Emily shook her head. “Haven’t you spent enough money on me?” He’d paid for the alarm system and the expensive clothes, lingerie, underwear, and pajamas. She didn’t need anything else. Jack carried a large pink and black shopping bag. The last thing she wanted was his mother thinking she was a gold digger.
He placed the bag on the bed. He pulled out two large boxes and one small box. “Okay, don’t get mad, but it’s my fault you don’t have anything appropriate to wear to church tomorrow, so I fixed it. He pointed to the large boxes.”
Emily opened the first box and pulled out a long white gauzy sundress with a fine silver-threaded Aztec design over the bodice. She held it up to her, and it fell just below her ankles. It would go perfectly with her strappy flat silver sandals. She looked up at Jack’s expectant face. “Jack, it’s perfect. How?”
He grinned. “I made a note of where your waist and shoulders matched up to me. The shop owner’s mother was able to hem it on the spot.”
She flew into his arms and kissed him hard on the lips. “That’s the sweetest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“There’s more,” he said, pointing to the other box. “Open it.”
She laid the sundress on the bed and opened the second box. Another long sundress in a deep peach. “Jack, it’s beautiful, but I only need one for church.”
“This is for today, it’s going to be hot, and since you can’t wear shorts, I thought you’d be more comfortable in this.” Jack held the third box, rolling it nervously in his hands. It was oblong and obviously from a jewelry store. “Okay, you took that well since I’m still in one piece. Now, don’t get mad, but I saw this in the window, and I wanted you to have it.”
He handed her the box, and she lifted the lid and slid out the black velvet box inside. When she opened the lid, her eyes nearly popped out of her head. A platinum, double heart pendent, encrusted with diamonds and inlaid with rubies on a fine box chain. She was already shaking her head when she looked up at him. “Jack, it’s beautiful, b—”
“Don’t say but. I wanted you to have it. It has a special meaning.” He took the box from her and removed the necklace. He opened the closure and put it around her neck. It nestled just above her breasts, next to her heart. He moved around so she could see it in the mirror. “The outside heart is yours, this red heart inside”—Jack traced the inner heart with his finger—“is mine. You’ve captured my heart. It’s yours.”
Emily leaned back on him for support.
“Oh my God, that’s the sweetest thing ever.” Trish’s not so whispering voice came from the hallway.
“Trish, how old are you?” Jack walked to the door and looked out. “Mom?”
Jack stepped back as Trish and his mother walked in. Trish pulled Emily into a hug. “He was always such a sweet boy. All my friends had crushes on him.” She picked up the peach dress and held it up to her. It was several inches too long. “Jack, this is lovely. I think you missed your calling,” she teased.
“Why were you listening in the hallway?”
Trish laid the dress on the bed and rolled her eyes at her brother. “Because you walked in with two bags from the most expensive boutique in Pine Hill, and I wanted to know what you bought.” She looked at Emily. “The necklace is beautiful.”
Emily stroked the hearts with her fingers.
Jack shook his head. “Mom?”
Maggie McBride looked down, having the decency to look guilty at being caught. “Jack…”
Emily stood next to Jack. “It’s okay, they’d have found out anyway.” She hoped that since she didn’t make a big deal out of it, he wouldn’t either. She didn’t like being snooped on, but she understood it. If Nicki had been here, she would’ve done the same thing.
Jack hugged his mom and sister and gave them a stern look. “No more eavesdropping.”
After everyone left the room, Emily changed into the peach sundress. From the clamor outside, she knew the families were arriving. With one last deep breath, Emily left the sanctuary of the bedroom to face Jack’s enormous family.
Jack introduced her to what seemed to be an endless line of aunts, uncles, cousins, and their kids. She tried to stay calm under the pressure of their stares and whispers. Jack had only brought two girls home in the past, so she was a novelty.
Emily felt a tap on her shoulder, and when she turned, Buzz stood there with a huge grin. “Buzz.” She threw her arms around him. With the chaos of Jack’s family, she’d forgotten that Buzz and his family were coming.
“Emily, you look lovely.” He hugged her back. “Mom, Dad, Stephanie, this is Emily, Jack’s girlfriend.” Emily hadn’t seen Buzz look so relaxed before, and his brown hair was longer than she’d seen it. He was laid-back but always seemed to carry some tension.
Buzz’s mom stepped forward and hugged her. “Buzz told me what you did for him. I’m so grateful he has such wonderful friends.”
“Mel, what’d Emily do?” Emily hadn’t noticed Jack’s mom standing next to her.
Will stood next to Maggie. “Garth,” he said, shaking his hand.
“When Buzz was having a bad night, and he couldn’t get in touch with his sponsor, Emily put Buzz in touch with a friend of hers who’s in recovery.” Buzz’s dad and sister also hugged her.
A look passed between Jack’s parents, which made her smile. Her parents, too, had a way of communicating with just an expression.
By two, the yard was packed. Buzz hung out with her while Jack reconnected with his cousins. “It’s quite a lot of people, isn’t it?” she said.
Buzz nodded. “Sure is.”
Emily turned to look at him. “You doing okay?”
Buzz smiled and looked at his can of soda. “Yeah. You know, I really don’t miss it that much, drinking, anyway. I never really liked the taste of alcohol.” He looked at her, his brown eyes filled with gratitude. “I really appreciate you hanging out with me.”
Emily laughed. “And here I thought you were the one hanging out with me.”
Elliot and Siobhan walked up the path on the side of the house. “You’re late,” Buzz said with a smirk, as he and Elliot fist bumped.
Elliot shook his head, sending his unruly curls flying and his smile turning to his signature smirk. “First of all, you’re not late to a barbecue unless they’ve run out of food or beer.” Elliot hugged Siobhan to his side. “And second, you know the McBrides and Donoghues descend like a swarm. Didn’t wanna wait in line.”
Siobhan looked up at her husband with a smile.
Buzz laughed. “Been looking forward to this, so I jumped the line.”
Jack’s cousins set up the volleyball net. This year, instead of picking teams, all the games would be the McBrides versus the Donoghues. That put Buzz and Elliot on Jack’s team. After a few minutes of good-natured ribbing, the game started, and Jack scored the first point. It went downhill from there for the Donoghues.
Emily was grateful for the light sundress. Even under the shade of the tent, it was hot. When Jack took his shirt off, a very obnoxious wolf-whistle came from the next table.
Siobhan crinkled her nose. “That’s Jack’s cousin John’s wife, Paulette. She’s always had a thing for Jack. At their wedding, when Jack danced with her, you know, ’cause he’s Jack and always tries to be nice, she grabbed his ass.”
Elliot walked over, opened a bottle of water, and poured it over his head.
“She’d just exchanged vows and she’s molesting Jack?” Emily shook her head. “What’s wrong with the cousin?”
Elliot laughed. “Pussy whipped. John’s always been on Paulette’s hook.”
Emily sat on her hands. “I have the most overwhelming urge to slap her.”
Elliot shook his head, spraying them with water. “I’ll give you a hundred bucks if you do.”
“E,” Siobhan chided.
“What? She’s a bitch.”
Siobhan didn’t disagree.
The chili they’d
made was gone an hour after it was set out. Emily felt a deep satisfaction over that. Her dad had always been proud of his recipe.
Jack’s family was huge, and since she was his girlfriend, the scrutiny continued. Especially Paulette, who thought out loud that Jack could do better. Every chance she got, Paulette cornered Jack in conversation. When she insisted that Jack take a picture with her and her kids, who missed their “Uncle” Jack, Emily had enough. She purposely stepped in front of John as he dutifully took the picture his harpy wife insisted upon.
Elliot roared with laughter while Jack suppressed a grin.
“Oh, you were taking a picture. Sorry.” Emily smiled sweetly at the harpy. “Jack, I need your help with the chili pot.”
She felt bad when the harpy turned her venom toward John, but he’d married her, so he must be used to it.
Jack grabbed the pot, and Emily followed him into the kitchen. The pot hit the sink with a thunk as Jack turned and grabbed her, pulling her in for a deep kiss. She melted into him.
“Thank you. John’s a good guy, but Paulette is…”
“A venomous harpy and a succubus bitch?”
His chest vibrated with laughter. “Exactly. You always have the perfect words.”
Her lips curled into a smile. “I am a writer.”
“Yes, you are. How about you write us a scene, where I carry you up to my room and make wild, crazy love to you while the barbecue continues.” Jack groaned and made an adjustment. “Damn.”
Emily rested her forehead against his chest. “Well, it’d be very naughty, but we’d get caught. I give it five minutes before Paulette comes looking for you.”
The screen door opened then slammed shut.
“I saw what you did, Emily. That was freakin’ awesome.” Jimmy hoisted himself up on the counter.
“Why, whatever do you mean?”
Jimmy snorted. “You ruined Paulette’s picture with Jack.”
“Oh, that. Yeah, I did.” She smirked at Jimmy.
“She’s a keeper, Jack.”
Jack leaned back and tilted her chin up. “She sure is.”
Two minutes early, Paulette walked into the kitchen. “There you are, Jack. John Jr. needs his Uncle Jack to play monster.”
Emily tensed, and he tightened his arms around her. “Don’t you think John should do that?”
“I can’t find him.”
The stars aligned in the most perfect way when John walked into the kitchen from the living room. “Who can’t you find?”
Jimmy burst out laughing.
Jack cleared his throat and tried to hide a smile. “You. Your son wants to play monster.”
John shook his head. “Baby, I told you I needed to use the bathroom.” He grabbed his wife’s hand and pulled her out of the kitchen.
“Looks like he’s finally growing a pair.” Jimmy jumped off the counter and looked at the pot in the sink. “Oh, the chili’s gone?”
“Yes, but I put some in a container and hid it in the back of the fridge.”
“Score.”
Will popped his head in the kitchen. “Come on, boys, it’s the annual whiffle ball game. We need to continue to kick Donoghue butt.”
“Be right there,” Jack said. Jimmy followed Will out the door. Jack kissed her one last time before pulling her out the door. “You can cheer us on.”
After the highly competitive whiffle ball game, in which team McBride crushed team Donahue ten to three, Will fired up the grill for the second time. She and Jack sat with Buzz and Elliot and Siobhan, who smiled at each other like newlyweds.
John came over and enlisted the guys for another round of volleyball.
“Go,” Emily said. They watched as Jack set up a volley that Elliot spiked over the net. They chest bumped in celebration.
Emily glanced at Siobhan who had a perpetual smile on her face. “You look happy.”
“I am,” she gushed. “For the first time ever, when Elliot leaves next Friday, I’ll be going with him.” Her smile grew wider. “I’m so excited.”
Emily hugged her. “Elliot’s so much happier than the day I met him.”
Cheering from clan McBride drew Emily’s attention back to the game. Elliot scored another point and high-fived one of Jack’s cousins.
“I’ve never seen Jack happier either,” Siobhan said. She smiled and looked down.
Emily didn’t know what to say to that, so she pushed to her feet and gathered up the plates.
Siobhan stood and wobbled a bit.
“Sit. I’ll take care of it. You look exhausted.”
She smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”
She’d noticed that Siobhan hadn’t had any alcohol. Since Emily wasn’t one to pry, she didn’t push it, but she expected an announcement from camp Black.
She walked past Paulette’s table, where Paulette was undressing Jack with her eyes. Emily walked to the trash and dumped the plates. She walked back slowly, stopping directly in front of Paulette, blocking her view.
“Hey, I’m watching the game.”
“Really, because your husband’s over there.” Emily pointed to where John knelt on the sidelines tying his daughter’s sneaker. “The game’s in time-out.”
Paulette stood and stepped to the side.
Emily stepped in front of her again. Paulette was disgusting, and she didn’t even try to be discreet. “How about you pay attention to your family and stop eye-fucking my boyfriend?” Emily turned and walked straight into Will and Mrs. McBride. From the expression on their faces, Emily knew they’d heard her. She only noticed Jimmy when he burst out laughing.
Mortified, she ran into the house, taking refuge in the bathroom. She splashed her face with cold water, but it did nothing to cool off her embarrassment. Will had liked her, too. Mrs. Doesn’t Like Her was probably demanding Will have her removed from the house immediately, never to be invited again. John was her nephew, and blood was thicker than water. Emily wanted to kick something. She’d hoped to change Mrs. McBride’s opinion of her by coming this weekend, and all she ended up doing was cementing her dislike, proving that Jack could do better.
Again, she toyed with the idea of staying in the bathroom forever, but there were over a hundred people outside, so she wouldn’t be rude and hog it. After a few deep breaths and a long pep talk, Emily opened the door. Will and Mrs. McBride stood there, and Emily couldn’t contain her groan. “I’m—”
“Come here.” Will ushered her into the den, and Mrs. McBride followed and closed the door.
Emily swallowed hard and turned to face the music. “I am so sorry, I—”
“Are you kidding? That was awesome,” Will said. “No one has ever talked to Paulette like that. She’s been drooling over Jack since John introduced her to the family nine years ago. Frankly, it’s disgusting.”
Mrs. McBride stared at her, almost as if she were picking her apart.
Will looked at his wife then back at Emily. “Paulette grabbed John and the kids and took off. Said she wouldn’t come here again until she got an apology.”
Emily tilted her chin up and met Mrs. McBride’s green stare. “The last thing I wanted was to cause a problem with your family, but I’m not going to apologize.” Paulette had no respect for her husband, his family, or her. She could’ve chosen her words better, but she wasn’t sorry.
Will put his hand up. “No need, we can’t stand that woman.” He hugged his wife to his side. “You did us a favor. Let’s hope she keeps her promise.”
A slow smile spread across Mrs. McBride’s face. Emily was sure it was the first one aimed at her. “Emily…” Mrs. McBride stepped forward and embraced her. When she pulled back, her green eyes had softened and held tears. “Thank you.”
A lump formed in Emily’s throat. If she didn’t know better, she’d think Jack’s mom was starting to like her.
Will put an arm around each of them. “Let’s get back to the party.”
As they walked outsi
de, Jack ran up to them. “What happened?”
“Emily told off Paulette.” Will hauled Jack into a hug, and his mom kissed his cheek, and then they returned to the party hand in hand.
Before she could apologize to Jack, Elliot appeared, lifted her, and swung her around. “You are my favorite person. Ever.”
“Put her down,” Siobhan said, as she swatted Elliot.
He set Emily down and pulled his wife into his arms, resting his hands on her stomach.
“What happened?” Jack repeated.
“I’ll tell you what happened,” Elliot said. “Your girlfriend just told Paulette to stop eye-fucking you.”
Jack turned to her, eyes wide. “You did?”
Emily nodded.
Jack pulled her into his arms, bent her over backward in a low dip, and kissed her. He didn’t let up until Elliot yelled, “Get a room.”
He cupped her face between his palms. “I love you.”
J
When the sun dipped behind the horizon, large Tiki torches were lit all around the yard. The inside of the tent had been strewn with tiny white lights, providing a romantic setting.
Jack sat with Emily on a lounge chair. Elliot and Siobhan were back together and happier than he’d seen them in years. Curt was head over heels in love with Nicki, and it was quite clear that she felt the same. Buzz was nine months sober and getting stronger every day. The band was tighter than ever, and the tour was their most successful. But all of that paled in comparison to his love for Emily.
He’d been so happy when she’d agreed to spend these four days with him. She’d given it her all, too. No hiding in their bedroom or sulking on the couch. And for the first time in years, Jack hadn’t felt compelled to defend his girlfriend’s actions.
He’d drunk more beer today than in the last month, but he wasn’t drunk. Not too drunk anyway; he hadn’t put his foot in his mouth.
A warm breeze fluttered by, and Em shivered in his arms. “Cold?”
“A little but too comfortable to move.”
He ran his hands up and down her bare arms. She looked even more lovely in the peach sundress than he’d imagined, and her skin glowed with a touch of color from the sun.
No More Yesterdays: A Rock Star Romance (Rocked in Love Book 2) Page 33