Page 47 of That Kind of Guy

“Hey, Holden.” She smiled at him. “Thanks for coming.”

“I’m not staying long,” he told her. “I don’t like parties.”

She gave him a thumbs up. “Okay then.”

Later, everyone had drinks and a server circled with hors d’oeuvres while people made conversation and laughed and made fun of the seventies disco playlist Wyatt had put on. The bartender shook drinks at his makeshift bar on the side of the patio while the sun began to set through the trees.

“How is the campaign going?” my mom asked as we stood on the patio. We were leaning against the railing. I glanced around for Avery but didn’t see her. She must have been inside.

“Great, I think.” I thought back to Div’s latest update this morning. “Our polling numbers are up, and we have lots of engagement, lots of questions from the locals.”

The second Avery and I got fake-engaged, my polling numbers jumped. I still wasn’t at Isaac-level approvals, which bothered me, but Div and I had spent hours on the campaign last night, and there wasn’t much more I could do except keep myself seen in Queen’s Cove and prove that I was a responsible guy.

My dad tilted his beer at me. “Div seems like a great assistant.”

“He is. He’s holding the campaign together.” I had mentioned to Div privately that after the election, he could have his choice of either joining me at town hall as my assistant or a promotion at Rhodes Construction.

“And things with Avery seem to be going very well.” My mom gave me a confidential smile.

“They are.” My chest tightened a little, and I glanced around again but didn’t see her.

“Excuse me a moment,” my dad told us. “Elizabeth, would you like another drink?”

“That would be lovely.” She gave him a warm smile and brushed his arm before turning to me. “I was surprised when you proposed, but I should have known you always have something up your sleeve. She’ll be a lovely addition to our family and I’m looking forward to spending more time with her.” She beamed. “I can’t tell you happy I am that you chose her.”

A pang of guilt stabbed me in the stomach. All my mother ever wanted was for her kids to be happy, and I knew she liked Avery. I wouldn’t be able to keep her from getting attached to Avery, that was just the way my mother was, warm and kind and welcoming. I swallowed, thinking of how hard she’d take it when Avery and I called it quits. She wouldn’t say anything because she never wanted to put her worries on us, but I knew it would make her sad.

My dad returned with a fresh drink for my mom. “Elizabeth, I brought you something weird that I think you’ll like. It’s called a French 75.”

My mom took a sip of the champagne flute, and her eyebrows went up with delight. “Mmmm. Something bubbly, something a little sour?”

“Lemon, champagne, and gin. Careful,” I told her. “They’re strong.”

“Yeah, you don’t want to see us get wild or we might make another Rhodes son.” My dad squeezed my mom around the shoulders, and she shook her head and rolled her eyes.

I winced. “Alright, keep it PG.”

“Let’s set up a dinner with Avery soon,” my dad suggested to me and my mom.

“Emmett.” Div appeared at my side, gently pushing a guilty-looking Avery towards me. “I found her behind the bar.”

Her cheeks were pink. “I’m just making sure he has what he needs.”

“Thanks,” I said to Div and wrapped my arm around Avery’s shoulders, pulling her to me.

“Avery, congratulations on buying the restaurant,” my dad told her.

“Thank you, but it’s not a done deal yet.” Her gaze cut to mine.

I gave her shoulder a light squeeze and glanced down at her, into her dark blue eyes. “It’ll happen.” I gave her a little wink, and she smiled.

“Have you set a date yet?” My mom’s eyes glowed with excitement, but she was trying to keep it subdued as to not scare us.

Avery waved a hand. “Maybe in a few years. We haven’t really thought too much about it. We’re not in a rush.”

“Oh. Well.” Disappointment flashed over my mom’s face. “That’s perfectly fine, too. Just don’t get married while we’re in Europe!” She laughed.

“Right, your trip. When do you two leave?” I asked them. I looked down at Avery. “They rented a place in the south of France for six months starting in July.”

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