haven’t heard all that before.”
“I told you that.”
“No, you didn’t. I didn’t realize you came here one minute after you heard I was back.”
“I don’t even think it took a full minute. I ran out of there so fast that Finn came after me, asking me what my plan was.”
“Did you have a plan?”
“Hell no. I only knew that you were back, and I had to see you.”
“You had to see me?”
He put his hand on her leg. “It was a need unlike anything I’ve ever felt. I’d been a mess since you left without saying goodbye.”
“I felt so bad about that.”
“I know, and look at everything that’s happened since I came to find you that night. Wouldn’t change a thing.”
She placed her hand on top of his. “Me either.”
They were getting married at the Chesterfield on Thanksgiving weekend and then going to Italy for two weeks. He couldn’t wait to be married to her and for the trip they’d planned with exacting detail.
When they arrived at Mason and Jordan’s, they saw Mason’s SUV parked in the driveway along with Jordan’s BMW and their friend Gigi’s white Mercedes coupe. Both women had their cars shipped to the island when they realized they were going to be there a while to film the new season of their show.
“The gang’s all here,” Riley said.
“So it seems.”
Nikki got out of the car, and Riley followed her inside, hoping Jordan took this news as calmly as Nikki had. It was all so strange to him, being unaffected by a close family member’s death when something like that would rock his world. The more time he spent with Nikki and Jordan and the more he learned about their upbringing, the more thankful he was for his parents, aunts, uncles and cousins, who’d given him and Finn a dream childhood.
“Nikki,” Gigi said, “get in here and settle a fight.”
“You’d better side with me,” Jordan said, smiling at her sister.
“What’s the fight?”
“Who’s hotter—Justin Timberlake or Ryan Gosling?” Gigi asked.
Nikki glanced at Riley, who rolled his eyes. “Um, well, I suppose if I had to choose… I’d say JT for the win.”
“Oh my God,” Gigi said. “You just did that twin ESP shit again, didn’t you?”
Jordan high-fived her sister. “Thank you very much.”
“I hate you two,” Gigi said. “I have no idea why I even hang out with you.”
“You love us,” Jordan said, giving Gigi a playful shove that had her toppling over on the sofa. That sent them into hysterics.
This was why their TV show was so popular. The two of them were hilarious together.
Mason came into the living room, his hair wet and a towel around his neck. He was wearing only a pair of shorts, with his muscular chest and abdomen on full display, making Riley feel like he needed to get back to the gym—immediately. “Did you ladies decide who’s hotter?”
“I won because I said you’re the hottest of them all, baby,” Jordan said to Mason.
His smile lit up his face. “That’s my girl.”
“Dear God,” Gigi said, rolling her eyes.
“Don’t be a nasty old bitch,” Jordan said. “It’ll give you wrinkles.”
“Um, sorry to interrupt your good time,” Nik said hesitantly.
Riley knew that Nikki hated to do anything to upset Jordan, who’d fought so hard for her happily ever after with the fire chief. The two of them were so ridiculously happy together, and he was glad to know Jordan would have Mason there to support her if she didn’t take the news well.
“What’s up, Nik?” Jordan said. “You’re doing that frowny thing you do when something’s gone sideways.”
Nikki crossed the room to sit on the coffee table so she was in front of Jordan.
Mason glanced at Riley as if to ask, What’s this about?
“So Kendall called me today.”
“Huh? How come?”
“She told me Dad died yesterday.”
Jordan’s face went flat with shock. “What? What happened?”
“They think he had a heart attack while driving.”
Jordan took a deep breath and released it slowly. “I don’t even know what to say to this.”
“I didn’t either.”
“I’m so sorry, you guys,” Mason said. “What can we do for you?”
“Nothing,” Jordan said, her expression still blank.
She’d been so animated only a minute ago that it hurt Riley to see her looking like she had after the hideous breakup with her ex-husband.
“We don’t need anything,” Jordan said. “We haven’t talked to him or any of them in years.”
Gigi moved closer to Jordan and took hold of her hand. She’d been their friend growing up and had lived through a lot of the drama,