"Wow. How weird are you guys?" Jamie muttered to herself and dropped the rest of their trash in a trashcan by the sidewalk. Mark joined her moments later, his face red and contorted with anger.
"Why do we put up with that shit? I swear they only exist to ruin lives." He glanced over his shoulder as they walked back to the office.
"Ignore it; probably just trying to get more pictures of me being a sex-starved, loose woman." She shook her head and tried to let it all go. Having to talk with her sister shortly was going to take the day from bad to worse.
"I'm guessing it's a no-go with Kristen." Mark chuckled and pointed across the street. "She and Paul seem to be enjoying each other more than friends would."
Jamie followed his finger to see Paul and Kristen at an outdoor restaurant, laughing and sitting a little closer than work associates would.
"Do you like her?" Jamie pressed the button for them to cross the street.
"Yeah. I mean, she's beautiful. I've known her most of my life. Not as well as Alex did, but she was a bit of a crush for all of us boys back then." He shrugged. "Whatever."
"Not whatever. If you like her, then tell her, Mark. Fight for her. Maybe she's just waiting for you to step up." Jamie nodded for them to cross the street. "Women want to hear that they matter. You guys don't say it enough. How about showing it?" She felt like she was trying to prod him. Just a couple hours earlier, she was saying that Kristen wasn’t the one for him.
"Maybe you're right." He held the door open to the building. "Go call you sister and see what she knows. I'm going to join Paul and Kristen."
"What? Really?" Jamie paused. "I just meant—"
"I know, but it's all good. See you soon." He turned and jogged toward them as Jamie swallowed her concern and walked back into the building.
At least one good thing had come of the day. Mark was going to fight for someone he wanted in his life. Jamie had no doubt that he would win Kristen back without much effort. He was too good a guy to ignore.
Chapter 4
She got too busy with returning calls and working through a few documents that Alex had e-mailed her to worry much more about her family or their involvement in the recent interview in the paper. After a long day at the office, she drove home in stony silence and let out a long sigh after getting into the house and locking the door behind her.
A long swim would do her good. She changed into her suit and grabbed a towel before feeding her dog, Jake, and then spent a few minutes playing ball with him. Alex’s texts said that he wouldn't be home before midnight, and where she would usually have gotten upset about having another night to herself, this one was more than needed.
The water was warm in the pool, which was almost soothing. She would have to figure out what to say to her family, but maybe just playing around the edges of the conversation would have them opening up to her instead. After a thirty-minute swim, she dried off, made herself a sandwich, and snuggled up on the couch.
Christine answered on the first ring.
"Jamie?"
"Sorry to bother you so late. I just wanted to—"
"Did you really let Stephen videotape you guys fucking? I've been sick about it all day." Her sister's voice was laden with tears.
"What? Of course not." Jamie sat up, her body going rigid. "Why would I do something like that?"
"Because I know how you are about sex. Stephen's a god in the bedroom. Why wouldn't you let him tape you? I'm honestly confused about all of this. It's disgusting and such a sad plea for attention. You should be ashamed of yourself." Christine sniffled several times as anger burned through the center of Jamie.
"Are you fucking kidding me? Your piece of shit husband gives a nasty, slanderous interview to a national magazine about me, and you're upset with me? Is this a joke? Am I being punked?" Jamie shot up off the couch as the room dimmed just a little around her.
"It's always about you, isn't it? You haven't even stopped to think about how embarrassing your actions might be to me. To Alex! I thought you cared about him, but you don't. You care only about yourself, just like you always have." Her sister was yelling by this point, which was beyond absurd.
"I cannot believe we're having this conversation." Jamie let out a sharp laugh before pacing the floor in front of the couch. "So let me get this straight... you knew that Stephen spoke with the magazine about me? Do Mom and Dad know what you two have done?"
"Us two? Oh, hell no. You're not pulling me into the middle of this."
"I hope you choke on something or trip and bust your fucking teeth out." Jamie hung up and tossed the phone down on the couch before letting out a painful yell. How dare her sister turn the finger back on her? What was she thinking? Christine hadn't a logical bone in her body. That she would marry someone Jamie had been dating for a damn year was the first clue that something was off.
She screamed and stomped her foot. "Idiots!"
She walked into the kitchen and grabbed a bag of cookies, not caring how many was in a serving, or how shitty she would feel later. She'd just shoved two in her mouth as the sound of the front door stopped her.
"Jamie?" Alex's voice reached her and should have offered comfort, but he wasn't happy by the sound of it.