can do this.”
“Yes, you can.” Nina came and stood beside her. The café was quiet right now, which was welcome. “So Jack, huh?”
Emma felt her cheeks burn. “You heard us. It’s just pretend.”
“I thought I was your friend,” Nina said, feigning insult. “I know better than to think you and Jack are just putting on a show.” She narrowed her eyes, and it felt like she was looking straight through Emma. “Or maybe I know better, but you don’t.”
Emma shook her head. “You’re not making any sense.”
“Don’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. You two have crazy chemistry. I’ve been waiting for you guys to get together since my first day working here.”
Emma sighed. “Well, keep waiting because that’s never going to happen.”
“Why not?”
“Because we’re friends.”
“So there’s never been anything more? Not even once?” Nina pressed.
Emma looked away. There had been something once. Or so she thought. “This thing between us is temporary. I’ll suffer through people thinking it’s real, but at least I have you to vent to.”
Nina put a hand on her shoulder. “Anytime. But I’m looking forward to the good details. Like what kind of a kisser he is.”
Emma drew back as she returned her gaze to her friend. “I’m not going to kiss him.”
“But…you’re his pretend girlfriend. It’s not believable if you don’t kiss,” Nina pointed out.
Emma hadn’t thought of that. The thought excited her as much as it terrified her. She and Jack couldn’t kiss. That would open a can of worms they didn’t need, especially this summer when she was planning a 5K event that she hoped would be an annual thing. And Jack was caring for his nephew. They both had too much on their plates for kissing, real or pretend.
“Well, if you don’t kiss, I for one will be disappointed.”
Emma laughed, her gaze catching on her father as he strolled in front of the café window. She pulled off her apron. “Do you mind if I visit with my dad?”
“And tell him about your new boyfriend?” Nina raised a brow, a teasing grin spreading across her face.
“No. I want to tell him about the race,” Emma corrected, feeling a little burst of adrenaline. The more she envisioned the event, the more excited she got.
“Sure. I’ll make the drinks,” Nina offered. “I already know what you two want so go ahead and get settled.”
“Thanks.” Emma waved as her dad walked inside the café. She stepped over to him and went up on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “Hi, Dad. Do you have time to visit?”
He looked around the café with a nod. “I was hoping you’d be free.”
“It’s slowed down since this morning. And I can always spare time for you.”
His eyes crinkled behind his thick-rimmed glasses as he smiled. “Good.”
They moved to a table against the wall and sat down. Almost immediately, Nina slid two coffees and a plate of cookies in front of them.
Emma gave her a grateful smile. When Nina left, Emma looked back at her dad. “What brings you by?”
“Just wanted to make sure you had a good birthday.”
She wondered if he realized how hard this one had been for her, given that she was the same age her mom had been when she’d died. He probably hadn’t even put two and two together. “It was quiet.”
“I thought you went out with friends.”
Right. “I had a change of plans. One friend stopped by, and I had chocolate for the occasion.”
Her father nodded. “Angel will make you a cake, and we’ll put thirty candles on top. How does that sound?”
Emma forced a stiff smile at the mention of her stepmom. “Sounds nice.” She rolled her lips together, wondering if now was a good time to tell him about the event she had decided to have. “Dad?”
He bit into a cookie and looked up. “Hmm?”
“I’m planning something. For Mom.”
She watched the brightness of his blue eyes dull just a touch. “Oh? What do you mean?”
“Well, I found this list of hers. Deb Hershey had it in a box along with a couple of other things that belonged to Mom. She sent them to me this week.” Emma left out the fact that Deb had sent them by way of Jack. “Did you know that Mom wanted to plan her own 5K?”
Her father’s brow scrunched as he seemed to search his memory. “I remember her mentioning something about that. But it wasn’t really practical at the time, with her being sick.”
Emma nodded. “Well, I’ve decided that I’m going to do