The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

The men didn’t seem to mind.

They were all a bunch of doting, protective fathers.

“Mimosa, ladies.” Dahlia crossed the yard to where we huddled in the shade. In her hands was a tray of champagne flutes filled with orange juice and champagne.

Bailey took two, passing one to Jess who waved it off. Her gaze was firmly trained on the kids and the magician. All the kids’ parents were around, so it wasn’t like we didn’t have an eye on things, but that was Jess. And she was excellent at multitasking, which meant she could still enjoy a conversation with us while keeping her eyes on the kids.

Ivy reached for a glass, her simple engagement ring and wedding band flashing in the sunlight.

“Em.” Dahlia held a glass out to me.

I waved it off. “Too early in the day for me.” My eyes moved across the yard, sensing someone’s attention on me.

Jack.

He was standing with Cooper, but he was looking at me.

His eyes narrowed in thought.

I gave him a flirty smile, and he grinned.

“I miss Coop,” Jess abruptly announced, her eyes still on Tyler and the kids.

“How so?” Bailey frowned.

Jess flicked a look at me. “I’m sure Em knows. I’ve barely seen Cooper for the last month.”

“Yeah,” I agreed. “But we knew launching a business would take up a lot of time.”

“We did. And I support them. But if I don’t get my husband back soon, I won’t be happy.”

“Have you spoken to him about it?” Ivy frowned.

“Do you hassle Jeff for working long hours?” Jess asked pointedly.

“No. I knew what I was getting into when I married him.”

“Exactly. You support your spouses in all their endeavors,” she grumbled.

I chuckled at her surliness.

That chuckle was abruptly halted by, “I’m pregnant again. I’m thirty-nine. I had complications with my last pregnancy, and Cooper and I discussed it. Tyler was supposed to be an only child.” Jess cut us a worried look. “He doesn’t know. I’m scared he’ll be mad. And I need him.”

“Oh my goodness, Jess, you need to tell him.” Bailey squeezed her shoulder. “And congratulations.”

We all went to congratulate her, but she hushed us. “He knows something’s up. He’s mad at me for being distant. We had a huge fight this morning in bed.” She buried her face in her hands.

I wanted to speak.

I wanted to offer reassurances.

But I could not believe what I was hearing.

All I could think was … how weirdly in sync we were.

My heart rate increased.

“Uh, Jess …” Ivy tried to warn.

However, having seen his wife looking visibly distressed, Cooper was marching determinedly across the yard in our direction with Jack at his back.

“Ladies,” Coop said as Jess’s head snapped up at his voice, “can you watch the kids for a minute?”

“Of course.”

“Sure.”

“Absolutely.”

Cooper took hold of Jess’s hand, pulling her out of the lounger. They disappeared into the house, hand in hand.

“Where’s Cat?” Bailey asked, trying to defuse the sudden tension and worry among us.

“Late.” Dahlia rolled her eyes. “Jess said Cat’s been cagey about the party ever since she heard Seb got an invitation.”

Seb, as in Sebastian.

“He’s not here either,” I observed.

“When are those two going to pull their heads out of their asses?” Bailey muttered dryly.

“Sometimes it takes time,” I replied, smiling at Jack. “It took us nine years.”

“Oh God, I can’t take a nine-year Cat-and-Seb drama. Uh-uh, no way.” Bailey sipped at her mimosa. “I may have to intervene.”

“You have a child,” Dahlia reminded her. “A child who needs her mother to be alive. And if you intervene, Cat Lawson will kill you. You’re scrappy. But she’s tougher.”

“Truth,” Ivy muttered.

“Where’s Jeff?” I asked my friend before Bailey could act on the glare she was shooting Dahlia, who only made matters worse by laughing into her drink.

“Working. He’ll be here after the kids’ party for the barbecue.”

“I could take Cat,” Bailey huffed.

“Take me where?”

We turned to see Cat coming down the steps with a birthday gift in hand. Joey was noticeably absent. He was a teenager now, one who looked like a miniature Cooper, and the kind of teenager who could befriend anyone. He hung around with kids from all different cliques, which meant he was always on the go doing something.

Or dating someone.

Once I married Jack, Joey moved on to girls his own age.

“Nowhere,” Bailey answered quickly.

“Give me a glass of that,” Cat huffed, gesturing to the mimosas. “My brother depresses the crap out of me. It’s his kid’s fourth birthday party, and he and his wife can’t keep their hands off each other long enough for even that.”

My lips twitched at her mock-disgusted glower.

“They’re going at it in the bathroom.” Her smirk turned wicked. “That is, they were going at each other. Until I hammered on the door and told them I was calling the cops for public indecency.”

We chuckled, but my laughter died when I saw Cat case the backyard as if she were searching for someone.