The Truest Thing - Hart's Boardwalk

“C’mon, dahlin’, let’s get you girls a drink.” Michael took hold of Dahlia’s hand and gestured for us all to go inside.

“I’ll be right in,” I said. Michael nodded and wrapped his arm around Dahlia’s waist.

For a moment, I was a little taken aback at the way Jeff gazed so fiercely at Ivy. She stared up at him like she’d never seen him before. To be fair, he looked incredibly handsome in his suit.

“Drink?” he asked her.

“Sure.”

He held out his arm, and she took it.

They never broke eye contact the whole time.

Interesting.

My attention moved past them to Dahlia and Michael. As they neared the hotel entrance, Michael whispered something in Dahlia’s ear that made her laugh.

My gut twisted, watching him grin as he opened the door for her.

Ivy and Jeff followed them inside.

Finally, I couldn’t avoid him any longer. Especially since he was walking toward me.

“You look beautiful,” Jack said, sincere and sexy.

I scowled at him.

His lips twitched like he thought I was cute, which was more than mildly irritating. I was hot, a little nauseated, and I wasn’t allowed to drown my sorrows in champagne. And I loved champagne. It would be a bad idea to piss me off.

I tilted my chin up and straightened my shoulders as I forced myself to meet his gaze. “I just wanted to say that I’d like to enjoy my friend’s wedding without having to deal with this.” I gestured between us.

“Em—”

“We’ll talk after the wedding. Just … leave me be for now. Please.”

Jack exhaled slowly, shaking his head a little. I could feel his exasperation. But then he nodded, his soulful eyes boring into mine. “I can do that.”

I sighed with relief. “Thank you.”

Once inside, the hotel’s air conditioning cooled my heated skin, offering me a small reprieve from physical discomfort. If only its powers extended to my emotional agitation. Seeing Jess and Dahlia with their guys and Ivy and Jeff standing together near Cat and Joey, I hurried over to them. While Jess and Joey drank water, everyone else had a flute of champagne in hand.

“Emery?” Cat held one out to me.

“You know, I’m a little hot. I think I’ll just have some water.”

Jess reached behind her on the table at their backs and grabbed a glass for me. I gave her a grateful smile.

“You look pretty, Emery,” Joey said, gazing up at me with his usual bright adoration.

As always, it made my heart feel a million times bigger.

“And you look very handsome in that tux.”

He beamed at me. “Will you dance with me first? A guy’s gotta stake his claim.”

I struggled not to laugh. As did everyone else. Except Cat, who shot Cooper an amused but accusatory glare.

Cooper chuckled. “Why am I getting the look?”

“Because where else would he have heard something like that?”

“Oh, it wasn’t Uncle Coop.” Joey shook his head. “I read it in one of those books you like so much. The ones with the motorcycles on the cover.”

Cat paled. “You did what? Did you take my e-reader?”

“Yeah.” He shrugged.

“Joey, what have I told you about that? When we get home, we’re going to have a discussion about privacy and not touching things Mom has expressly forbidden you to touch. And I also want to know how much you’ve read.”

Joey looked chagrined, his gaze downcast. “It was a chapter. You came back into the room before I could read much of it.”

“Joey …” She sighed heavily.

He winced at her disappointed tone.

“Hey.” I smiled down at him, trying to distract them both. “Of course, you can have the first dance.”

His melancholy melted away and he hugged into my side, his arm around my waist. I held him to me as I took a huge gulp of water. Joey was a bit of a contradiction. Exceptionally bright, a gifted musician, he knew more about the world than other kids his age. He was precocious and confident. At the same time, he was still innocent and affectionate.

“What’s with the books?” Dahlia asked Cat.

“They’re romance novels.” Cat worried her lip. “Dark romance novels. With the kind of stuff in it I don’t want my kid reading. Jesus. Can you put a password on an e-reader?”

“Yeah,” I replied. “I’ll show you how.”

Cat seemed surprised by my offer but smiled gratefully. “Thank you.”

“Jack,” Cooper said, and I turned to see Jack striding across the lobby. He slowed but didn’t stop, his eyes dropping to where Joey clung to my side. His expression warmed as he shot me an tender look before turning to Coop. “Drink?”

Jack shook his head. “I better get inside, grab my seat.”

“Sure? The happy couple might be a little while yet.”

He flicked a look at me before replying to his friend. “I’ll catch you later.”

Guilt suffused me. I knew there was probably nothing more Jack wanted than to hang out with Cooper, but he was abiding by my wishes to avoid me today.