Emerett Has Never Been in Love (Love Austen 1)

A pillow hit Lake smack-bang on his grin.

“Forty-four is not old.”

“Says the forty-four year old.”

Knight laughed. “You held yourself together today. Only spotted you bawling once.”

“Behind the crostini station?”

“The men’s room.”

“Of course. The men’s room. That was absolutely the only time.” Lake sagged until his head hit the couch. “He’s married. My Taylor. Our Taylor.”

“You act like you’ll never see him again. He’s married and traveling Europe for a month, not transferring there for good. He lives three blocks from here.”

“He’ll miss us too, Knight. He might be shedding a few tears of his own right now.”

“I certainly hope not.”

“How are you okay with all this? He lived here until he was twenty-five.”

“I’m okay with it because he lived here until he was twenty-five.” Knight’s blue gaze danced. “And he’s okay with it because now he only has Amy’s day to ask about, not both of ours.”

“Especially since one response was always delightfully dramatic?” Lake teased. “Come on, I know that’s what you’re thinking.”

“Exactly what I was thinking. And what I would have followed with.”

Lake laughed and tucked the pillow Knight had thrown at him under his head. “You love telling me how it is, don’t you?”

“It’s kept me entertained for years.”

Honesty triumphed because Knight knew flattery would inflate Lake’s already robust ego.

Irritatingly wise man.

They stared vacantly into space. The air thickened, morosely, weighted with honeysuckle and a thousand memories they’d all shared in this room. It had so often been the three of them; everything felt off-balance now Lake and Knight were on their own. Like the Knight that Lake knew as Taylor’s dad had to be relearned. Even though, factually, Lake knew everything about him already.

Confusing.

Knight rubbed the arm of his chair, staring toward him thoughtfully.

“Do you think he’ll miss us?” Lake asked quietly.

“It’d be impossible not to miss one of us.” Knight cleared his throat. “He’ll also send more pictures than we’ll know how to respond to. He and Amy will be smiling in all of them, and that will make me the happiest dad in the world.”

Lake rolled toward Knight, absorbing his warm, solid smile. “Freeze. That beauty right there on your mug. Acknowledge I played a significant role in that. I hooked them up, after all.”

Knight rolled his eyes, snorting. “Something you did with far too much glee, Lake. It’s a surprise you bawled today at all.”

“Matching them up, giving them advice, watching them fall in love . . . that was the fun part.” He sighed. “I’ll never forget the day they met. Pouring rain, Amy trudging her cat in a carrier and Taylor lugging your Garfield to the same vet. Me, the only one with an umbrella. Taylor admired pretty Amy and her plaited hair, and when it came time to leave, I took an extra-long time until Amy was done with the vet. Then I swapped Taylor my umbrella for the cat carrier and the rest, as they said today, is till death do us part.” Lake grinned. “Maybe I need more of that.”

“Garfield is due for her annual shots. Be my guest.”

“It won’t happen the same way twice. But bring on the falling in love.”

Knight eyed him inquisitively. “For yourself this time?”

Lake barked out a laugh. “I’m never interested in the guys who are into me. Most are only into my looks.” He waved a hand from his dark hair and model-like face to his perfectly proportioned body, blowing out a frustrated breath. “Love is supposed to be this amazingly powerful thing—and it happens all the time—but I’ve never felt it. Not with any of my exes. It’s not for me.”

Lake shoved a nervous hand through his hair, avoiding Knight’s expression. No doubt he’d give logical advice on the situation, but Lake didn’t want to hear it.

“So no,” he continued, “not for me. But I did notice Philip watching Amy and Taylor like he wished it was his big day.”

“Philip? The big-eared guy you and Taylor volunteer with at the food bank?”

“He also DJed, and his ears aren’t that big. You know, you shouldn’t identify people by their negative traits.”

“What if I happen to like big ears on a man?”

“Do you?” Lake had hardly seen him date at all. But now that it was brought up . . .

Lake cocked his head. Objectively speaking, his best friend’s dad was ridiculously handsome. Always had been. Why didn’t he date more?

Knight rubbed his jaw, fingers sliding over ever-smiling lips. Lake snapped his gaze to the beadboard skirting the walls.

“Philip, the guy with the alligator shoes,” Knight corrected.

“And the penchant for clapping when he’s excited,” Lake added, flustered. He cleared his throat. “We’re in Port Ratapu, arguably the most liberal town around. Hooking him up should be easy.”

“Careful, Lake,” Knight said. “Messing with other people’s love lives might backfire.”

“They might not have love lives, otherwise.”