Page 80 of That Kind of Guy

She couldn’t contain the grin and gave a little wiggle of excitement. “Yes. I am. It’s gorgeous. Oh, and I’ll pay you back for it. You shouldn’t have to pay for it, I’m sure you’re already paying enough for the wedding.”

“Absolutely not.” I was already shaking my head. Something that made her this excited, this happy? I’d pay it a thousand times.

“Come on.” She gave me a flat look. “Emmett.”

“No.” My voice was stern. “I’m going to be blunt here.” I turned to her. “I have lots of money and no one to spend it on. Myself? I have everything I need. My mom? I spoil her rotten. Let me buy you a pretty dress.”

She looked away but I could see her beaming from the way the apples of her cheeks rose. “Fine.”

“Fine,” I repeated, satisfied. “Also, Div asked me about your parents, and I wasn’t sure.”

She turned back to me. “What do you mean?” A little crease formed between her eyebrows.

“He wants to know if they’re coming. Something about a seating chart.”

The crease deepened and she pressed her mouth into a tight line.

Something was wrong. “Adams? What’s going on?”

“My dad is a dick,” she blurted out.

I blinked at her.

She wrung her hands. “Okay, maybe not a dick. He doesn’t mean to be, but he just kind of… sucks.” She winced. “That sounds bad. I’m a bad person. He’s just really slippery, and I’ve been putting off inviting him. I know I have to,” she told me. “And I will. I’ve just been procrastinating.” She frowned and looked down at her hands, twirling the ring I bought her around her finger.

Watching the anxiety on her face, the way her mouth pressed into an unhappy line, it broke my goddamn heart.

“You don’t have to invite him. It’s our wedding. We can do whatever we want.”

She winced. “What if he finds out? He’d be crushed.”

Uncertainty crossed her face and she looked so different than the confident and self-assured Avery that I knew. I opened my arms. “Come here.” I gestured for her to slide closer.

A moment of hesitation crossed her face before she scooted over, and I pulled her against me so that her back was resting against my chest, her head tucked under my chin, and we were both looking at the ocean. Comfort hummed in my chest, and she relaxed against me. This was better, much better.

“If you don’t want him there, you’re allowed to say no.” My voice was a murmur into her hair as my arms pulled over her chest, locking her against me. Her hair smelled incredible, and it took everything I had not to bury my face into her neck. “What do you think he’ll do?”

She sighed, and I rubbed my hand up and down her arm. I hated seeing her like this, anxious and uncertain.

“I don’t even know how to describe him.”

“Try.”

“He’s the most charming, friendly, funny guy you’ve ever met.” Her tone was contemplative, and I wished I could see her face. “He’s everyone’s best friend and so passionate about life. Everything is more fun with him around. He’s the life of the party.” Her voice changed to a more hesitant tone. “And he has all these big ideas.”

She paused, and I waited.

“Did I tell you that my parents had a restaurant when I was a kid?”

“No,” I murmured into her hair. “You didn’t.”

She nodded. “They did. My mom always wanted to have a restaurant, my grandparents had one for a bit and she loved it. She saved all her money, worked two jobs when I was really young, and when I was twelve, they bought a place.” She tensed beneath me, and I rubbed her arm again. “My dad was so excited, and he has the kind of personality where he kind of takes over things.” She shrugged. “He took over her dream. He had all these grand ideas and he totally changed the place.” A low noise of irritation came out of her throat. “He spent all their money on his grand ideas, and they went under.”

She exhaled slowly.

This was starting to make sense.Averywas starting to make more sense. Anger seeped into my bloodstream at this guy who had failed to take care of his family, failed to create the best life possible for them, and instead dragged them down with his impulses and poor business choices.

I worked to keep my voice neutral. “What happened to the restaurant?”

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