“Not a bit,” he’d fibbed, not wanting to admit she was smarter and funnier and did everything better than him, so of course all males were scared, himself included.
She’d nestled her shoulder on his. “And that’s why you’re my best friend.”
He hadn’t minded at the time, but now as he looked back on it, he wondered what would have happened if he’d just owned the truth. If he’d admitted that she did scare him. That she was practically perfect in every way. She probably would have laughed and told him to get his head checked. Maybe there was still time …
“Want a marshmallow?” Katie drew near, offering him the bag, as Elinor followed.
He shook his head, rubbed Bella’s head as she whined. “Nope, you don’t get one either.”
“Oh, come on. Don’t be sad just because EJ’s not here.”
He cut her a look.
Katie laughed. “You’re so predictable.”
Elinor poked her in the side. “Don’t pick on him.”
He nodded.Thanks, Ellie.
“He’s allowed to be sad.”
He made a face at her as she joined in Katie’s chuckle.
“Poor Jordan,” Katie said, patting his arm like she was a nanna and he was a two-year-old who’d lost his favourite toy. “But the person who reallyissad is Mum. She’s barely stopped talking about how her daughter isn’t here for her birthday, when the least she should do is turn up. I always get the impression that Mum thinks we should say thank you for giving birth to us. Like we had a choice.”
He found a smile, his gaze straying over to where Elizabeth was be-moaning her second-eldest daughter’s absence. Again.
“But fun as this is, it’s just not the same without EJ, don’t you think?” Elinor mused.
“Yep.” He dug the toe of his boot into the ground.
“I can’t believe that she’d rather go on a cruise around the harbour and look at the Vivid lights than be here with us,” Katie complained. “So lame.”
So that’s what she was doing. Good to know.
“Hmm.”
He peered at Elinor. “What is it?”
“Mum.”
“What about her?”
She sighed. “She’s a funny fish. One minute she’s complaining about EJ not being here, the next she’s telling everyone sheknows that EJ is dating Eric Churchill, then the next she’s worried that EJ is getting in over her head with him.”
His lips tweaked. That sounded like EJ’s mum, who’d been known for her histrionics over the years. His mum might be best friends with her, but that hadn’t stopped her mentioning a few of Mrs. Bennett’s melodramatic moments over the dinner table.
“Do you really think they’re boyfriend and girlfriend?”
Elinor was always the quietest of the Bennett girls, but he’d long thought her the most observant. He shrugged. “I don’t know what to think. The last time I really spoke to her was at James’ wedding, and that was two weeks ago.”
Elinor grimaced. “She barely responds to my texts these days.”
“Right?” Katie rolled her eyes. “I mean, I get that Eric Churchill is handsome and rich, but I don’t even know if he’s a Christian.”
Elinor ruffled her sister’s hair. “Good for you for finally noticing what’s important.”
“Hey, I notice.”
