“Ems!” Grace calls when she sees me standing off to the side of the dance floor. “Come.” She ushers me over toward her and my father. “He wants to have a dance.”
“You’re beautiful, Emily. You don’t look so much like my little girl anymore.” He takes me by the hand so that we can dance. “But no matter what, you always will be. You know that, right?”
“I do, Dad.” I give him a warm smile. Our relationship has become better since my mother has been out of the picture and since Grace entered our lives.
“I’m sorry if I’ve been a bit distracted.”
“Don’t.” I cut him off. “I love that you found Grace, and you do what you need to so we get to keep her.” I tease him, making him smile. He leans down and kisses me on my cheek.
I’ve always wondered if my appearance bothered him to a degree. I look so much like my mother. Sometimes I sense this wall that still lingers between us because of it. With Asher, it was different. While we might have both been oops babies, my father was about to leave Heidi when she got herself knocked up with me. I was a trap, to put it bluntly.
“I’m glad you like her. I think Asher is starting to come around.”
“I wouldn’t worry about Asher, Dad. He’s more than coming around.” I let out a small laugh. His brows come together. “He’s staying longer,” I quickly add before he can press the issue.
“He is? I thought he was leaving tonight.”
“Nope, we’re stuck with him for a bit longer.” That makes my father smile more.
“There are a lot of young suitors here giving you an awful lot of attention.”
“I don’t want their attention.”
“You know, Emily, if there is something you need to tell me, I want you to know I’m okay with whatever choices you make in your life. You’ll always be my daughter.” Oh God. Does he know about Chase? If he does, he seems okay with it. “If you’re interested in other girls, then you should pursue that.” I snort a laugh. That was so not the direction I thought he was going in.
“Dad, I love you. I’m not a lesbian, but thank you for letting me know whatever choice I make in life you’ll be at my side.”
“Always.” He gives me another kiss on the cheek.
“Go get your wife. There’s a suit over there talking to her.” I point my thumb over to where Grace is standing. My dad spins around so quickly I burst into laughter. She’s actually talking to three other women.
“That was mean.”
“It was a little fun,” I tease him. He shakes his head, making his way over toward Grace. I glance around the room and catch sight of my brother manhandling Molly out of the ballroom. The Score men really do go from zero to a hundred in three seconds. I was sure I’d never see the day my brother would fall for a woman. Let alone one I’m pretty sure he had plans to destroy until he laid eyes on her.
“You’re dating Chase Silverstein!” Tamra pops up from out of nowhere.
“No.”
“That’s not what we heard,” Gia adds. A group of girls start to surround me. The hell is going on here? Why would all these people suddenly think I’m dating Chase? Then it hits me: word must have gotten around that I left with him from the party.
“He told the Hancock sisters you and him are a thing.” I wasn’t expecting that, and for some reason, it both thrills and annoys me at the same time.
“We’re not a thing.” I roll my eyes. Does sharing orgasms count as a thing? If I go off this group of girls, the answer is no.
“Then why would he say that?” Bailey asks next.
“What is happening here? Why does everyone even care?” This is way bigger than it should be.
“Because he’s promised to someone already.”
My heart sinks. “What? To whom?” My eyes bounce around all the girls, waiting for one of them to answer, but none of them do.
“Emily, sweetheart. That dress on you is fire,” Rebecca cuts in, making all the girls scatter.
“Fire?”
“Is that not the new term the younger generation is using when something looks incredible? I tried that TikTok, but all I get are food videos, and they use the word fire for a different reason.” God, I love her. This only makes me miss her more. I bet if we were still close, I would have made a dozen of those videos she’s seen.
“You look rather dazzling yourself.”
“I better. I was in the spa for five hours, and I’ll only get to enjoy it for another hour before my husband is pulling me out of here.”
“Not before cake, I hope.”
“He knows better than that.” She smirks. “How have you been? It was so nice seeing you today. I wish you’d come by more.”