Gone by Emma Wildes

Author:Emma Wildes [Wildes, Emma]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781682992227
Publisher: Torrid Books
Published: 2017-02-02T05:00:00+00:00

Chapter 9

Nicole and Eric arrived separately, Eric parking his sports car far out on the grassy edge of the drive, a little bit away from the already long line of vehicles. By the time Nicole pulled in fifteen minutes later, the cookout was well underway, the backyard full of people both under the tent Jack’s mother had rented and strolling around in the grass.

At first he’d objected, half-laughing when she called it a “reverse wake”, but then he acknowledged it was just as well to see all his old friends and the relatives who could make it all at once. At least fifty people were expected, so he figured by the end of the evening he’d be weary of back slaps and affectionate hugs, but at least that would be over.

“This will be the hard part,” Eric murmured, standing next to him, casual in worn jeans and a Purdue T-shirt exactly like his favorite shirt from their college days, a plastic cup in his hand. “For the rest of this party how the three of us act toward each other is going to be under a microscope.”

Jack took a sip of his own beer. While his mother had promised she wouldn’t go to too much trouble, she’d ordered a keg of beer, there were coolers full of ice and bottled water, liters of soda, and his dad was at the grill already, flipping hamburgers and cooking ribs. Casual might apply, but “no trouble” did not.

He replied, “I hear you there, brother.”

Nicole found his mother first and they hugged for a long, poignant moment and when they released each other, Jack saw his mother wipe her eyes. The sun was warm on his shoulders, but he felt a small chill. He could have so easily lost all of this. All the laughter, the smell of freshly mown grass, and most of all the woman who glanced over and met his eyes. Of course she looked beautiful on this lovely afternoon, but he suspected she always would to him.

“I say we play it however she wants to play it.”

Eric glanced over at him. “I agree. Did you discuss it with her?”

“No. You?” Jack asked it neutrally. He’d talked to Nicole a couple of times this past week, but she’d been at work during the day and so had Eric, and besides, he was still trying to sort out his sudden return to life. Not all that simple when it came to the paperwork.

“No. Just trying to let her work through it.” His best friend also had that very same lack of inflection.

“We are on the same page then.”

“Usually are.”

Jack laughed ruefully. “Apparently when it comes to her.”

“True enough.”

As usual, she didn’t flinch but walked toward where they stood together, the light picking up the golden glimmer of her hair. “Nice day for a party,” she said by way of greeting, her smile neutral and poised. She didn’t kiss either of them, or even offer a hug, and Jack wasn’t all that surprised.

Not with everyone there pretending to not be avidly interested but most of them failing.

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