I threw Iris a pleading look. Please let me leave.
She patted my arm in sympathy but gave a slight shake of her head and a “you can do this” expression. Iris, Bailey, and Dahlia chatted about the bands that were playing this year, and I tried to look like I was listening when really, I was plotting my escape.
As I glanced from them to the crowds enjoying the festival, my attention snagged on a particular someone.
Someone who made my heart beat fast.
At his height, Jack was easy to spot.
And he was talking to Cooper and holding Joey.
My stomach flipped at the sight of him holding Joey above his head and blowing raspberries on his tummy, making the toddler squeal with delighted laughter. He kicked out his legs, almost catching Jack on the chin.
“Well, if I wasn’t already in love with Tom, I’d be transferring my old crush on Cooper to Jack Devlin right about now,” Bailey said dryly, and I noted her eyes were on Jack too. “That man looks good with a kid in his arms.”
“That man just looks good, period,” Dahlia opined. “I curse his no-locals rule.”
Realizing Dahlia meant she’d sleep with him if he didn’t have a rule against sleeping with local women, a spike of awful jealousy sliced through me.
That jealousy only grew as Jack handed Joey back to Cooper and slipped his arms around a woman I hadn’t even noticed. I didn’t recognize her. She was a tourist, a tall brunette with enormous boobs and a tiny waist.
So that was his type.
That wasn’t crushing.
Okay, I lied. It was unbelievably crushing.
As Cooper, Cat, and Joey strolled away, Jack turned to the brunette and murmured something in her ear as he held her by the hips.
And then he kissed her.
Not just a mere brush across the lips.
But a kiss.
Devastation that was way out of proportion to the moment crashed over me. Iris had told me about Jack and his tourist conquests.
However, this was the first time I was seeing one live in front of me.
I felt betrayed.
Which made no sense at all.
“Lucky lady,” Bailey said at my side.
I was transfixed by the scene that hurt so much to look at.
When Jack broke the kiss, smiling as he tucked the woman into his side and turned, our eyes locked as he lifted his head. He seemed to pause, the smile abruptly leaving his face as we stared at each other.
Yanking my gaze away from his, the first one I met was Bailey Hartwell’s.
And she was examining me like she could see into my head.
Like she knew I had a massive crush on Jack Devlin and the news delighted her.
This … this was why I avoided Bailey Hartwell. She was nosy.
“I have to go,” I muttered. “Sorry, Iris.” I brushed past her and hurried through the crowds.
My heart beat triple time as I marched down the boardwalk toward my beach house.
I wanted to cry.
It was foolish and childish and made no sense.
But the image of Jack kissing that woman how he did … yeah. It made me want to cry.
With significant effort, I sucked back the tears and let myself into my house. Hidden inside, I made myself a cup of peppermint tea and opened all the jewelry boxes to appreciate Dahlia’s work.
In another life, she and I would be friends. She’d maybe even let me watch her work because I’d love to see that.
In another life, I wouldn’t blush like an idiot every time Cooper Lawson spoke to me.
In another life, I’d be sophisticated and witty and Jack Devlin wouldn’t be able to resist me, local woman or not.
“In another life,” I whispered to myself.
5
Jack
Five years ago
How did you tell your best friend that his wife grabbed your dick?
Jack’s heart raced hard.
Not even the sound of the waves gently lapping the shore could calm him as he gazed out at the water from the sand-encrusted boards.
An hour ago, Dana had called Jack to tell him she was concerned about Cooper and could he come over. That they needed to talk. The last person Jack ever wanted to talk to was Dana, but he was worried about Cooper too.
His friend had been closed off lately. Worried about something. And whenever Jack tried to talk to him about it, he blew him off. Hoping Dana might have some insight, and relieved that she cared enough about her husband to call his best friend, Jack had gone to her.
She started with the crocodile tears. They were having problems