The Truest Thing (Hart's Boardwalk 4)

Today of all days.

I trembled as I got out of the car, watching as he strode down the porch steps, a wary look on his face. He looked like himself again. Like the Jack I’d known when I first moved here.

Driving a truck, wearing a flannel shirt, worn jeans, and construction boots.

Our eyes locked, his soulful as ever.

I didn’t trust that look.

As attracted to him as I’d always be, as much as I’d always care what happened to him, Jack Devlin had finally, truly broken my faith in him.

“What are you doing here?” I skirted past him, making sure we didn’t touch, and hurried up the porch steps. My keys shook in my hand as I opened the screen door.

“Em.” I heard his footsteps behind me and whirled to glare at him.

My expression stopped him in his tracks. I knew I had to tell him I was pregnant. But I wasn’t ready to. I’d barely had time to digest the news myself.

“I’d like you to leave.”

He scowled. “We need to talk. It’s been seven weeks.”

“Oh, I’m well aware.”

“Didn’t you get my note?” He looked confused. “I told you I wanted to give you space—”

“Jack.”

He shut up.

“Get the fuck off my porch.” I unlocked my door and let myself in, slamming it and the screen door behind me. I’d caught the look of shock on Jack’s face just before I turned my back on him.

It wasn’t satisfying.

None of this was.

I was exhausted.

Emotional.

Drained.

I flopped down on my sectional, kicked off my shoes, and curled into a ball. The tears leaked from my eyes as I listened to his truck pull out of my drive.

24

Jack

Jack backed out of Emery’s driveway but he didn’t take his new truck very far. He parked on Main Street and strode along the boards to Cooper’s Bar.

Agitation pumped through him.

Worry gnawed at his gut.

Fear made him feel a little sick.

Leaving Emery the way he had was a massive mistake. When Cooper called to check on things, his old buddy had tried to tell him things weren’t right with Em. But Jack had been so sure giving her space to figure things out was what she needed.

Oh, clearly, she’d figured them out. And she wanted not one thing to do with him.