Page 9 of Unraveled

I sighed, some of the tension dropping from my shoulders. “I know they are, babe. I just don’t like that you won’t shut her down.Shestill thinks there’s a chance.”

“Even if she thinks she does, you and I know she doesn’t. She’s just a friend. And someone I’d like to stay on good terms with since Idostill have to work with her.”

Inwardly, I scowled, hating that he had a point, and before I could comment, he looked down as a text buzzed through. “Hey, have you checked in with Emma today?”

“No?” I frowned at the sudden topic change. “Why?”

“I missed a call from her earlier and wondered if she called you, too. She just texted me back. Mateo’s in jail.”

“What?! Why?”

“Drugs at the party. David’s in, too, apparently. I don’t know who else is.”

“You’re kidding! Oh, my God, tell me you’re kidding.” I slapped a hand on the counter for effect.Why didn’t Emma call me?

“I wish I was.”

I leaned against my elbows to rest my head into my hands, trying to process. “Holy crap, babe, is anyone we know not having problems?”

Jet ran a hand along one of my arms. “Doesn’t seem like it. Have you heard from Izzy yet?”

I shook my head against my hands. “No, I texted her and Tucker, but they haven’t gotten back to me yet. She didn’t even come home last night. Do you think that’s a bad sign?” I looked up.

“Not really. I think she and Tucker are just sticking to themselves right now. They have a lot to work through.”

Closing my eyes, I released a long, heavy breath through my nose. “Do you think they’re going to really work through it…finally?” Hope and doubt mixed inside me.

“I have a good feeling about it. I doubt they would have stayed out all night if something crucial wasn’t happening.”

“You think?”

Before he could answer, our phones lit up in a group text.

Izzy: Tucker and I have news. And a surprise…

Chapter 4

ISABEL

“You’re what?!” Mom stood so fast the chair fell back behind her.

Jenna paused with her champagne glass hovering below her mouth, and Chuck choked on his food. Stefano reached over and patted him on the back until he managed to swallow, and he held up a hand to signal he was okay. “Sorry. Didn’t expect that.” Chuck cleared his throat. “What did you say?”

Tucker looked down at me and wrapped his arm around my back, pulling me close to his side. “We’re engaged.” He repeated what I’d just told our families.

“Excuse me.” Nic’s voice was rough, earning my attention, and he wiped his mouth with his cloth napkin before pushing away from the table. Those sapphire eyes of his turning to stone with his expression.

My chest fell a little watching him walk away.One less ally in the trenches.I wondered if he’d ever let me reach him. As close as he and I had gotten, he’d tucked his demons away well.

I looked around the room. After a wonderful, perfect, nerve-wracking afternoon, Tucker and I had our families gathered around the long dining table at the beach house, and the late afternoon sun was shining through the floor-to-ceiling glass that looked out toward the shore. The storm had passed after a couple of hours, the skies opening back up, revealing the sunlight and inviting us down to the beach with its warmth a little while ago. It would be a little damp still, but I wouldn’t trade the rain.

When it hit, Tucker and I had run across the boardwalk back to his truck, and he helped me climb in before rushing around to hop into his side. We just stared for a few seconds before bursting into laughter, both of us soaked and grinning like mad. I did have to ruin the mood for a moment when he asked what I meant about his cousin, but as soon as we got back to the beach house and started stripping out of our soaked clothes, Tucker dragged me into another multi-orgasmic shower.

We called Annie and Jet after that, wanting to surprise them with our news first before calling up our families. They’d only gone into temporary shock before congratulating us, and with that layer of pressure gone, I spent the next hour and a half whipping up a meal, my hands nervous with excitement and needing to stay busy as we prepared to tell our parents.

Now was the moment of truth, and from Mom’s reaction, it was not going well.

Her jaw jutted in frustration, part of that look she got when she strove for patience, and she dropped her brow to her fingertips. “I know I’m not hearing this right. Tell me this is a joke.” Mom looked back up.

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