Talk about cuteness overwhelm? “She said the yard needed raking. As you can see, it’s a decent-sized lot, so she figured if I did the entire yard that would be worth three lessons.”
“Aw.” Emily looked past him. “Oh.”
He’d meant that to be a nice story. “What?”
She pointed. Mrs. Wagner hobbled down the walkway, the front door still open. She had to be in her sixties, not that old, but as she hobbled along, she looked frail.
Jack jumped out of the car. He crossed the street and met Mrs. Wagner as she bent to pick up the newspaper.
As she stood to her full height of five feet eleven, her eyes brightened when she saw him.
“Jack McBride.” She flung her arms around him.
Jack hugged her back. “Mrs. Wagner, how are you?”
She pulled back, studying his face. “Jack, after all these years, I think you can call me Kathy.”
Up close, she no longer looked frail, and relief washed through him. “Okay, Kathy. How are you?”
“Oh, I’m fine.”
“You don’t sound so sure.”
Kathy smiled fondly. “I suppose you saw me limp my way down the walk.” She exhaled deeply. “Stupid me, missed a step coming down the stairs this morning and turned my ankle.”
Jack’s face must’ve shown his concern, because Kathy shook her head. “I’m fine, really, just a little stiff, been resting my ankle.”
Jack realized that Em stood next to him. “Kathy Wagner, this is my girlfriend, Emily Prescott.”
Emily shook Kathy’s hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“What a lovely young lady.” Her eyes beamed. “Do you have time for a chat and some brownies?”
Jack looked at Em, and she smiled and nodded. “You had me at brownies. Mrs. Wagner—sorry—Kathy makes the best brownies ever. Always the first thing to sell out at the church bake sales.”
They spent the next hour catching up. Emily asked Kathy questions about what Jack was like as a little boy. Kathy was more than happy to sing his praises. Even though Jack was used to being flattered, that Kathy held him in such high regard had him almost embarrassed.
They arrived at his folks’ house just after one. He’d planned to spend the next few hours in bed, but his dad’s truck in the driveway shot that plan to shit. “I didn’t expect my dad to be here.”
Emily grinned wickedly at him. “What did you expect?”
“Sex.” He pulled in and parked in front of the garage.
“In your childhood bedroom? I don’t think so.”
“Please tell me you’re kidding.” He’d agreed to not sleep together, but four days together with no sex? He’d lose his mind being around her.
“Jack, your parents trust us to behave ourselves while we’re staying in their home. Having sex when they aren’t here wouldn’t be right.”
Shit, he couldn’t tell if she was kidding. She certainly looked serious. “Em, come on, really?”
Her smile broke wide across her beautiful face. “I don’t have that kind of self-control.”
He unbuckled her seatbelt and pulled her onto his lap. “Neither do I.” She crashed her lips onto his, and he was lost. Lost to the fact that they were in his parents’ driveway, in broad daylight, making out like teenagers.
“Ahem.”
Jack turned. “Hey, Dad.” He helped Em back into her seat.
“Jack, Emily.” Will stepped back as Jack opened the door.
He hugged his dad. It was good to be home. “You’re home early. Everything okay?” His dad looked healthy, but…
Will smiled. “It’s not every day my son comes home for four days.” He pulled Jack back into a hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”
Jack cocked his head to the side. Something about the way his dad said that troubled him. “Of course, why wouldn’t I?”
Will glanced down and shrugged. “I found an original emblem for the GTO. Got a good deal on it too.”
Emily walked around the front of the truck carrying the chili pot. “I’ll get that.” Jack took the heavy pot from her. “We made chili.”
“You didn’t need to bring anything. You’re paying for all the booze.”
“I’ll be here all weekend, and I wanted to contribute,” Emily said.
Will smiled. “It wasn’t necessary but very thoughtful. Thank you.” He took the pot from Jack. “I think this’ll fit in the refrigerator in the garage.”
Jack grabbed the case of beer off the backseat, hauled it onto his shoulder, and took Em’s hand. “Come on.”
It took a little rearranging, but Will fit the pot in.
“Here.” Jack set the beer on the workbench.
Will rubbed the back of his neck. “Jack, you don’t have to do that.”
He put six bottles in the door of the refrigerator. “I know.”
Will shook his head. “Thanks, son.”
Jack turned to the GTO. “How’s it coming?”
“Great. Check this out.” Will popped the hood, his voice filled with pride.
“If you guys are hungry, I could make some sandwiches.”
Jack and Will turned at the same time. “Sorry, Em—”
Emily put up her hand. “Don’t be, Jack. This visit is about you. Your dad took the afternoon off to spend time with you. Enjoy it.” Her smile was genuine with no hint of resentment. “Now, what’ll you guys have?”
Will hugged her. “There’s a ton of cold cuts in the kitchen. Ham and swiss for me.”
“Me too.” Jack’s heart fluttered in his chest. “And extra pickles.”
“Extra pickles, Will?”
“Please.”
She nodded and Jack watched her walk out the door toward the house. He leaned up against the workbench, eyes closed, heart pounding.
“You okay?” His father’s hand gripped his shoulder.
For several seconds, Jack couldn’t speak through the lump in his throat. He opened his eyes to see his dad’s eyes filled with concern. “Yeah. I’m fine.” He inhaled and exhaled deeply. “I didn’t think it was possible to be more in love with her, but I just keep falling.”
Will nodded. He grabbed two cold beers and handed one to Jack. “That’s how it is with your mother. Even after thirty-two years of marriage, I love her more every day.”
chapter
THIRTY
Emily stood at the counter and smiled. Jack and Will were so much alike.
“Hi,” Jimmy said as he entered the kitchen.
Emily turned and smiled at him. “Hi. Want a ham and swiss sandwich?”
“Sure. Where’s the prince?”
Emily hid her smile. “Jack’s in the garage with your dad.”
“The prodigal son…”
“I know how you feel.” Emily pulled out two more slices of bread. “When I was a kid, first day of school, once the teachers found out I was Riley Prescott’s little sister, I got to hear about how great he was.”
Jimmy pulled out a chair and sat. “Yeah.”
“Thing was, it wasn’t his fault, you know. He was just being him. He was smart, funny, athletic, friendly, and outgoing. He was good at everything. It all came so easily for him.” Emily packed up the cold cuts and put them in the fridge. “He was four years older, and when he decided to go to university in Connecticut, I was devastated. I was mad at him for a long time.”
“I couldn’t care less that Jack left.”
“Really? Wow, then you’re a better person than I was. First time he came home for Thanksgiving, I wouldn’t even talk to him. Riley and I had always been so close. When our dad was deployed, he’d have tea parties with me. Even at nine, Riley had a very developed sense of taking care of people.”
“Did you ever talk to him again?”
“Of course, it was impossible to stay mad at him. He explained to me why he chose to go away to college, and at the time, I didn’t really understand it, but I was just glad it wasn’
t ’cause I was a pain in the ass.”
“Why’d he leave?”
“He always felt like he lived in our dad’s shadow.” Emily smiled. “Our dad was amazing. He always had time for us, all his men, and their families. They could call him anytime, and he’d be there for them. Even after he retired, they knew they could still reach out to him, and many did.”
“That’s nothing like my situation.”
Emily sat next to him. “You could spend all your time hating Jack, resenting living in his shadow, or you can put your effort into being the best you that you can be.”
Jimmy’s head snapped up. “I don’t hate him.”
“Jack thinks you do.”
Jimmy took a deep breath. “When he moved to the city, everything changed. He hardly ever came home, and when he did, it was only for a few hours. He’d always had time for me, then suddenly it was like I didn’t exist.” Jimmy shrugged. “I missed him.”
“Yeah. I missed Riley too, but at fourteen, I didn’t understand how hard it had been for him. All I could see was that he’d left me. I’m sure Jack being famous only made it more difficult for you.”
Jimmy glanced at her. “I never told anyone this. I probably shouldn’t tell you.”
“I’m a good listener.”
“The first girl I ever…you know…told everyone at school the next day she’d done it with Jack McBride’s brother. It was like I didn’t exist.”
“What a bitch.”
“Don’t say anything, okay?”
“Never.”
Emily texted Jack to let him know the sandwiches were ready.
Jimmy took his plate, but before he could leave, Will and Jack walked into the kitchen.
“Hey, Squeak.” Jack grabbed Jimmy and tried to hug him, but Jimmy pushed him away.
“Don’t call me that.”
“Where you going with that plate?” Will asked.
“Nowhere.” Jimmy plunked the plate on the kitchen table and sat.
Jack dropped a quick kiss on her lips and sat. Will smiled and looked away.
“What?” she asked, sitting between Jack and Jimmy.
Jack grinned. “Nothing.”
Emily shrugged. It never ceased to amaze her how quickly hungry men could make food disappear: sandwiches, chips, and pickles vanished with lightning speed.
Jack’s cell rang. “Hey, Dex. What’s up?” His face clouded over, and his eyes closed. “I’ll call her. Dex, listen, I know this shit is outside the scope of a manager, so I really appreciate it.” Jack disconnected the call but stared at his screen. He stood and exhaled slowly.
“Jack?” Will said.
Emily stood and put her arms around him. “Is it Christie?”
Jack swallowed hard. “Her friend Amber called Dex. She said that she found Christie on the floor of her apartment. She’s been taken to the hospital. She told Amber the only way she can win me back is to stop using, so she quit cold turkey.”
“I thought you were done with her?” Will said.
“I am. I’ve told her it’s over, but she won’t let it go. It’s like she’s obsessed.” He glanced at Emily, and she knew they both thought the same thing. Even though Jeff had cleared her, she might be Jack’s stalker after all.
“Then why are you calling her?”
“Not her, Amber. She’s alone in this, I mean, I have to help her, right?”
Will stood and put his hand on Jack’s shoulder. “Son, you’ve done everything you can to help Christie. This is just another attempt to prey on your good nature.” Will sighed. “I know you don’t want to hear this, but Christie is a user. I don’t just mean of drugs but of people. You let yourself get taken advantage of because you loved her. But this has to stop. If she truly wanted your help, she’d have gone into rehab instead of trying to quit on her own. This is just another attempt to get you to rush to her.”
Jack’s arms tightened around her. “You really think she’s capable of something like this?”
“Yes. Users use people, Jack. I know you loved her, and part of you may still, but you cannot save everyone. She did this to herself, and she has to pull herself out of it.”
“I thought you guys liked her?”
“We did, at first. But once you moved to California for her career, she changed, or maybe she just showed her true colors. Either way, it doesn’t matter. Last Christmas, you ran out of here a week early because she called with some crisis. Your mother and I vowed never to interfere in our children’s love lives, but Jack, you have to stop this; otherwise, you’ll ruin what you have.”
Jack’s hold tightened, and Emily was glad that Will had been the one to say it. Jack saw the best in people, and his willful blindness was the reason Christie had been able to manipulate him. But Jack let it happen.
Emily had supported him in going to see Christie, but that hadn’t worked out how Jack had hoped. A small part of her had thought Christie was using rehab as a ploy, but she hadn’t wanted to believe it. But she also wasn’t a fool and wouldn’t fall for that bullshit again. Vince told her that addicts were masters of lying. Emily knew that Christie would do anything to get Jack back. Anything.
“Em…” Jack’s eyes held tears.
“I think Will’s right.”
Jack nodded, his throat worked with the effort to swallow, and he scrunched his eyes closed.
Emily’s heart ached for him.
When he opened his eyes, she saw his acceptance. “I’m going to call Amber, but I’m not going anywhere.”
Will put his arms around both of them, and Emily felt accepted.
Jack went into the living room to call Amber, returning a few minutes later. “She’s going to call Christie’s parents. I told her there was nothing more I could do.”
Emily opened her arms and Jack accepted her comfort.
“Don’t say anything to Mom, okay?” Jack looked back and forth between Jimmy and his dad.
Jimmy nodded.
Will closed his eyes and sighed. “Okay, but if you get another call…”
“Understood,” Jack said. He hugged her close to him and his body relaxed into hers.
Will cleared his throat. “Come on, boys, let’s work on the car.”
Emily caught Jack’s hopeful glance at Jimmy.
“Jimmy?” Will asked.
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’ll be right there. I want to get the bags from the car,” Jack said.
Emily followed Jack up to his room when he returned with their bags. Vintage Soundgarden and Foo Fighters posters hung on Jack’s bedroom walls. A navy comforter covered the full bed, and the oak furniture shone as if it were polished regularly.
“Here ya go.” Jack deposited her laptop bag on the desk. He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. Jack cupped her face and gazed deeply into her eyes. “Thank you, baby.”
She smiled and rested her head on his chest. “I’m happy to do it.”
“Jack,” Will yelled from downstairs. “Your mother will be home in a few hours.”
“Coming.”
“Go. I’ll settle in.”
“You’re amazing.”
She unpacked her laptop and worked for ninety minutes. She was happy with the progress she’d made the last two weeks, so any writing she got done this weekend would be a bonus. She went down to the kitchen and set the kettle to boil because she knew Jack’s mom liked tea. Emily searched through several cabinets until she found her stash. Earl Grey, chamomile, oolong, white tea, and several herbal teas. She took out the Earl Grey and berry herbal tea.
When the water started to boil, she turned the flame down to keep it warm. She heard Mrs. McBride’s car and watched as she walked to the open garage door. “Jack,” she exclaimed.
Emily’s stomach fluttered. She wanted to start fresh with Jack’s mom; they’d gotten off on the wrong foot.
“Don’t you dare set foot in this house till you’ve washed that grease off your ha
nds, James.” Mrs. McBride walked through the screen door. “Emily, we’re glad you could join us.”
Her words were nice but sounded forced. Emily had her work cut out for her. “Jack told me you like tea, so I thought after a long week you might enjoy a cup.” She pushed away from the counter.
“Oh, thank you, dear…that’s nice of you.”
Emily’s heart sank. It was going to be a long four days. Only like three and half now. They’d be leaving Tuesday morning after Jack’s parents left for work. Barbara Callow had arranged for them to see three apartments in the city. Emily hoped Jack didn’t bring that up again.
Emily left Mrs. McBride to the peace and quiet of the kitchen. She’d been teaching eleventh graders all week, in the home stretch of the school year, and she needed time to unwind, so Emily tried not to take her distance personally.
She’d made it to Jack’s bedroom door before she heard her name. She turned, expecting Jack, but it was Jimmy. Their voices were so similar it was eerie. “Hey, Jimmy.”
Jimmy frowned as he stopped in front of her. “You okay?”
Emily looked away. “Yeah.”
“Hey, you can talk to me.”
Emily exhaled deeply as she met Jimmy’s eyes. “Your mom doesn’t like me.”
Jimmy pushed her into Jack’s room and closed the door behind them. “Never say anything private in the hallway. It’s like a direct line to the kitchen.” Jimmy looked around. “This room looks exactly like it did the day Jack left. It’s like a fucking shrine.”
“Or it’s a place Jack can always come back to. I wish I had that.” Emily flopped on the bed. Her leg throbbed. She glanced out the bedroom window. Thick black clouds rolled in. Maybe the barbecue would get rained out. She smiled but then felt bad. Jack had been looking forward to this for weeks.
Jimmy leaned up against the desk. “I’ve been thinking about what you said, and you’re right; none of this is Jack’s fault, but it’s hard not to blame him.”
Emily smiled. “It wouldn’t hurt if you didn’t love him. You felt left behind, and you had the added frustration of Jack’s fame. Honestly, I don’t know how well I’ll deal with it. I’m so proud of him, but I don’t want to be pulled into it. Any advice?”
No More Yesterdays: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 2) Page 31