The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

Cooper took the coffee and gestured Jack inside. The bar’s air-conditioning offered relief from the sultry morning.

“What’s wrong?”

“No one is at Em’s. It’s like they’re boycotting the place. Have you heard anything?”

Cooper grimaced. “There’s been gossip. I know we have some conservatives in town who wouldn’t like her being pregnant out of wedlock but not enough she wouldn’t have any customers. It’s not like she’s the first unmarried woman in Hartwell to get pregnant.”

Yeah, exactly Jack’s thoughts. “Em heard three women gossiping yesterday in Lanson’s. Some wondered if I was after her money and deliberately got her pregnant—others are thinking she tried to trap me and failed.”

Cooper sighed in exasperation. “Yeah, that’s the shit we heard too. I had to stop Jess from marching through town with a megaphone screaming her outrage. It’s got her stressed so I can’t imagine how Emery’s feeling, and the last thing we need is our pregnant women worked up right now. Thankfully, a scandal only lasts until the next one comes along.”

“My family has given this town plenty to chew over these last few months.” Jack followed Cooper as he pulled a chair out at a table. He took a seat across from him, disbelieving how easily Cooper had let him back into his life.

The problem was, he suspected something, and he was afraid airing it might sour things between them again.

“Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. “I hate to ask this, Coop, but it’s too important.”

“Ask what?”

Jack forced himself to meet his friend’s gaze. “Dana was one of the women bitching yesterday. She was spreading it around that there was no way I’d be interested in Emery, that she couldn’t satisfy me, and Em was trying to trap me.”

Cooper’s expression darkened. “Why am I not surprised?”

“I … man, I hate coming to you for your opinion on this, but do you think Dana might spread that shit far and wide? Vilifying Em? I gotta say, I was surprised by how many people seemed to come to my side after the shit with Ian went down. Maybe someone is telling them Em took advantage. Is that a stretch?”

“One—” Cooper took a sip of coffee as if to gather his thoughts. “Dana is a part of our history. We’ll never get past that if we tiptoe around any mention of her. She doesn’t deserve the awkwardness or the tension. Truth is, Jack, I feel like I was married to her in another life. I’m so disconnected to that time now. Going forward, I’m just holding on to the memory of the guy who beat the shit out of an older kid for beating the shit out of me. To the guy who took care of my mom’s funeral arrangements because I was too fucked up. Who stood at my side and cried with me at her funeral.”

Jack’s throat tightened.

“I’m holding on to the memories of the guy who was once the truest man I’d ever met. Because I believe he’s still in there.” Cooper pointed at Jack’s chest. “Or I wouldn’t be sitting here with you.”

“Coop …” Jack’s voice was hoarse.

“So, she’s not a part of us anymore. I’m letting it go because you deserve a second chance.” Cooper sipped at his coffee again, giving Jack time to control his emotions. “As to your question … yeah, I think Dana has been pissed at you a long time, and it would not surprise me if she took it out on Em by spreading shit.”

“If I warn her off, I give her the attention she wants.”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

“Em wants to know what’s behind no one coming to her store. I told her I’d tell her if I found out.”

“She doesn’t need that stress.”

“But maybe she needs to be the one who stands up for herself.”

Cooper smirked. “I will not lie—I’d like a front-row seat to shy Emery Saunders tearing Dana Kellerman a new one.”

Jack chuckled at the thought. “Me too.”

“How are you? You scared shitless like me?” Cooper asked.

He grinned. “You know it.”

“Our kids will be almost the same age.”

Something warm moved through him. “They’ll grow up together?” He didn’t mean it to come out a question, but it did.

“Yeah, they will,” Cooper promised. “And you and Em? You said you loved her.”