Page 72 of Stolen Moments

What would a future with Emery look like? Does she want kids? Would she move to L.A.? Could I move here?

I shove those crazy thoughts away as Jace says, “I will have to speak to my wife.”

“I’m not your wife.” Rylann’s sweet, raspy voice pipes up from somewhere.

Jace practically snarls, “You wear my ring, you have my babies—you’re my wife.”

“Not yet,” Rylann sings and steps into view.

Jace grabs her by the back of her neck and pulls her close. I feel like a voyeur watching them share a silent conversation.

“Later, Sunshine.”

Her cheeks turn pink, and I cringe. I think I witnessed their foreplay.

“Can you two not right now?” I groan.

They kiss, and Rhys wretches.

“Why do they always do that?” he whispers to me.

His cheeky remark has me laughing.

“Because they love each other,” I tell him.

He looks back at them and smiles, then turns to me. “So, are you coming or not?”

Jace and Rylann speak at the same time.

“Not.”

“Yes.”

“Awesome!” Rhys yells.

Jace turns and points at me. “The wife has spoken. But you can’t stay here.”

“Fine by me.” I’m pretty sure I have somewhere else I can stay anyway.

As long as she’ll have me.

Chapter twenty-five

Emery

My nerves shoot throughthe roof as I glance at the time again. Twenty minutes until I have to make my way towards the airport.

I review my notes again for Mandy, the temp worker we hired to cover the front desk tomorrow. We’ve already gone through everything she will be handling—mostly fielding calls and updating clients—while I am away.

Guilt gnaws at my stomach. I hate leaving a pregnant Rylann here alone to handle everything. With Scarlett being on maternity leave with her twin boys, I should have found a way to get out of my parents’ party this weekend.

Fat chance.

I shake my head to myself as I reorder my notes and put them in a manilla folder. There’s no way I could miss it; I’m already on thin ice where my parents are concerned. Who knows what they would do if I didn’t make an appearance?

It’s only one day, I remind myself.

Anxiety courses through my system at the mere thought of having to put on a show. Every part of my soul despises my hometown, the fake people that live there, and the reasons keeping me from cutting ties.

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