“Garrison.” Dad diverts the attention to me. He scoops the last portion of potatoes onto his plate. “How’s Cobalt Inc. going?”

Davis wears a look of surprise. “You haven’t quit yet?”

“Nope.” I bite back a harsher retort.

Hunter laughs. “They haven’t fired you?”

“Nope.” But no one is more surprised about that than me.

“Connor Cobalt wouldn’t fire him,” Davis adds. “Not as long as he’s dating Willow Hale, right?” He nods to me. “Keep that on lock, man.”

I’m not dating Willow for my job. My skin crawls even letting that thought cross my mind. Sitting here turns my stomach. I stab at a piece of ham on my plate, not planning to force the thing down.

Our mom stands. “Garrison, stop playing with your food.” She waits for me to set my fork down and hand her the plate, so she can clear the table. She doesn’t always do the dishes. Most of the time we have staff wash them.

Did I mention my family is rich? Yeah, I think I did.

My brows scrunch at my mom. “It’s already dead,” I say dryly.

She sighs out like I’m being unreasonably difficult. “Please, Garrison.”

I’m about to do as told, but Hunter kicks my shins from underneath the table. Hard. I drop my fork, the utensil clattering on the lip of the plate.

Fuck.

Dull plain plumes, and Hunter gives me a harsh look like don’t be a shit.

My jaw clenches, my pulse starting to race.

Mom places a hand on my shoulder. “It’s fine, sweetheart.” Yeah, she knows my brother kicked me, but all she does is smile at Hunter with the shake of her head.

Boys will be boys, she used to tell me as a kid, blowing on my cut kneecaps after being shoved in asphalt. You have to pick yourself up and fight back.

Right.

She collects the dirty plates around the table. Including mine.

Hunter narrows his assholish eyes on me. He jerks his head from me to our mom like, help her.

I glare.

He has two feet.

I haven’t stepped into this house for months. They’re lucky I’m here right now.

“Garrison,” Davis snaps out loud. “Help Mom.”

Our mom waves me off. “No, you boys go relax and catch up. It’s been so long since you’ve all seen each other.”

Shit.

My heart rate ratchets up. “I’m actually going to head out,” I say. “I’ve got an early morning.”

Our dad makes a noise of disapproval. “Connor Cobalt surely isn’t making you work during the holiday.” True—I do have off—but that doesn’t mean I’m actually going to take it. I still planned to go into the office. Because I love my job.

Because it’s keeping me going.

Hunter pushes out of his chair and treks over to mine. “Come on, Garrison.”

Relax, I tell myself, and I stand up. Hunter slings an arm around my shoulder and pats my chest. Once he starts pulling me to the door, he tightens his arm into a fucking headlock.