The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

Which meant they were important enough for Jack to continue to oversee. In fact, Rosalie wanted to sign them over to him as soon as she legally could. It hadn’t been the career Jack planned for, but the hotel and park were important to Hartwell, and Jack could think of worse jobs.

Moreover, they’d keep him close to Emery.

He hadn’t left Greenville until his mom and Rebecca were settled into a picturesque rental near Heath. Jamie had just returned to college, which Rosalie could now afford. After a few weeks of Rebecca spending every second with their mother, Rosalie seemed in a better place. Both mother and daughter had started seeing a therapist, which Jack hoped would help.

It was still weird leaving them there. It hadn’t been easy, but Heath promised to watch over them.

It had taken a ton of willpower not to contact Emery over his seven-week absence, to give her space while he got his family into a better place. Memories of their night together was both a pleasure and a pain.

And when Cooper called and said Emery was looking a little low these days, Jack’s gut tightened. He’d questioned himself. But then thought no. She didn’t need him in her space, muddling her head. And he had so much to deal with, he thought it best to stay away. Jack wanted to be able to give her his entire focus when they next spoke.

Now he knew that way of thinking was fucked up. He’d screwed up with her. Again.

Pushing into Cooper’s place, Jack caught sight of his friend behind the bar chatting with Bailey Hartwell and Vaughn Tremaine. He looked over at Jack and gave him a friendly nod.

That tightness in Jack’s chest caused by Em’s anger loosened a little. Never did he think he’d be welcomed at Cooper’s again in his life. He sensed eyes on him as he walked across the bar, but he ignored their curious looks. The gossip mill would start grinding soon, and before anyone knew it, it would be all over Hartwell that not only was Jack Devlin back in town but Cooper had welcomed him into his bar.

Jack slid onto the empty stool next to Bailey. She turned to give him a soft smile.

“Hey, Jack, how are you?”

He’d always had a soft spot for the middle Hartwell. She was gregarious and open, so you always knew what she was thinking. “I’ve been better. How are you?” He looked past Bailey to Vaughn, who watched him cautiously. Jack gave him a nod of greeting.

“Um … stressed,” she answered honestly and shot Vaughn a tired smile. “Our wedding is in four days.”

“Oh, right.”

“I sent you an invitation,” she said. “But I sent it to your South Hartwell house.”

“I haven’t been there in a while. Sorry.”

“There’s still time to RSVP.”

No, there wasn’t. She was making an exception for him. And Jack knew turning down her invite would be rude, considering he didn’t deserve it in the first place, but he’d be stupid not to go. Not if he wanted to start over here, which he did.

“I’d be honored to be there, Bails, thanks.” His voice was a little gruff with emotion.

“We’re happy to have you there,” Vaughn said, not sounding happy at all, but Jack didn’t take it personally. He knew Tremaine hated Ian Devlin and would naturally be wary of his son.

“What can I get you, Jack?” Coop asked.

Ellen Luther, a local sitting a few stools down, made a surprised gurgling sound in the back of her throat at Coop’s congenial question.

Jack and Coop shared a lip twitch. “Whatever’s on tap, thanks.”

He exchanged small talk with Bailey about the wedding as Cooper got his drink. He pushed the pint across the bar toward him and asked, “You seen Emery?”

Jack stiffened. “Yeah.”

“And?”

He could feel Bailey listening intently. “It couldn’t have gone any worse.”

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

Jack shrugged. “I’ll figure it out. Once I can get her to talk to me.”

Bailey nudged him with her elbow. “You do realize you’re sitting next to one of Emery’s best friends.”

He sighed. “I heard something to that effect.”

She grinned. She might be one of Em’s best friends, but she didn’t know what had happened between her and Jack. If she knew, she wouldn’t be smiling at him.

This was confirmed when she said, “I know you two had a thing last summer, and you pushed her away to protect her, but I’m pretty sure you could convince Emery to come around.”

“Maybe Emery doesn’t need to come around.” Vaughn cut Jack a dark look. “If my woman was held at gunpoint by my father, I wouldn’t skip town for seven weeks after the event, leaving her unprotected.”

Yeah, Tremaine definitely didn’t like him.

“One, I don’t know if you heard, but Em can protect herself. She’s a crack shot,” Jack said with pride. “Two, you don’t know what the hell you’re talking about.”