TWENTY-ONE
EMMA
I used to love getting dressed up for a night out. Pampering myself, putting on my favorite dress and makeup, doing my hair … Well, not anymore. There’s still not much of a baby belly, but enough for that favorite dress to be too tight.
So the following Saturday, I walk into the Avalon wearing my new dress. It’s a knee-length, black dress that fits loosely around my midriff and shows only a little cleavage. But as Jack’s sister, who helped me choose my outfit, reassured me, it still looks sexy. That’s what I tell myself over and over. I’m sexy. There.
Various scents hit me as I weave through the crowd of partying people inside the club. Aftershave and perfume, mixed with beer and spirits, surround me while the thumping bass of the loud music reverberates through my body as I walk past the large dance floor to the far corner of the club. Paul texted me earlier, telling me where to find them.
Jack had planned to pick me up, but he had to help his sister, so he’ll meet us here later. Rob has to work, but it’s great to spend more time with Paul and Jack’s friends, who have also become mine.
I say hi to Paul, Tessa, Henry, Lauren, Amy, Ava, and some more people I haven’t met yet. I think they’re Amy and Lauren’s colleagues .
“Hey, Emma.” Paul greets me with a peck on my cheek. “Where’s Jack?”
I chuckle at the thought that he assumed we would arrive together. “He’ll be here soon. He’s picking up his brother-in-law from the airport.”
As Paul nods, I flinch because, out of nowhere, someone turns up next to me. “Hey, you’re new,” the guy says, and when I narrow my eyes at him because I’ve never seen him before in my life, he laughs. “I’m sorry, that was rude. Let me start over.” He stretches out his hand. “Hi, I’m Liam.”
I blink at him, figuring out why he looks familiar. He’s tall and well-built with beautiful blue eyes and dark-blond, messy hair. And his charming smile makes me chuckle like a little girl. I try not to grin like an idiot when I shake his hand. “Emma,” I tell him.
Liam leans closer. “Nice to meet you, Emma. How come I’ve never seen you with this group of people?”
Paul smacks his shoulder. “Wow, Liam, ease up with the flirting.”
Liam rolls his eyes. “Shut up, man. I’m just talking to your friend.” He directs his gaze back at me, raising his eyebrows. “So?”
Gosh, what is it with this man? When he shoots me another one of those charming smiles, another chuckle escapes me. I don’t want to convey the impression I’m open to flirting. “I could ask you the same question.”
Liam laughs. “True. Well, I’m just visiting. I live in L.A. and am only here to see my brother.” He points behind me, and I spin around.
Now I understand why he looks so familiar. “Oh, you’re Henry’s brother?”
“Yes. Your turn now. ”
I point to Paul and grin. “I know this guy from his volunteering at the hospital where I work. And somehow, I’ve been spending more and more time with him and his friends lately.”
“ Friends is exaggerated,” Paul says. “ One friend is more like it.”
I glare at him, but he laughs it off, and before I can contradict him—even though he’s not wrong—Tessa shows up and drags Paul to the dance floor after saying a quick hello. Once they’re gone, Liam engages me in small talk, and I enjoy it so much that I don’t realize how quickly the time passes.
It must be at least one hour later when I look past Liam and spot Jack entering the club. But he’s not alone. Kate clings to him, touching him and giggling stupidly at something he must have said. Just looking at them makes my blood boil, and I clench my fist and jaw. I’m sure if Liam listened closely, he could hear me grind my teeth even over the music.
“Are you okay?” Liam’s voice brings my attention back to him and the frown he studies me with.
“Yes, I’m fine,” I say through gritted teeth.
Liam laughs out loud. “Yeah, you seem totally fine.” He turns around, and after spotting Jack and Kate, he smirks at me but keeps his mouth shut, probably because I glare at him.
Jack and Kate join us a moment later, and Jack greets me with a peck on my cheek. “Hey, Emma. Sorry for being late. Hi, Liam.” Jack and Liam nod hello, and Kate waves her perfectly manicured fingers. At least she let go of Jack’s arm.
“Wow, Kate, I haven’t seen you for ages,” Liam says .
Kate chuckles. “Yeah, it’s been a while, but now I’m back. Luckily, Jack picked me up tonight. It’s great to see you all again.”
I narrow my eyes at Jack. He picked her up? What the fuck?
I’m about to give him a piece of my mind when the next song comes on and Kate claps her hands like some silly schoolgirl. “Oh, that’s my favorite. Jack, dance with me.”
Before he can protest, she pulls him after her into the dancing crowd. On their way, Jack turns to me and shoots me an apologetic look.
I snort. “Bitch,” I mutter to myself.
But it must have been loud enough for Liam to hear because he chuckles. “Is he the friend Paul mentioned? Jack?”
I raise my eyebrow at his question. “Why are you asking like that?”
“It’s Jack we’re talking about. I thought he was the one-night type of guy, and I didn’t know that his ex-girlfriend had returned.”
“She moved back not too long ago, and now they’re catching up, and she’s all over him. Ugh!” I groan.
Liam laughs at my eye roll. “He’s probably oblivious to her advances?”
“Totally. He says she’s just a friend.” I grimace. “Sorry. I shouldn’t tell you all this.”
He waves off my comment. “No worries. I’m a good listener. And I’m good for other things too.” He winks at me and grabs my hand to pull me after him to where Kate is currently rubbing herself against Jack like a cat in heat, and by now, it’s taking me all I have not to punch her.
I think of Liam’s last words, but I don’t have to wonder for long what he meant by other things . Once we’re in the middle of the crowd, he pulls my body closer and runs his hands along my waist. His mouth is next to my ear, and his breath tickles my skin when he says, “Tell me if this is too much. But I guess when we show him what he’s doing, he might realize how uncool it is to watch the person you like being too close to someone else.”
I nod, and I question my sanity because I agree with this, but that’s what Jack does to me. “As long as your hands stay off my ass, we’re good.”
Liam chuckles. “Aw, too bad.” He pulls back to wink at me before moving our bodies to the rhythm of the music, and damn, that guy can dance!
And Liam’s plan works. Not even two minutes later, Jack shows up next to us.
“Do you mind?” Jack asks, and if looks could kill, Liam would be in trouble.
“Not at all.” Liam gestures for Jack to take over, and before he leaves, he plants a peck on my cheek and says for my ears only, “You’re welcome.”
I smile to myself as I watch him disappear before turning my attention to Jack. He has a firm grip on my hip and narrows his eyes at me. “What was that?”
“Dancing.” I raise a single eyebrow, and he snorts.
“That wasn’t just dancing.”
I flick my gaze to the ceiling. “Jack—”
He shakes his head and leans closer to say into my ear, “Can we talk? Outside? The crowd is making me tense. ”
I nod and follow him to the roof terrace, where he turns to me with a scowl. “Why the fuck are you flirting with Liam? Look, I’m sorry I was late—”
I gasp. “This is not because you were late. Why did you pick up Kate? I can’t believe this. How do you not see how she’s flirting with you all the damn time?”
“Really? Kate? But we’ve talked about this. She’s not—”
“Don’t you dare finish that sentence,” I cut him off. “She is, and I have no clue why you refuse to acknowledge it.” I clench my fist and take in a slow breath through my nose to get rid of the tightness in my chest. Jack’s apparent pigheadedness makes it even worse. “Fuck this. I’m leaving. Bye, Jack.”
And without another word, I do just that.