Jayson: A New Adult / Coming of Age Romance Read Online Free Page A

can target specific demographics. I’m serious about this, Cast. I’m thinking instead of doing a bunch of little jobs that keep us stretched out and having to hire temp staff to get the work done, we focus on bigger jobs so we can take on fewer. It’s a win-win. Less running around and more money.”
    “Greedy bastard, but I think it’s a hella good idea. Now turn that computer off and come with me to the bar. Got the truck gassed up and I got beer money. C’mon!”
    “The only thing I’m worried about,” I say as I kick back in the busted leather chair and gaze at the advertising site, “is some disgruntled client, some rival carpentry company, digging up something from my past that can tear down the Zephyr Brothers’ reputation. That’s why I stay on you, Dev and Ash about the things you guys get into out there, giggin’ it up with your friends. Mistakes will catch up to you.”
    “Here we go.” My brother throws up his arms at the familiar lecture and fires a resentful look at me. “When I trade you in for new friends, don’t get all butt-hurt about it. I need guys I can hang out with, guys who want to pick up chicks and talk sports.”
    I laugh out loud. “I’m sorry, Castiel. Chalk it up to birth order, but as the eldest it’s my responsibility to take care of you guys. That means I gotta be all work and no play sometimes.”
    “All the time, you mean,” he says, but smiles to let me know he appreciates my efforts. “Alright, bro. Catch you later.”
    I watch the younger version of me jet out of my office, crossing the wood- and equipment-strewn carpentry floor, and a few minutes later I hear the back door to the building close. As usual, I’m the last man standing when the lights go out.
    I finish keying in the numbers with my mind slightly blown by the large figures totaling up. I remember when the four of us boys were sharing one bedroom in a cramped apartment out in Tenderloin, one of the grimier parts of the city. To be clear, we never went hungry. We might’ve worn hand-me-downs, but they were well made, sturdy clothes that could be passed around between the lot of us as each one outgrew something.
    Sabine Zephyr had proved false the premise that women can’t raise boys to be men. My father had skipped out on us when Ashby was still in Pampers, and Mom had worked two jobs and still managed to instill some discipline in us. I had resentfully taken on the responsibility of being the man of the family, but it wasn’t until my adult years that I finally understood how much she had sacrificed to make sure we got by and felt loved, even though she had to be away a lot.
    The unfortunate result of being thrusting into adult situations at such a young age, however, was the sheer rebellion that burst forth once I reached my teen years. That was the part of my history that could destroy everything I had built. I had a short criminal record, but it was a brutal one. When I was sixteen years old, I took a switchblade to school to defend Castiel when an alleged gang member had threatened to hurt him. Looking back on it, it had been a bad, bold move. The guy and I had gotten into a fight that ended with both of us sliced up pretty badly, but luckily no one was seriously injured.
    A year after that, I was arrested again, this time for driving under the influence. I eventually landed in a military-style alternative school to nip my burgeoning criminal career in the bud. Mom had made it her business to force me back in line, and I appreciated the tough love. It was the reason I could look past the window of my office door and see my accomplishments laid out before me. I knew Cast and my other brothers probably felt like I was being paranoid to think something from that far back could come back to bite us, but I had to be able to spot potential pitfalls from a mile away. The kind of clients I had my eye on don’t want a criminal working in their homes.
    “Stop looking behind you and look ahead,” I