Page 115 of Cougar

I make my way over to Emerson. “Happy Thanksgiving, Em.” I wrap my arms around her and pull her into a hug. “I miss you, and I’m sorry for lying,” I whisper into her ear. I feel her stiffen. Pulling back, I stare down at her, concerned. “What?”

The corners of her mouth curve downward. “You should’ve told me you were seeing other women,” she whispers.

I frown. “I’m not. What are you talking about?”

She shakes her head. “I was stupid to think I was different than the others.”

“This looks like a serious conversation,” Liam says, wrapping his arms around Emerson’s shoulders and propping his chin on the top of her head. “What are you two talking about?”

Shit.

“Just how different it is spending Thanksgiving here,” Emerson answers.

“Truth,” Liam agrees. “I can’t remember the last time the whole family was under the same roof for Thanksgiving. I miss you not being next door. Having you there made me feel less homesick.”

Emerson turns and wraps her arms around Liam’s waist, resting her head against his chest. “Do you want us to come back?” she asks, and my heart twists in my chest. She still has her home in Malibu. There’s nothing keeping her here.

Liam’s eyes flick toward the great room where Jay is wrapped around Zach like a monkey, both of them smiling.I’m wrong.Liam’s top lip curls up and I laugh to myself. “No,” he grits out. “Everyone seems much happier here.”

“Maybe you should come back home,” I say. “You’re gonna be a free agent soon.”

Liam gives me a look. “That doesn’t mean I can just pack up and come home. You got lucky. I don’t think it’s going to be that easy for me.”

* * *

“Zach!” a female squeals from somewhere in the sea of people coming out of the theater. Jay’s head immediately snaps in that direction, and from the way her body stiffens, she must see him. Following her line of sight I see Zach skipping through the crowd with a girl on his back. Behind them are Mike and Liz, and Chris and Rebecca.

A brief wave of nostalgia washes over me for our high school days when it was the four of us. Four best friends who thought they were forever untouchable. Would that be us now, had I not caught Chris cheating? So many what-ifs… and yet, no regrets.

The girl with Zach must be Chris and Rebecca’s daughter, Chelsea. She’s a pretty girl. She favors Chris with her blonde hair.

Zach turns his head in our direction and jerks to a stop. He mumbles something to the girl and she immediately slides off his back, dropping to the ground before they both make their way over to us.

“Don’t jump to conclusions, Jay,” I say at the same time Cole leans over to reassure her that “They’re just friends.”

“I thought you were dating Zach?”Leave it to my bigmouthed, overprotective brother.His gaze bounces from Zach to Jay. “Did something happen between the two of you, or is this as bad as it looks?”

“Ohmigod, will you guys relax? It’s fine.”

“Liam, be nice,” I warn. “Zach’s very good to her.”

Zach immediately reaches for Jay and wraps his arms around her. “Hey, babe.” He presses a kiss to her forehead.

“Hey, man.” Liam jerks his chin to Chelsea. “You steppin’ out on my niece?”

Zach frowns. The kid has no clue.

“Liam,” I chide. “What did I just say?”

“You told me to be nice. I’m just asking a question.” He scowls.

“This is my friend Chelsea.” Zach gestures to the girl. “Chelsea, this is Jay, her mom, Emerson, and her uncle Liam. You know Cole, and this is Harper.”

Chelsea greets everyone with a nod, then zeroes in on Jay with an expression I’ve seen far too many times. Jealousy. Disdain.

A fake smile spreads across her face. “It’s nice to finally meet you, Jay. I’ve heard so much about you.” Her tone is sugary sweet, but the expression on her face is anything but.

My girl gives as good as she gets. “Good to meet you, Chelsea,” she sneers.

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