spoke from beside me. We had stuffed ourselves to the brim and were now relaxing in the living room.

“It was our pleasure Jamieson,” my mother said warmly.

“The food was amazing,” he complimented her.

“Dude, just wait until Christmas. Mom goes all out.” Lukas exclaimed from the corner with Jacks sitting perched on his lap.

“Well I’m afraid I will have to miss out on Christmas.”

My heart fell to my ankles. We hadn’t really discussed our Christmas plans yet, but maybe Jamieson wasn’t planning on being around for much longer.

Jamieson must have noticed my anxiety because he grasped my hand. “Actually I was going to ask you all if it would be alright if Jenna accompanied me to my family’s home in Aspen to celebrate Christmas.” He what?

I looked up at Jamieson totally stunned. I hadn’t seen that one coming.

“Of course! I’m sure Jenna would love to go with you,” my mother quickly answered.

“What do you say Jenna?” Jamieson flashed me his sexy grin.

“I would love to go with you,” I beamed.

He kissed me lightly on the forehead and snuggled up against me on the couch. I couldn’t have been happier.

“Alright, Thanksgiving tradition time!” Lukas said excitedly fiddling with the remote until he came to the movie he was searching for, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.

“Love this movie,” Jamieson responded to Lukas’ selection.

“How could you not love Uncle Eddie?” I offered with a huge grin.

Jamieson smiled back at me with warmth in his eyes. The others focused on the movie as it started but not us, we were lost in each other.

As I settled into the couch more, I looked up to catch my sister staring at us. I knew she was analyzing us; the concern in her face gave it away.

CHAPTER SEVEN

“What do you want, Jamieson? Did you come to gloat?” I spat as I pushed past him flinging my front door to my apartment open.

“Gloat? Why would I gloat?” he asked catching the door and following me inside.

I tossed my purse on the couch and spun around to confront him.

“Oh I don’t know…maybe because you ruined my life!” I yelled.

Jamieson looked at the ground in shame, which pissed me off more.

“He left me but that isn’t a surprise, is it?” I demanded.

He continued to not say anything.

The tears finally returned. I was a total mess but I didn't care, Jamieson needed to see what he had done to me.

“He called me a slut after he admitted to cheating on me for basically our entire relationship.” I croaked out. I didn’t even think about it, I just vomited it up.

Jamieson’s head snapped up. “He did what?” He demanded angrily. He stood up and I immediately grabbed his arm to stop him.

“Let it go, Jamieson. I know what a piece of shit he really is now. You attempting to settle some score won’t do any good.” I said through my sobs.

Jamieson growled something low I couldn’t hear and fisted his hands at his sides. “He had no right to do that.”

“Yes he did! He should never have cheated on me, but I can’t blame him for calling me a slut. I slept with you while I was engaged to him. That pretty much makes me a slut.” I shrieked at him.

Jamieson in two large steps closed the space between us and cupped my face. His large hands were enough to soothe any sting Cain had left behind. “You are not a slut, Jenna. Nothing you have done has ever made you a slut. I don’t want to hear you say that again, do you understand me?”

His stormy blue eyes looked fierce as they searched mine. I took a small breath and lightly nodded my head in agreement.

“I’m sorry you’re hurting, Jenna, but you need to realize it’s probably for the best that things ended,” he whispered softly, still holding onto me.

“I know that now,” I said regaining my control and suddenly feeling way too close to him.

His eyes were still searching mine. It was too much having him touch me. I took a large step backwards breaking our contact. “I need to be alone, Jamieson.”

“Jenna…”

“No Jamieson, please just go. I know we have stuff that needs to be worked out but I can’t think about it right now.” I pleaded with him.

“Please, just let me be here for you.” He took a step toward me.

I could tell he was being sincere but I also didn’t trust myself. I was vulnerable and apparently when it comes to Jamieson Wellington, I have zero self-control. He needed to leave, it was for the best.

“I don’t think your girlfriend would appreciate that.” I said stone cold and with as much hatred as I could muster.

He stopped his advance and raked his hands through his hair. “She is not my girlfriend.”

“Okay. Well I don’t think your fuck-buddy would like that much.” At some point pure hatred is the last thing you can cling to in hopes of self-preservation and Lord knew I was clinging to a mountain of hate towards Jamieson Wellington.