Page 37 of Forever My Soldier

Jenna tried to stifle a laugh. She leaned up and gave me a peck on the cheek. “I don’t hate you.”

“Thanks.”

Stepping away from me, she put a hand on her hip and surveyed the crowd. “I could use a drink. Where is the waiter?”

As if by magic, he materialized next to us holding a tray filled with champagne glasses. I took one for Jenna, then one for myself.

“Thank you,” she said with a smile.

I went to take a sip and the bubbles immediately tickled my nose. “I forgot how much I hate champagne.”

She took a sip of her own and giggled. “There’s a cold beer in my fridge at home with your name on it.”

I leaned down and grazed my lips over her ear, causing her to quiver, and whispered, “I’d much rather know you have a can of whipped cream in your fridge.”

Before I could kiss her like I wanted to, the sound of someone clearing their throat nearby had Jenna jumping back as if caught necking by her parents. Naturally, Jenna’s mother was standing there, Francesca next to her wearing her usual evil grin. Luckily for us, her father was still nowhere in sight.

“I couldn’t find your father,” her mother admitted. “But,” she said and peered behind us, encouraging someone to come forward, “there is someone here you might like to see, Jenna.”

The man was shorter than me by a few inches, sandy brown hair with some grey on the sides, a short boxed beard, and brown eyes. He was definitely a couple years older than me.

The only thing I couldn’t figure out was who he was. By the look on Jenna’s face, he was definitely someone she knew and didn’t want to see. She cleared her throat.Why was she nervous?

Her mother spoke again, barely able to contain her excitement as she smiled the whole time. “You remember Michael, don’t you, dear?”

Chapter Thirteen

Jenna

I ran ahand down my arm, suddenly feeling a chill in the air. I couldn’t seem to look away, though. I couldn’t stop staring at him. I blinked, needing answers. “Michael, what are you doing here?”

He grinned. “Your mother invited me, darling. Isn’t that lovely?”

Lovely?That was not the word I’d use to describe our current situation.

My blood began to boil as my eyes darted from Michael to my mother. I could barely believe she orchestrated this, knowing I was coming with Deke, at her insistence no less. I looked around when I noticed he was no longer at my side, but he was no where to be found. It was just Michael, my mother, me and a half a dozen of her friends in groups talking and drinking. Where did he go off to?

I cracked my knuckles and was just about to point a finger directly at my mother and tell her the exact choice words Iwoulduse before going off to find Deacon. Before I could get a word out, though, she was at it again. “Doesn’t he look handsome tonight, Jenna? This is a man whose arm you want to be on, isn’t it? I know when your father was young, I always loved when he wore a jacket. Had a suit just like this, in fact. Is this Dolce, Michael?” she asked, fingering his lapel. “So nice.”

“It is. You know your designers,” he answered, smiling pathetically at my mother like he was over the moon she liked his suit.

I arched a brow and couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “You two obviously don’t need me. You’re clearly both enamored with each other, so why don’t I leave you two alone?” I ran my hands down the sides of my dress, my eyes darting elsewhere now. “I’m going to go find Deacon.”

“Jenna, don’t be so rude. I hear how much he’s been missing you, how you’ve been dodging him lately.” She gave me a pointed look.

He chuckled good-naturedly. “She’s just trying to play hard to get. She must’ve learned a thing or two from you,” he said, winking at her.

Was he flirting with my mother?

She brushed him off, still smiling. “Oh, you’re quite the charmer, aren’t you? I knew I always liked you, Michael.”

“If only your daughter would admit her feelings to me the same way,” he returned, looking at me expectantly.

I rolled my eyes. “I have a better idea, why don’t you two have each other, I’m sure Dad won’t mind. Now if you’ll excuse me,” I said once and for all turning on my heel. There was no way I could stand idly by and watch this exchange for another second without wanting to vomit.

Away from them, I released a sigh. “Where did Deke go?” I asked myself.

Crossing to the other side of the pool, just by the cabanas, I felt a hand wrap around my arm. Deacon. I spun around to see his stern expression.

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