Page 35 of Beachside Kisses With My Best Friend

When Marilee Moffitt came for me, I don’t think she intended anything more than putting Constance in her place. I didn’t either—until I had her there, and the entire rest of the world disappeared, and Marilee turned to liquid in my arms.

Then, I honestly just forgot about anything but showing that woman how much I love her. I poured it all out, right there on that patio, and itfeltlike she responded in kind.

But then, the spell broke…and she looked horrified.

Horrified.

Yeah, that really makes a man feel good.

And now, I don’t know what to think. We haven’t spoken about it. Haven’t spoken much at all. She’s been in her baking zone, where she retreats when the world is big and scary and she’s trying to figure out her emotions.

But maybe her emotions are less about how she feels about me, and more about how to let me down easy.

Because I’m not sure there’s any way she doesn’t have a thousand percent clarity on how I feel about her—just like every other person on that deck who saw us kissing.

Silver lining—I think Constance was one of those people. She slunk back to her table with Larry and didn’t bother us again. As for Marilee, well, she forced a smile that didn’t reach her eyes, and we headed back to hang with our friends and toast Chloe and Freddy’s wedding, which is planned for this fall in Kentonia.

“Yo, earth to Jordan.”

I snap my attention back to Blake, who is now standing in front of me with a Dr. Pepper in his outstretched hand. “Oh. Thanks, man.”

Taking the can, I set it on a nearby cocktail table and position myself to take another shot at the purple ball in front of me.

Instead of going back to join Freddy and Landon on the couch, Blake cracks open his Coke and studies me over the top of his can. “Want to go a round with me?”

I think he’s talking about pool. I hope he’s talking about pool.

Because I can’t forget that Blake is Marilee’s brother. And given the words of warning before our wedding ceremony, and the way he was also witness to that kiss yesterday, I’m guessing he has a few things to say. “Sure.” I snatch another cue stick off the wall and hand it to him.

“So.” He sets his soda down and grabs the chalk, rubbing it on the end of his stick while I collect the few balls I managed to send into the table pockets. “Any word from your attorney? Court date still a few weeks out?”

“Yeah, three weeks from Tuesday.” I arrange the balls in the rack on the table, then remove it, leaving them in a triangular shape. “You can break.”

Blake circles the table, his eyes on me just as much as the balls. Like a lion about to pounce on its prey.

I sigh. “Go ahead. Let me have it.”

And he seems to understand exactly what I’m saying—that I’m not talking about pool. “Does the attorney know your marriage is a sham?” His jaw clenches and loosens. He finally comes to stand at one end of the table, lines up his cue stick, and lets it fly.

The snap of the white ball hitting the rest is like a whip cracking the air.

Four balls sail into various pockets.

Ouch.

I rub the back of my neck. “No.”

“Don’t you think that’s risky?”

Freddy and Landon whoop from their spots on the couch, and from the corner of my eye I catch sight of a triumphant Ethan Fox holding his hands over his chest in the shape of a heart. Maybe he’s got a girl in the stands, cheering him on.

Can’t imaginehe’sbeen in love with the same woman for half of his life without any sort of reciprocation, hanging onto the barest of hopes that someday she might return his affection.

He’s probably not as pathetic as some of us.

Blake banks another shot and sinks it. “Well?”

“I don’t know, man. Probably. But my back was up against the wall.” I open the soda he brought me and drain it, the cut of the carbonation burning my throat. “What was I supposed to do? Ryder’s my kid. I’d do anything for him.”

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