Home Tears

“We’re going to be sharing with my sister, her husband, and probably Kate.” He skimmed over the group. “I think Robbie is inside, too. That should be interesting.”

“Does Trenton have an office?”

“Yeah. Why?”

“I’d like Boone to stay there, and Jake and Julia.” At his questioning glance, she shrugged. “Family stands for something.”

“I’ll talk to Trent, but I’m sure Hawk already called dibs on whichever place is the most private. He’s got his eye on someone here.”

“Why am I not surprised?”

He squeezed her hand once more, but a man approached, saying, “Jonah.” And he was off, becoming the leader he already was. That wave of relief was replaced with pride. It was a group effort to get everything together and going, but once the boat showed up, everything could’ve fallen apart. It hadn’t, and that was because of Jonah. Everyone trusted him. They listened to him, and when he said it would be alright, they believed him. Dani knew people were scared, but no one panicked. That was so vital in situations like this.

That was Jonah, all Jonah.

She smiled, her body warming as she watched him talking to a bunch of official-looking people, then she headed inside. Aiden stood with Bubba and Robbie in one corner.

Aiden greeted her, pulling her in for a hug. “Here’s Chimp One to Flamingo Two.”

Dani hugged her back. “Where’s Kate?”

“Doing police-type work. She and Jake both took off right away.”

Robbie said, “She was supposed to look for coffee while she was at it. I hope she brings some back for us.”

“Maybe us, but probably not you.”

Robbie didn’t ask for any explanation. He didn’t need one. “I broke up with Lori tonight. That’s why I wasn’t at the party.”

Aiden tilted her head to the side. “You should’ve done it before tonight.”

Bubba promptly hit him on the back of his head.

“Hey!” Robbie rubbed behind his head.

“There’s a reason why you were named Baboon,” Aiden pointed out.

“For my hot ass?”

“For being an ass.”

Dani caught sight of Jake with Julia and took a deep breath. “I’ll be right back.”

“May the force be with you,” Aiden remarked.

“No doubt,” Dani murmured underneath her breath, but she put on a brave face as they turned and watched her approach. She asked Jake, “Did you win?”

“There wasn’t a winner. We were waiting for Jonah to come back, and,” he gazed around, “you know how that went.”

Julia asked, “What do you want?”

Dani ignored the cutting tone from her sister. “You guys can sleep in Trenton’s office with whoever else he puts in there. I asked if Boone and Jenny could be in there, too.”

Julia looked ready with a sharp retort, but at Dani’s words, her eyes rounded. She swallowed, and then only murmured, “Oh.” Spying Jenny in the corner, she moved away from Jake. “I’m going to let them know.”

There was no thanks, nothing, as she left them. Dani knew not to expect any. She didn’t even feel any was warranted. It wasn’t her office.

“So,” Jake breathed out, “your ex-fiancé walked away from our game before.”

“I know.”

“I’m trying not to wonder what that was about.” Jake chuckled. “But, it’s not working.”

“It had nothing to do with you.”

“I’m aware of that.”

Dani stiffened. “What do you want?”

“That’s just like you. You immediately go on the defensive.”

“Jake.”

“No, forget it. I was trying. Friends, right?”

Any guard she had up, thinking he was going in for another attack, lowered. Only halfway, though. She saw he meant what he said, and she rolled her eyes. “I hate you sometimes.”

“I know.” He lifted his arms in the air and motioned between them. “Can we hug it out?”

“What’s Julia going to say?”

“Eh, she can moan or cry, but she knows I love her. She can’t get rid of me.” He pulled her in for a hug. “I gotta say, you looked good with that flamingo on your head tonight. You should wear it more often. Visit Kathryn with it. Give it to her as a gift.”

Dani touched the top of her head. She forgot about Fancy Nancy, but it wasn’t there. She frowned. She already missed it. “I wouldn’t force a Kathryn visit on any inanimate object.”

“Only inanimate objects?” Jake joked. “The animate objects are just fine?”

“Well, yeah. They’re animated. They can withstand the Kathryn Glower.”

“Because they’re animated?”

“They’re jaunty and they dance and they stand still enough to feel the full power of Kathryn’s Glower.” And it felt weird to be laughing with Jake again.

“Jaunty?”

“Jaunty.”

Jake looked thoughtful. “You know what else is jaunty?”

“What?” This was her old best friend. She didn’t remember the moment when they moved from best friend to more than that, but this was him again. She missed him. She missed this.

“The Chapel of Love.” He nudged her arm with his. “Right? Am I right?”