“Glad to hear it.”
I kissed her again, soft and sweet, and held her close while the rain continued to fall and the clock ticked down toward reality.
EMILY
From the backseat of Jack’s car, I tried to look anywhere else as Mia reached over and squeezed Jack’s knee.
He glanced at her, that soft smile playing at his lips that he reserved just for her. Then he reached down, laced his fingers through hers and lifted her hand to his lips, pressing a soft kiss there. She practically turned to goo right there in the passenger seat.
Something warm and achy spread through my chest. I was happy for her. Really, genuinely happy. But watching them like this, so easy and comfortable together, made me think of Cam. Of how complicated everything was. Of how impossible it felt to ever have what Mia had with Jack.
God, I wanted to see Cam again. Be with him again. Wanted it with an intensity that scared me a little.
But we hadn’t figured out the girls yet. Hadn’t even talked about it. I mean, it had only been a week, but once you’ve had a weekend-long sex marathon like that, it was hard not to pine for it.Sigh.I turned my attention to the window, watching Esperance roll past.
When we pulled up in front of my aunt and uncle’s, the first thing I saw was my parents’ gleaming black BMW. My stomachdid a nervous little flip that left me a little breathless. Fucking great.
Mia gave me a reassuring smile as we climbed from the car. Easy for her, now, because she had Jack by her side when we walked into the lion’s den.
The backyard was already full of people. Uncle Jeremy stood at the grill, beer in one hand, spatula in the other, talking to Aunt Jackie’s parents. Various cousins were scattered around the yard.
And there, at the patio table, sat my mom and Mia’s mom, Aunt Helen.
Mia’s hand found mine and squeezed.
“We’ve got this,” she whispered.
I squeezed back.
Aunt Jackie spotted us first and came rushing over, pulling us both into hugs that smelled like sunscreen and her signature jasmine perfume.
“My girls! And Jack, welcome, welcome!” She beamed at him. “It’s so nice to see you again.”
Jack shook her hand. “Likewise.”
“Please, sit wherever you like. Dinner won’t be long.”
“Great, thanks.”
“Let’s get this over with,” Mia said in a low voice.
“Yeah.”
I steeled myself and headed toward the patio. Mom sat with perfect posture in her chair, a glass of white wine in her hand. Her gaze swept over me, taking in my sundress and sandals, and I could practically see her cataloging everything she found wanting.
“Emily.” She offered her cheek for a kiss, and I obliged, catching the familiar scent of her expensive perfume. “You look tired. Are you getting enough sleep?”
“I’m fine, Mom.”
“Mmm.” The sound was noncommittal, which somehow felt worse than an actual criticism.
My dad stood and pulled me into a loose hug, the kind that involved more air than actual contact. “Good to see you, sweetheart.”
“You too, Dad.”
He patted my shoulder once, twice, then released me and sat back down. That was about the extent of emotional expression I could expect from Anthony McIntyre, I guess.
Uncle Jeremy’s voice booming across the yard was a lifeline. He needed burger buns. “I’ll grab them,” I volunteered before he even finished the sentence. Anything to get away.
