“Austin’s college roommate.”
“Funny. I haven’t met you before,” I counter.
“I can think of a world where we might have met under different circumstances,” he answers.
I swallow hard, realizing how hard it is to keep my eyes off his lips. “You look good.”
And he does. JP in a suit is perfection. It’s comical how formal this party is, but I don’t mind the view.
“You look better,” he responds. He brushes a knuckle against my arm. Undetectable to most but the simple touch creates an aura around us, impenetrable to the outside world.
“Thank you,” I say, smiling. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Steven perusing the champagne table with my mother. I didn’t notice him until this point and I’m certain he must have just arrived, which means he’ll spot me soon and meander on over to say we should grab drinks, and I will try not to gag in his face.
JP licks his lips and tilts his head down toward me. “You’re uncomfortable.”
My eyes flit back to him. “No, I’m fine.”
“You are. What’s wrong? Embarrassed to say you know me?”
“No!” I almost shout then calm my voice down. “No, I—” I clear my throat and fidget with my clutch. “There’s just someone here I know and would... rather not see.” I force a very obviously fake smile.
JP twists his lips and scans the crowd gathering around the tables scattered on my mother’s lush lawn. “Who?”
I grab his elbow and yank him toward me. “God, you’re so obvious.”
“Well,youare being vague.”
My jaw drops. “Don’t be smart.”
He smiles. “Embarrassed of your mother? A weirdo cousin from Arkansas?”
I draw back, almost wanting to say, yes, I’m very embarrassed of my mother. “No, I—Well, it’s my ex.”
His head snaps in my direction. “Is a weirdo from Arkansas?”
“Shut up.”
JP laughs. “Your ex ishere?”
I nod, wringing my hands out to dry. “Did I tell you about him?”
“I’ve known you for about twenty-four hours, and thankfully, he never came up.” He sips his cocktail and scans the area. My gaze stays on him; the sunset reflecting in his eyes is mesmerizing. “Seriously, who is it? Because from what I’m seeing there’s not a single person here that deserves to stand next to you. Wait. Is that Alexandra Kennedy Waters?”
“Yeah, that’s our mom,” I mutter quickly.
“Waters!” JP shouts then laughs as he connects the fact that we have the same last name. “You mean to tell me you were talking shit about your mom’s book while I was reading it on the airplane?”
“Yes. This is her house,” I deadpan, my body still prickling with irritation. “How did Austin never bring this up?”
JP shrugs. “I guess we’re not in the habit of talking about our in-law’s professions.”
“Men are so weird. I’ll leave a girl’s night with a textbook of information about my friends, including, but not limited to, their in-laws, co-workers, and pets.”
“Doggie drama?” he asks with a smirk.
“Oh, you’d be surprised the kind of shit that goes down at the dog park.”
JP tosses his head back and laughs. “So who’s your mom talking to?”
