Page 19 of Tempted To Be Mine

“Work can be fun.”

“So Lucy’s going with you, I assume?” Mom asked.

“Yeah, she’s coming.” I hesitated, not sure if I should tell them about her hesitation. “She’s pretty worried about it, though. The cold thing. She had a bad experience as a kid and she’s been kind of freaked out about the whole thing.”

“Freaked out by the cold?” Mom asked with confusion.

“Broke her leg on some ice.”

“Oh, poor thing,” Mom said.

“Well, why doesn’t she just stay home?” Callum asked, practical as always. “You can handle a couple of weeks by yourself.”

I opened my mouth to respond, but Drew beat me to it.

“Ha!” He pointed at Callum. “You clearly don’t know our brother very well. Jeremy can’t function without Lucy. He’d be lost within the first hour.”

“That’s not true,” I protested.

“Really?” Drew’s grin widened. “Who books your flights?”

“Lucy, but⁠—”

“Who makes sure you show up to shoots on time?” Callum asked.

“That’s her job.”

“Who reminds you to eat actual food instead of whatever’s closest to your hand?” Hollis asked.

“I eat.”

The table erupted in laughter. This was the problem with family. They knew too much.

“I’m not a helpless child,” I said, trying to maintain some dignity. “I just have a lot going on. There’s schedules and logistics and contracts and all this stuff that Lucy handles. It’s not that I can’t do it myself, it’s that she’s better at it.”

“Uh-huh,” Drew said, clearly unconvinced.

“It’s a lot to juggle,” I insisted. “You try keeping track of fifteen different shoots across six countries while also remembering to eat and sleep and show up places on time.”

“That’s literally what being an adult is,” Beau pointed out.

“Being an adult is overrated.”

More laughter. I was losing this battle, and I knew it.

“Look,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender, “I know I rely on Lucy a lot. I’m not too proud to admit that. She’s incredible at what she does, and I’m lucky to have her. But this trip is different. She’s the one who’s nervous. I’m going to make sure I take care of her this time. If she needs it.”

The skepticism around the table was palpable.

“You are going to take care of Lucy,” Drew asked, not bothering to hide his skepticism.

“Yes.”

“Jeremy.” Callum’s voice cut through the teasing, steady and serious. “We’re not doubting your intentions. We’re just saying, maybe let Lucy do what she does best. She’s a professional. She can handle herself.”

“I know she can.” I met his eyes. “But she’s also my friend. And friends take care of each other. She’s spent years taking care of me. Maybe it’s time I returned the favor.”

The table went quiet for a moment. I could feel everyone processing, adjusting their assumptions.