I look at Law and then back at Michael. I take in the awkward, nervous glances that Henry is giving my father now. “Why? Why shut the fuck up?”
“Pumpkin, why don’t you take a minute and breathe. You two showed up like a tornado and a hurricane, ready to do some serious damage, so forgive me if I’m not eager to be throwing anything else at you right now.”
“Dad, give me a break. I found out my best friend held out some really important information from me, and I’m reacting to it. We’re fine.” I feel like I’m out of breath again.
“Are you two operating on the same menstrual cycle?” Michael asks.He’s so dead.
G holds her hand up, stopping my response. “Michael, I’m going to chalk that remark up to not knowing any better. And then I’m going to hold you to a higher standard for next time. If youeverbring up my menstrual cycle again in reference to my mood, I will make good on that promise of tattooing your face when you sleep. Got it?”
“Yes?” Michael shifts very awkwardly and backs away toward the patio door from which he initially came.
“I’m not one to joke about tattoos, Michael. Or my period,” G grits out.
“Got it. I’m going to just make sure the grill is all cleaned up and ready for the steaks.”
Giselle looks over at me, and we both just smile. We walk toward each other and wrap our arms around one another. Without saying anything else for a moment, we just hold on. Something tells me that she needs it, maybe as much as I do.
She mumbles on my shoulder, “You forgive me?”
“Always.”
She leans back, holds my shoulders, and looks at me. She’s searching for the truth and finds it. I know her and she’d never intentionally hurt me.
“I just thought…” She pauses like she wants to say more, but she’s not sure exactly what to say.
My father breaks up the thought by shaking the shit out of his cocktail shaker. I wipe the tears that fell. I’m far too emotional when it comes to arguing and apologizing with G.
“Pumpkin, I’ve got a vanilla bean and lime-infused vodka with just a splash of coconut milk. I think you’ll like this one. It reminds me of that trip we all took to Hawaii right after Henry came back from Japan.”
I walk toward the bar. “That was a great trip. He was extra grumpy, if I remember correctly, always so snarly. Oh! Law had the boob-shaped tan line on his face.”
Henry starts cracking up, a full-body chuckle, remembering the prank. My dad too.
Sipping on the drink, I take a look around the room. There’s something about coming home that makes me breathe easier. Safe. Happy.
Taking another sip, I hear the rumble of a motorcycle. It pulls my attention to the front of the house, and my heart rate picks up, maybe even skipping beats that should be there. I watch Jack, with his confident swagger and stupid, sexy face get off his Harley and walk up the porch steps.What is he doing here?My palms are instantly sweaty, and I’m frozen in place. I wasn’t prepared to see him here. He moves closer, with a bottle of wine in each hand.Is he coming for dinner?Through the front door, and down the foyer steps, without even looking up, he says, “Ash, I brought the pinot instead. I’m pretty sure she likes this one better.” Then he looks up, sees me, and stops dead in his tracks. All the worry drains from my body. Instead, as soon as we see each other, it’s as if I can breathe again. My heart beats at its normal pace, a familiar heat passing through my shoulders and settling into my cheeks.
A big smile takes over his face, both dimples coming out as he says, “You’re here.”
I blink for a minute, trying to register his words. “I’m here. Why are you here?”
My dad breaks my attention by clearing his throat, then says, “You didn’t get my text.”
Wait. I look between my father and Jack now, trying to work out any logical reason why these two would be speaking without my knowledge.
“What’s happening? Why are you texting Jack?” I ask my dad.
I look around the room quickly to see if I’m the only one surprised by Jack being here right now. Except for G, all of the men in the room are clearly waiting to see the type of response I’m about to dish out. They allknewhe’d be here. I look over at Giselle.
“Nope, don’t glare at me. I didn’t know he would be here, honey. I promise. Especially after that car ride, I would have said something,” G says, clearly as surprised by our current guest as I am right now.
I turn to look at my dad again, trying to understand this surprising dynamic. “Daddy, you invitedhimfor dinner? W-why would you do that?”
Jack cuts in and answers instead. “I asked him if I could be here. I have some things I need to say to you. Things I need to show you, and I knew if I didn’t do it right, I wouldn’t get another chance.” He moves closer, more slowly now. And I feel the dam of emotions I’ve been holding back break.
My eyes are already betraying me by watering up so quickly that tears begin to spill over. The man just started speaking, and I’m already a crying mess. The truth of the matter is, I need to hear everything he has to say, but now that I see him, in the same room as him after all this time, I just want to wrap my arms around him and hope he never lets go.