“Came over to see Mom and Dad.” He slides his arm over my shoulder, which makes me uncomfortable. I didn’t come here for this. I just want some dinner.
Standing so I face an ambulance and fire truck parked for children to gather around, I instantly spot Jess.
The signature ponytail. The clench to his jaw. The denim blue eyes fixing me with a glare.
Only I match that glare as I see fluorescent orange fingernails climb his black T-shirt covered chest and a head of midnight hair lands on his shoulder. The woman next to him wraps around his body like a snake on a pole. Nothing wrong with that if that’s what he wants, right?
Only I’m shattered.
Are you freaking kidding me?
I recognize that Jess and I don’t seem to fit together in many ways, but then I think of our bodies joined as one.
Was it not as good for him?
I’m distracted from my thoughts the second I see Katie has noticed me. She’s wearing a pair of fireman boots, which come to her hips, and her smile breaks the tension inside me. Her arms flail as she attempts to walk, and I see her pitch forward.
“Katie!” I call out, and Jess goes into action, catching her before she falls to the concrete. He scoops her out of the boots with his hands under her armpits, and she kicks out for him to put her down. Once her feet are on the ground, she runs to me, wrapping her arms around my thighs.
“Hey, Katie bug,” I coo as I brush a hand over her blond locks. I’m reminded I want to talk to her about my nana and prepare her for the fact I need to leave soon. I squat down until I’m eye-level with her and she wraps her arms around my neck, similar to the way she did the time I left for Chicago. It’s as if she senses something’s coming, and I don’t feel good about that.
“What’s this?” I whisper to her as both Jess and Sami approach. Fluorescent nails reach for Katie’s back, but she flinches in my arms, and I twist to pull Katie away from the unwanted touch.
“Come to Auntie Sami,” the woman purrs, sounding every bit like Ursula the sea witch from The Little Mermaid, and suddenly, I’m curious if she cast the spell on Katie. I can just imagine her breaking into a rendition of “Poor Unfortunate Souls.”
“Auntie Sami,” I mutter, willing myself not to look at Jess. How could he do this after what he said about her earlier today?
“We’re old friends, Katie and me.” Sami’s high-pitched voice grates over my skin.
“Old friends,” I mock, finally giving in and glaring at Jess.
“What’s he doing here?” Jess snaps, chin tipping in the direction of Gabe.
“We just bumped—”
“She’s my date,” Gabe announces, slipping his arm back over my shoulder. Fortunately, Katie pushes it off, and I bite my lip, grateful for her protection. Us girls who don’t want touches from creepy people need to stick together.
“That’s not true,” I correct, meeting Jess’s gaze.
“Gabe.” Sami addresses him with a curt nod, and it’s evident there’s history here. Then she extends a hand to me. “I’m Samantha Knight, but you can call me Sami. Jess does.” I stare at her hand. My own hands are full from holding Katie.
“Emily Post.”
Her brow instantly curls upward as her false smile falls. “So, you’re Emily.”
“She’s Emily,” Jess says, getting my attention once again. The tension between all of us is thicker than ice cream, but we’re adult enough not to make a scene in front of Katie. At least, I hope so. Jess reaches for her, his hands coming to her sides, but she holds tighter to me.
“Let me take her,” Jess mutters.
“I have her,” I state. “I need to find some dinner.” I’m not speaking to anyone in particular. I just want to walk away from this group. For the second time, I find myself thinking coming uptown was a horrible idea.
Thankfully, Tricia Carter catches my eye and comes to my rescue. “Hey Katie, let’s go to the kid’s corner.”
Ignoring the rumble in my stomach, I mouth my gratitude as our entourage moves to the designated children’s area, set up with oversized games like Connect Four and a giant checkers board, along with hula hoops and bubble blowing. Katie doesn’t want the games, and I agree with her. I’m too old to play any of the games around me.
Sami lingers near us but no longer touches Jess.
“What’s she doing here?” Tricia grumbles at her brother, not so under her breath.
He shrugs, and I want to punch him for his noncommittal answer. “Suppose she’s enjoying the atmosphere, like Gabe.”
Oh no, he doesn’t. This is not tit for tat. I did not invite Gabe, but it’s clear Sami is here with Jess.
She didn’t get the memo he’s not interested. Or maybe he still is after I reminded him I’m leaving soon.
I turn in the direction of the band and walk toward it, bypassing all the food stands. I no longer feel hungry.
“Katie bug, let’s dance.” After setting her on her feet, I wiggle my brows at her as the band begins playing a popular song. She takes my hand, and we head into the small crowd of young people dancing with their hands up. I smile down at her as we wave our arms and twirl around. Katie bites her little lip, fighting a grin and watching my silly antics. I’m not afraid to shake my thing. My breath catches, and I wait on a giggle—just one little squeak to let me know she’s having fun—but it doesn’t happen.
“We forgot your crown, Princess Katie,” I say, leaning down to her. Her eyes snap to mine before she follows the direction of my finger as I point at the girls wearing tiaras. Pageantry is a big thing in small towns, and the local beauty queens mingle in the crowd with their crowns and sashes.
The band switches to another song about Romeo and Juliet, and I grab Katie’s hands, tugging her to me as we awkwardly waltz. I dip her, aware of a whispering buzz around us and a few eyes boring into me. As the song nears the end, applause begins, and I turn us toward those gathered along the edge of the dancing area. When someone calls Katie’s name from the crowd and whistles, I look at Jess, but it wasn’t him. With his arms crossed, he watches us, and I can’t read him. Thankfully, Sami’s gone for the moment.
I take Katie’s hand one more time, smile at her, and gently tug her into a curtsy, showing our appreciation to those applauding us. Then I giggle as I pull Katie in for a hug and swing her upward to sit on my hip. She’s heavy for me, but I carry her a few feet to her father. Tricia intercepts us.
“Katie, let Daddy dance with Emily,” Tricia suggests.
“Oh, that’s okay,” I say as I lower Katie to the ground. Jess glares at his sister.
“Who knew you could dance so well, beauty queen?” Tricia questions her niece as the band chatters behind me. I want to ask about Sami, but I don’t. And I don’t want to dance with him, either.
“How about some ice cream?” I suggest to Katie, smiling down at her as I avoid the glare of Jess’s eyes on the side of my head.
Tricia looks at me and then narrows her eyes on her brother, growling his name.
The band strikes up again, playing a popular slow country song, and a few older couples drift into the makeshift dance circle.
“Let’s dance,” he says, his voice low but demanding.