Page 80 of Wanting What’s Wrong

Fourteen

Mina

T hree weeks later

“Mom, say something.” I stare into her eyes. I was trying to give her time to process, but honestly five whole minutes of total silence is long enough.

In some ways, I know we were lucky. Thanks to their safari, nobody was able to get hold of them, and by the time they were back in the real world, things had blown over enough that nobody tried.

But news channels are still discussing the ethics and practicality of a stepbrother and stepsister being romantically involved, and getting the two of them through baggage and into a car without them seeing or hearing anything was a minor miracle.

Still, we were able to do this ourselves, on our own terms, and for that I’m grateful.

“Earth to Mom…”

She reaches out a hand, a little smile playing on her lips, and places it against my cheek. “My beautiful baby girl.” I blush, thinking of the way Jackson says those exact same words. A lot less innocently. “How did I not know this was going on with the two of you?”

“It wasn’t. Not really. It all happened fast. You’re not mad?”

She shakes her head. “Shocked, sweetheart. Not mad. I just wish you’d talked about it with me first.”

“Would you have tried to talk me out of it?”

“Probably. It’s a big deal.”

I can’t argue with that. “It is a big deal. But we love each other.”

“Of course you do, that’s only natural. But there’s love and then there’s love . How do you know which one this is?”

“Oh, believe me, I know,” I say with a hint of Tina, then blush a little thinking of what we were doing in the parking lot while we waited for their plane to land. That was love . Not love. “Do you know which one it is with Allen?”

She narrows her eyes. “He’s not my brother, Mina.”

“And Jackson isn’t mine. He’s my stepbrother. We’re no more related than the two of you.”

It’s true, and there’s no backing down from this.

Right now, Jackson is in another room, saying these same things to Allen, and maybe coming to blows over how much he told me about Allen’s financial issues, I don’t know.

But what I do know is, this feels right.

It might go against some of the less flexible rules society likes to put in place, but it’s not wrong , and one thing I’m learning lately?

Sometimes it’s okay to break the rules.

Tina had fun.

And she hasn’t completely gone into hiding .

“Mom, this is happening,” I tell her, looking her in the eye. “I want you to be happy for me, but my happiness doesn’t depend on it. Jackson makes me happy. More than happy.”

She stares at me for a moment longer, then nods and wraps her arms around me, pulling me in for a hug. “Okay, sweetheart. I can see this means a lot to you. Just take it slowly and see how it goes, okay?”

“Well, about that…”

Allen’s voice interrupts as the door swings open. “I think you just need to call Harson. Tell him what you just told me and—”

“Dad, drop it.” Jackson rolls his eyes as he meets mine, and I splutter a laugh, the heart-to-heart moment with my mom broken. “Harson needs to learn he doesn’t always get his way.”

“But—”

“I said no, Dad. We’ll figure something out with your deal.”

“What deal?” Mom asks, turning on them. She stares at Jackson, then at Allen. “What deal, Allen?”

“Nothing to worry about, Jen, just a little business I was doing. It’s not important.”

“Jesus, Dad, you need to tell her the truth. Things always come out in the end.”

“He should know,” I say with a grin, then shrink back when Allen turns his eyes on me like he’s just noticed I’m in the room.

Jackson smiles my way though, that reassuring smile that says he’s here and he’ll protect me from anything. And besides, it seems like Allen is more worried about the business deal going south than he is about the two of us getting a little closer while they were away.

That’s a win, right?

“Everything okay in here?” Jackson says, looking from Mom to me, then back again. “Jennifer, are we still good?”

She narrows her eyes. “Okay, two things, Jackson. First of all, I’m still your mom.

I loved it when you started calling me that, and I hope that isn’t going to change.

I love you and in my eyes you’ve been my son since I first met you.

We’re not still good , that’s for acquaintances.

We’re family. And second, you need to promise me you’re going to take things slowly with your…

Well, with my …and your father’s…” She blushes.

“What I’m trying to say is, I don’t want you rushing Mina into anything she isn’t comfortable with. ”

He looks at me. “You haven’t told her, have you?”

“I was just getting to it,” I say, glancing at Mom. “I was trying to tell you when they came in. It’s probably easier…”

I bring my hand out from behind my back, where I’ve managed to keep it hidden this whole time, and with a flourish, I flash the massive diamond that’s been on my finger ever since Jackson put it there on a rooftop in New York three weeks ago.

When Mom doesn’t say anything, I grin sheepishly. “ Surprise …”

“That’s not all, is it?” Jackson sounds stern. “You want me to tell them?”

I shake my head. This is best coming from me. I draw a deep breath, hold it for just a second, then rip the band aid off. “You want Granny and Grandad at the wedding, don’t you, little one?” I ask, rubbing a hand over my belly and glancing down.

Jackson chuckles. Allen starts to say something, then stops. Then tries again but gets as far as “Well…” before he shuts down.

“So much for taking things slowly,” Mom says with a sigh, but before I can come back with any sort of comment, she’s already pulled me in for a hug, holding me tight like she’s never going to let me go.

“Well, that could have been worse,” I say to Jackson as we retreat. Mom and Allen need time to process, I get that. We’re going to get some burrrrrr-itos. Turns out, I actually do like them even when I’m Mina.

He nods as he pulls the door closed behind us. “I’m proud of you, baby. That took courage.”

“Channelling my inner Tina,” I say. “What’s going to happen about Dad’s business problems?”

“Do you mean, how is he going to solve them, or how is he going to survive Mom’s wrath when he finishes telling her all about it?”

I think for a moment. “The first one. I think Mom’s too shell shocked to make much of a fuss.”

“That’s true. Well, Harson has said he’ll scupper my chances with any other team, and God knows he has the contacts to do it.

But I don’t think it will do as much damage as he thinks.

I’m a good player, I know that and they all know that.

Someone will sign me, a little cheaper than I would have been but I’ll get there.

I’ll do what I can to help Dad out with his business, but he might have to face facts… ”

He trails off, staring behind me, and when I turn I have to blink twice to check I really am seeing what I think I’m seeing.

A silver Bentley convertible.

Cindy’s silver Bentley convertible.

On the wrong side of the lake. Coming down our drive.

What the fudge?

“What’s she doing here?” I ask, and he squeezes my arm.

“Don’t worry, baby, I’ll handle her. If she’s come here to gloat…”

Cindy skids to a halt beside Jackson’s Mustang, and sticks her hand up out of her roof, waving it our way. “Hey, you two!”

She sounds…friendly?

Like, genuinely friendly. Not sarcastic. Like we’re old pals or something.

“What do you want?” Jackson says with a growl, stepping in front of me as Cindy climbs out of her car and turns our way, not a hair out of place on her perfect blonde head despite driving with the top down.

“Ooo, protective. Jealous, Mina. So jealous.” She grins. “Well, you two have certainly put the cat among the peacocks, or whatever that saying is. It’s so hilarious watching all those conservative news reporters getting their panties in a twist over this. I love it.”

“Cindy, if you’re here to make us feel bad, don’t bother,” I say, glaring. “I’m happy. You know that feeling? It’s a bit like being bought a Bentley convertible, except it actually means something.”

She laughs. “This is so adorable. Romantic. You two don’t care what anyone is saying about you, you have each other. Anyway, I didn’t come here for an argument. We’ve been frenemies long enough to dispense with all that, right, Mina?”

“What did you come here for, Cindy?” Jackson doesn’t sound taken in but…

I think she’s genuine. She’s typical Cindy, but she’s also different. I think she actually likes the romance of it all. I never thought I’d say this, but I think she’s actually living vicariously through me.

It’s creepy, and I know what Tina would say. Kiss my ass, Cindy .

But I’m not Tina. Not today. So I wait, and after a moment she speaks.

“What I came here for, Jackson Sanders, is to steal you away for myself.”

He growls, and tightens his grip on my hand. I think if she wasn’t a girl, he would already be half killing her by now.

“Joking!” she says with a chuckle. “God, you should see your face. Fine, I came to say I’ve spoken to my dad and he’s agreed to back off.

I know all about the deal you had with him, to bail out your father and whatever.

I love that you told him to shove it so you could be with…

her… Anyway, he’s not going to cause any trou ble.

He won’t sign you, but he won’t get in the way of anyone else signing you, and he is still interested in your dad’s business deal.

He says between them they can turn things around or something.

It’s a good opportunity. He’s a stubborn ass, but he’ll call your dad later, I wanted to be the one to tell you first.”

“You’re serious.” Jackson sounds shocked more than anything.

Cindy nods. “Well, that’s all. I’ll let you two lovebirds get back to your date or whatever. Ciao!”

She turns and reaches for the handle of her car door, but I can’t help myself.

Slipping out of Jackson’s grip, I rush across the driveway and throw my arms around Cindy’s shoulders. “Thank you.”

“Please let go of me, Wilhelmina. Do you have any idea how much this pant suit cost?”

I grin and hug harder. Like she said, we’ve been frenemies long enough.