Page 56 of Deception and New Direction

I didn’t have any words.Thiswas the best kind of gift.

“Granddad,”Isaid, my voice starting to choke up.

“Don’t go cryin’ on me,” he said. “Themgirlfriends of yours’ll be pissed ifImess up your fancy makeup.”

I chuckled a little, knowing he was right, but also knowingValwould fix it in a heartbeat if she knew why it was messed up.

“Here,”Jack’svoice said beside me as he held up a cocktail of some kind. “Youlook like you could use one of these.”

I wiped the corners of my eyes, careful not to smear my mascara, and thankedJack, who was standing next toArcher.Iwas about to showJackthe card my granddad had given me, but my granddad spoke up to all of us.

“Jack, good to see you,” he said then turned toArcher. “Second-best, sorry not sorry it didn’t work out with you and my granddaughter.”

Both men chuckled at his comment beforeArcherspoke. “Nota problem.Ithink it worked out just how it was supposed to in the long run.”

The fact thatArcherfelt likeJackandIwere meant to be together felt a bit weird.Howcould he be so sure of that?EspeciallywhenIwasn’t even sure of it yet.

“Inclined to agree with ya on that,”Granddadreplied. “Alright,I’mheadin’ out.Thisplace is getting’ too busy for my taste.”

He turned to me and gave me a hug. “Havea good night, and enjoy yourself.”

“I will,”Ireplied, hugging him back. “Thanksfor coming.”

He didn’t respond, just nodded before he walked out.WhenIturned back, it was to seeArchergone and now talking toWadeandAxel, butJackwas still right next to me.

“Is it something he said to you, or what’s in that card that has you all choked up?”Jackasked quietly.

“He got me another dog,”Itold him and watched the small smile on his face drop briefly before his neutral face came back.

“Another one?” he asked. “Whendo we pick this one up?”

His question was simple, but there was a deeper meaning to it.Therewere no questions about how wouldItake care of two dogs or anything else.Notonly that, but that he would be along for the ride and ready to help out.

I found myself getting emotional again at his response.MaybeIneeded to lay off the drinks.I’donly had two, but clearly they were turning me into an emotional basket case.

“It’s more like a gift certificate,”Iexplained to him. “Hebasically prepaid for me to get another one, butIcan take my time picking one out.”

His small smile returned as he looked at me. “That’sgood.”

I hadn’t missed the look onJack’sface whenIhad originally come into the room.Oureyes met and he had smiled at me, but he didn’t come up to me right away.Instead, he waited until now, whenIwasn’t surrounded by so many people.And, even then,Ithink he only intervened because he saw me getting emotional.

He leaned in to me, putting his hand on my hip and whispered into my ear. “Happybirthday, firecracker.”

As he pulled away,Ilifted my eyebrow at the use of his new nickname he’d called me “Firecracker?”

Instead of answering, though, he just continued on. “Youlook really nice tonight,” he said quietly then leaned in to kiss my cheek. “Goenjoy time with your friends.”

After that, he walked away.

He didn’t say another word to me all night, but his eyes found me anytimeIlooked over at him.Ifound it both nice and uncomfortable that he was always looking at me.

I was sitting at the end of the table withTammy,Val,Cat,Delia, andEllietalking mostly about wedding plans forEllieand the bachelorette party, butValdecided she was ready to move on to a new topic.

“What’s he like in bed?”Valasked, which causedEllieto choke on her drink.

Going for both brutal honesty and also to make her laugh,Igave it to her straight. “Idon’t know.We’venever actually made it to a bed.Butthe wall sex, couch sex, and counter sex have all been great.”

BothVal’sandCat’sjaws dropped open whileElliemade a gagging noise.Deliachuckled, andTammycackled loudly from beside us.

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