Page 89 of Just One Look
“Funny how everyone seems to do that.”
“Everyone?”
“Yeah, even Clancy. He’s not happy I punched him, but I know he’s not as mad as he’d be if I hit someone else because it’s a Duporth.”‘
“What does Clancy have against them?”
He shrugs. “Your guess is as good as mine. All I know is the only time I’ve ever seen Clancy get really mad, like, me-level mad, is about the Duporths. My sisters and I suspect he might have a beef with Forrester Duporth, Ridge’s grandfather. But that’s pure speculation.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me. That family has been fucked-up for generations.”
He tilts his head. “Why doyouhate him?”
“How long have you got?”
“Until lunchtime tomorrow.”
I snicker. “Right. Our families have always been rivals in the wine game, so I’m pretty sure that’s where it stems from. The Duporths play dirty, though. We don’t. Never have and never will. Even if they’re currently beating us, Wagner would never stoop that low.” I pluck a blade of grass and twirl it between my fingers. “Dad had beef with Clarke Forrester, Ridge’s dad.”
“What sort of beef?”
“Just the usual rich alpha dick-showing contest. It was probably out of boredom and not based on anything real, but that’s how it was. Then when my sister ran for Congress, she was up against Forrester, and boy, did that fucker play dirty. It’s one thing to exploit an opponent’s youth and relative inexperience; it’s another thing to attempt to assassinate her character based on lies.”
“Is that what he did?”
I nod grimly, hating what that old prick put her through and the toll it took. “But he severely underestimated how strong Adair is. And he paid the price for it. His gross tactics backfired with voters. After decades, he may have thought he had a lock on winning the race, but Adair had a grassroots campaign that spoke to meeting voters’ needs, a killer social media game, and an X factor that people are drawn to. She’s ambitious and ruthless, like all politicians, but she also genuinely cares and wants to make a positive difference. Duporth only offered fear; she offered hope. When given a choice, I think most people will choose hope.”
“She sounds pretty cool.”
I smile. “Yeah. She is. I mean, she can be incredibly intense and single-minded. A lot like Mom in that regard. But she’s able to find balance and be a person, too. Make time for herself. For her family. Things that matter in life, you know?”
“Sounds like she learned from your mom’s experience.”
“I think she did. We all did. In our own ways.”
“Did, uh… Did you and Ridge ever…?” Jackson trails off.
I blink innocently. “Did we ever what?”
“You know…”
Oh, I know. I’m seeing the splash of red climbing up his neck, the way his fingers are fidgeting. I know exactly what he’s getting at. I just want him to get there himself.
“Play board games?” I offer with an unassuming grin. “Go shopping together? Have sleepovers?”
A sound of frustration bubbles out of his throat. “Fuck.”
“Is that the last word of your question or a blanket statement about how you feel about me?”
He narrows his eyes.
I know I’m pushing him, but I’m picking up on something that if it’s not outright jealousy, it’s at least jealousy-adjacent.
And frankly, I’m enjoying it.
So much of the energy between us has felt one-directional; it’s nice to be reminded once in a while that he feels something, too. He’s just way better, and way more committed, at masking it than I am.
“Have. You. Fucked. Him?”
