“Why’d you even go home last night?” I asked as I stepped onto the porch to steal a kiss while the kids weren’t looking.
“Good question, Jackalicious.” She wore super short cutoff jeans, and the frayed ends accentuated her shapely legs. A tight white tee with the word “grit” printed across the front in large block letters was covered by a sheer floral jacket-thing that fluttered in the breeze and hung past her shorts. Her hair was loose and flowing. Her diffuser necklace smelled of vetiver. Her presence in the house made me feel like my family was complete.
When we went inside, she patted a bag slung over her shoulder. “I brought my sage spray to clear any negative energy and some oils that are supposed to promote friendship and calm.”
I quirked a brow at the mention of sage.
“I promise you can smell everything before I use it and veto anything that burns your nose.”
Turned out, everything smelled just fine, much to Amelia’s delight. When she finished “dealing with the energy,” she called us all into the living room. “All right, team Cooper. What do you guys say about getting a quick meditation going before everyone arrives?”
Connor and Charlie immediately folded themselves into seated positions on the floor. Garrett needed a bit more encouragement. Amelia flashed me a questioning look and I shrugged. “You got me,” I mouthed.
He’d been a little off the last week, and I couldn’t figure out why. Nine seemed a tad early to hit the grumpy preteen phase, but what did I know? Garrett was my starter kid. Everything I learned about parenting, I learned from him. If things continued the way they’d been going, I’d sit down and talk with him because preteen or not, something wasn’t right.
“You joining us this time?” Amelia peered up at me.
“You know what? I think I will.” I joined my tribe on the floor. While everyone around me sat with their eyes closed, I sneaked peeks at the woman across from me. Not that I had anything against meditating. I just…couldn’t stop myself from staring at Amelia.
The doorbell ended the session early and I opened the door to Evie and Alex, with Evie scenting the air as she walked in. “Ah, yes. Nothing like the scent of sage to make guests feel welcome.” She wrinkled her nose and shook her head in case her sarcasm wasn’t already evident.
I gave Alex a quick hug and pat on the back, then turned to Evie. “I don’t think the sage smells all that bad.”
Amelia guffawed. “Since when?”
“Yeah! Since when, Daddy?” Charlie called from the living room.
I leaned my head through the doorway. “Since it started reminding me of Amelia, thank you.”
While Evie cooed at her friend, Alex rolled his eyes. “Easy now, Jack. You keep talking like that and I won’t be the only one with a wedding coming up.”
Evie swatted his arm. “Don’t jinx them!”
Jude pushed through the front door, then drew up short to find us all crammed in the foyer. “Don’t jinx what?”
“Amelia and Jack’s wedding,” Evie singsonged.
“Wedding?” Garrett froze on his way down the hall, his arms crossed and his face accusatory. The dark cloud that had been following him for the last week grew even darker as he glared. If he could shoot lightning bolts from his eyes, he would have.
Did his mood have something to do with Amelia?
He had asked me if we were getting married after he caught us kissing the other week.
Well, shit.
The very next day he found Amelia in bed with me and had been weird ever since.
I crouched to meet him at eye level. “Everyone’s just joking around, buddy.”
Never able to drop a joke, Jude leaned in, making a ridiculous face. “Or are we?”
The door swung open, and Austin froze halfway through. “Are we what?”
“My God. I need a bigger entryway.” I straightened and ran a hand through my hair. Garrett would have to hold tight on that anger cloud a little longer. “How about we relocate to the backyard and get this shindig started? Drop anything that needs refrigerated in the kitchen on the way.”
The crowd of people moved through the house and into the backyard where Amelia had arranged snacks on a series of folding tables. There were beers in a cooler with ingredients for mixed drinks sitting nearby. Frisbees and horseshoes waited in the grass and music filtered over several portable speakers. The weather was the kind of perfect you couldn’t ignore. Brilliant blue sky. Warm sun. Cool breeze.
Fucking Utopia.
As my friends helped themselves to drinks and snacks, Jude appeared beside me at the grill. His eyes locked onto the backdoor like a guided missile. “I wonder why Izzy’s always late to these things.”
How was I supposed to answer that question? Everyone knew Jude was the reason Izzy showed up late to everything.
Well, everyone but Jude.
He glanced my way. “I’m starting to think it’s me.”
Or…maybe not.
“I don’t think she likes me all that much. Which is weird, you know? Everyone likes me.” He shuffled his feet, looking more uncomfortable than I’d ever seen him, then took a long swig of his beer. “I don’t know where things went wrong with her. I mean, all the shit that happened between us was years ago. There’s no way she’s still weird because of that.”
“Maybe you should talk to her about it.”
“I was going to. The other day. I stopped in at the store, but then Amelia showed up with the kids and—”
“You were gonna have a conversation that personal at the store?” I stared at my friend, shaking my head.
“She’s comfortable there and that felt important. It seemed like the least threatening place to talk.”
“And also highly public…”
Jude nodded his agreement, his gaze darting to the backdoor again. “Go figure, right.”
Austin sidled up, his tattoos peeking out from under a black tee, a bottle of beer clutched in his hand. “I can’t get over how good you guys are doing.” He gestured with his beer towards the kids playing in the yard. “They’re better than I’ve seen ‘em in a long time. And you? You’re walking around smiling all the time, looking like you got into Norma Jean Reynold’s stash. You’re almost making me wish I wasn’t single.”
“Yeah, right.” I snorted laughter. “Have you ever not been single?”
Austin shrugged. “Probably. Once. I obviously wasn’t a fan.”
I laughed, my gaze finding Amelia’s as she talked with Evie. We exchanged a smile. She twirled the ends of her hair around her finger. I took a drink, my eyes burning into hers…
“Ho-ly sheee-it.” Jude’s grinning face came into view. “You really do have it bad.”
Amelia laughed at something Evie said and I found myself chuckling too. “I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about.”
“Uh-huh.” Austin smirked and took a swig of beer. “Not a clue to be had anywhere.”
“I don’t understand what Greta Macmillan has against you two.” Jude peered into his bottle before taking a drink. “Every time someone so much as mentions your names, she puts an angry post on Facebook.”