That’s when I realize everyone we were talking to came with us, not because I saw them, but because when Kim hugs Emma, her eyes never meet her daughter; instead, they widen with excitement at the group behind us.
The hug breaks, and Emma takes a step back, closer to me, something Kim notices but doesn’t get a chance to question.
“Kim?” a familiar voice asks, and with it, relief washes through me. A moment later, Jesse, his anger barely masked on his face as Madden moves behind him, comes into sight.
“Hey, Jesse. How’s it going? Sorry, I didn’t call,” Kim says as he joins our growing group.
“What are you doing here?” Jesse says, cutting straight to the chase.
“I thought I’d surprise my baby girl! Surprise!” she says as she puts her hands out to her sides.
I take in the gorgeous blond woman, seeing Emma’s features in her face, in the blue of her eyes, and in the way her smile tilts more on one side than the other. Emma has the King family nose and smooth dark hair, making her often look like she could be Wren’s kid, but there’s no way you couldn’t see the resemblance between Kim and Emma.
“How did you know we were here?” Jesse asks, and Kim bites her lips.
“I saw Wren posting about the festival a bunch on social media, and then this morning she posted to her stories a picture of Emma with everyone. I was in New York, and I figured it would be a good day to head over here for a fun surprise.”
Wren pales, more likely than not taking the blame for this mess now, but I try to remember the pictures Wren posted this morning. The only one I can think of with Emma in it was Emma with the band, and my stomach sours.
An uncomfortable silence hangs between us, and I don’t have to look at Jesse to feel the fury rolling off him in waves, but Ido catch eyes with Wren, whose jaw is tight and her eyes are narrowed. There aren’t many people whom Wren hates, but Kim is on that very short list.
“Emma, introduce me to everyone,” Kim says, but Emma stands there, her own quiet skepticism brewing. It’s a perfect storm, and it crashes down all around me with no real way to stop it from happening.
When no one speaks, Kim turns to Adam. “You’re Adam Porter, right? I’m Kim. I’m a big fan,” she says, batting her eyes at my best friend’s boyfriend. Wren gets a confused look on her face, mainly because, while in the industry, Adam might be a notable name, outside it, he’s not an extremely noticeable face, which is how he likes it.
“Uh, yeah,” Adam says, clearly just as confused.
“God, it’s so crazy you’re here in Holly Ridge. Nothing ever happens here. It’s why I had to get out, you know?” There’s more uncomfortable silence before Kim’s now stiff smile turns to Leo. “And you’re Leo, right? Adam’s agent? I thought I recognized you on Wren’s socials. I’m a singer myself.”
A cold rush moves through me.
You havegotto be fucking kidding me.
Beside me, Jesse goes still as well.
But it’s Emma’s cold words that cut through the group like a knife.
“Did you come here to talk to Adam?” Emma asks before I can think of anything to say to avoid this inevitable mess, and with her questions, my heart breaks.
“What?”
“Did you come here to talk to Adam? Because, you know, he’s in the music industry and you want to be a singer or whatever, right?” God, the girl is smart. Too freaking smart. “And Willa Stone is his friend.”
“I did see that you had a little chat with Willa on your birthday. What a sweet surprise! You know, I have a demo. Maybe next time you talk to her?—”
I watch as recognition and understanding filter over Emma’s face, the small spark of hope that she held for her mom when she saw her here flickering out as she realizes the truth.
I hate this for her. I hate it so much, and even more, I hate that there was nothing I could do to protect her from it. I remember when she backed out of the party, Jesse said something similar, and now it’s my turn. Unfortunately, there are no planters nearby to throw at trees, so instead, I use my words.
When I speak, my words are laced not just with anger and frustration for Emma but, embarrassingly, my own hurt and anger, years and years in the making, and all of it erupts.
“Emma, come here.” I put a hand out to her, and something in me eases when she takes it without a moment of hesitation before I tug her to me.
“Excuse me?” Kim asks, a sneer in the words as she steps closer to us.
The need to put something between Kim and Emma racks through me, and I shift my body. “Emma, get behind me. Actually…” I turn my head, my eyes wide and wild, I’m sure, looking for Madden. I spot him, and relief courses through me. “Madden, can you take her? Bring her home?”
“I came all this way to see my daughter. Who do you think?—”
