Chapter 3 Secrets, Resentment, And Barbecue Smoke

• Ambre
• While the boys discuss and stare at the barbecue, I prepare the plates and cutlery, trying not to pay attention to them.
• To him.
• - Are we eating outside? I ask.
• - Yes, we are. I have already set the table.
• With a towel in her hands, Mia opens the oven, from which a small cloud of white, hot smoke escapes, takes out her dish of seasonal vegetables gratin, and while she runs her hand over her forehead to remove the few brown strands that have flattened there, she places the dish on the stove and then closes the glass door.
• - It's fine, I think we can sit down. Astrid, darling, let's eat, she adds a little louder.
• My sister hurried into the kitchen in half a second, grabbed the glasses and the water, and went out into the garden. I collected the dishes I had taken out and put them on a tray before heading out into the garden. I have barely passed through the French door when Cameron rushes up to me and grabs the tray out of my hands.
• - Let me do it, sis. You'll drop everything.
• I frown, slightly disappointed at the little trust he gives me to complete this task. He carefully places the contents of the tray on the table and returns to the kitchen to put it away. My father and Jayden move away from the grill, holding a plate of meat in their hands, and then take their seats. Mia and Henri take the ends, facing each other, while I sit between Cameron and my father. My sister, facing me, sits next to Jayden: a place she demanded. Even though the table is small, I'm glad I'm not next to him or facing him. The meal would have been a nightmare if I had to spend it looking at my plate. My stepmother takes care of serving the gratin and my father takes care of the meat. Watching them enjoy serving their little family made me feel happy. I did not expect much from their relationship, which started on a dating website, but I am happy to see that I was wrong. Despite some setbacks in the last few weeks, they complement each other quite well and seem to love each other. At least they have managed to put their differences aside for today and the atmosphere is peaceful.
• - So, Jay, how long are you here?
• Not thinking of saying anything bad, Astrid nevertheless throws a chill around the table. Mia tenses up, but Jayden doesn't seem bothered by the question. He puts his arm on Astrid's chair and looks into her eyes with a slight smile on his lips. With his cap still on, I can't help but find his profile sexy. He has a square jaw, a beautiful thin nose, brown hair overflowing on his forehead and the visor falling down his neck. He's masculine. And I'm completely stupid for scrutinizing him like a fifteen-year-old girl in the throes of passion. Calm down, he's your stepbrother, and with you he's an idiot: internalize and look away.
• - Until early September.
• He moves a strand of hair that is blocking Astrid's face to tuck it behind her ear, then turns back to the table.
• - And your graduation? Cameron asks, surprised to be out of the loop.
• - I'm repeating the year, Jayden adds coldly.
• No one answers. Mia puts her right hand on her son's forearm as he fidgets a bit annoyed with a piece of bread on the table.
• - We all learn from our mistakes, she says simply.
• - But what happened? Cameron replies, still as lost as Astrid and I.
• - Nothing happened. I messed up, I don't want to talk about it. Later.
• We remain silent for a few seconds, not knowing how to relieve the tense atmosphere. Cameron looks hurt and disappointed to be kept out of information that concerns his brother, but he puts a hand on his neck and then sits up straight, trying not to show anything.
• - So, show me your muscles, he chuckles, teasing Jayden.
• Jayden bursts out laughing, revealing his beautiful white teeth.
• Look. Get down.
• - I started boxing in college this year, it's been a few months now, and honestly, I love it. If you're in Seattle in September, I'll take you.
• - Sold!
• - What's Seattle like? I almost blurt out, way too interested in this city and what it has to offer.
• Jayden paused, his eyes fixed on his plate. He hesitated for a few seconds, then turned to Cameron and said:
• "You'll see, in a few months you'll bulk up, it's impressive."
• Am I dreaming or is he ignoring me?
• I remained still, my gaze fixed on him, waiting for him to act with maturity and speak to me. It's been three years and I still can't get used to it. This guy is a real child and if I have to put up with his moods all summer long, I'll really go crazy. Annoyed, I concentrate on my vegetables, but I'm not hungry anymore.
• "Dude, I can't wait to get to Seattle. It looks amazing," Cameron continues.
• I look up at Jayden and catch him staring at me. He frowns for a moment, then quickly looks away and smiles at his brother.
• "Honestly, it's a great city and the parties are insane. I promise, little brother, I have many surprises in store for you," Jayden replies mischievously.
• Okay, so I conclude that he not only heard my question, but also deliberately avoided answering it. Seriously! Is he really twelve years old mentally? Everyone around the table acts as if nothing has happened. As if Jayden didn't deliberately avoid me. As if there was nothing wrong in this family.
• While my half-brother has long since decided that "ignoring my existence" is his modus operandi.
• Mia had tried several times to talk to her son to get him to be less unpleasant to me, and so had Cameron. But the only thing he had to say was that he didn't want to, and I quote, "force himself to talk to someone when he didn't feel like it".
• Well, that "someone" bothers you, Jayden White!
• ***
• The table is cleared. Astrid has gone up to her room while the rest of the family gathers in the kitchen. I make it a point not to look at Jayden, even though his presence to my left as we all work to empty and load the dishwasher does not make it any easier. "Don't forget to think about my proposal, Jayden," my father says, breaking the silence.
• Mia looks at my father, not understanding what he's getting at.
• "Henri offered me a job at the garage," the eldest finally explains.
• About fifteen years ago, my father opened a garage, Lewis Cars, where he restores classic cars for private owners. It started out as just a passion for old cars, which he gradually turned into a thriving business. He employs three people full time, and I think a fourth would not be too much, considering the number of requests he receives, sometimes from the other side of the United States.
• "As soon as the pill of his dismissal is swallowed, I think he should come and check it out, it will keep him busy. Don't you think?" my father asks Mia.
• "If he is serious, of course," Mia adds, turning to her son with a stern look. "It will be a job like any other, and you will have no excuse for not going. Are you aware of that?"
• Jayden blows out his breath, probably already exhausted with his mother on his back, even though he has only been home for three hours.
• "Let's talk about it tomorrow, okay? I need to see the boys."
• Then he leaves the kitchen without waiting for his mother's answer, slamming the front door behind him.
• At least I'm not the only one he pushes away..., that's something. Well, even if it's more of a confirmation than a victory: Jayden is an idiot.
• As soon as he leaves the room, the tension that had built up from the back of my neck to the middle of my back disappears almost instantly.
• If his presence makes me this tense, living together is going to be even more complicated than I thought...
• The sun is shining brightly this morning and, determined to take advantage of the beautiful weather to get a tan, I put on my swimsuit in the bathroom. I tie up my hair in a messy ponytail, letting a few strands fall in front of my face, then grab a beach towel from the closet. I quickly wrap it around my body, take one last look at my reflection in the mirror, and open the door. I barely take a step forward when I collide with a warm and hard body, hitting my nose hard and causing the person to instinctively grab my shoulders to stabilize me.
• "Oh!" I stutter.
• I look up at the person I just collided with and our eyes meet in surprise: Jayden.
• "I...apologize," I say.
• The warmth of physical contact breaks as he releases my shoulders and pushes me away with his fingertips, creating distance between us. We continue to stare at each other without a word, and after what feels like a long time, his eyebrows furrow. He walks around me, enters the bathroom and slams the door behind him. I am stunned for half a second.
• What is his problem, Mr. Muscles? Did he really just ignore me when we bumped into each other?
• "Is it too much to ask for a 'Sorry, I didn't see you'?" I grumble, annoyed, before leaving the hallway and heading down the stairs.
• Mia and Henri have gone for a walk by the sea, which is a rare occurrence worth mentioning, considering my stepmother cannot stay away from work for more than half an hour. I kiss my sister, who is having breakfast on the terrace, then sit down on the grass next to Cameron. There is nothing better for a Sunday than basking in the sun with the sound of waves and seagulls in the background. I am over the moon, and there is no way that Mr. Sour Face's attitude is going to ruin my mood. No, not even in my dreams! I sit on my towel and start rubbing sunscreen on my body, letting the fragrant scent of monoi mix with that of freshly cut grass. I feel like I am already on vacation.
• "I'm going out to see the boys," Jayden announces as he walks past the glass door.
• He is dressed in a red t-shirt, jean shorts and white sneakers, his cap backwards on his head. He approaches Astrid and kisses her on the forehead before turning to his brother.
• "See you later, Cam!"
• He waves to him, gives me a quick glance and leaves without saying a word to me.
• Nothing new under the sun...