Page 51 of Speak from the Heart

I turn in the direction of the band and walk toward it, bypassing all the food stands. I no longer feel hungry.

“Katie bug, let’s dance.” After setting her on her feet, I wiggle my brows at her as the band begins playing a popular song. She takes my hand, and we head into the small crowd of young people dancing with their hands up. I smile down at her as we wave our arms and twirl around. Katie bites her little lip, fighting a grin and watching my silly antics. I’m not afraid to shake my thing. My breath catches, and I wait on a giggle—just one little squeak to let me know she’s having fun—but it doesn’t happen.

“We forgot your crown, Princess Katie,” I say, leaning down to her. Her eyes snap to mine before she follows the direction of my finger as I point at the girls wearing tiaras. Pageantry is a big thing in small towns, and the local beauty queens mingle in the crowd with their crowns and sashes.

The band switches to another song about Romeo and Juliet, and I grab Katie’s hands, tugging her to me as we awkwardly waltz. I dip her, aware of a whispering buzz around us and a few eyes boring into me. As the song nears the end, applause begins, and I turn us toward those gathered along the edge of the dancing area. When someone calls Katie’s name from the crowd and whistles, I look at Jess, but it wasn’t him. With his arms crossed, he watches us, and I can’t read him. Thankfully, Sami’s gone for the moment.

I take Katie’s hand one more time, smile at her, and gently tug her into a curtsy, showing our appreciation to those applauding us. Then I giggle as I pull Katie in for a hug and swing her upward to sit on my hip. She’s heavy for me, but I carry her a few feet to her father. Tricia intercepts us.

“Katie, let Daddy dance with Emily,” Tricia suggests.

“Oh, that’s okay,” I say as I lower Katie to the ground. Jess glares at his sister.

“Who knew you could dance so well, beauty queen?” Tricia questions her niece as the band chatters behind me. I want to ask about Sami, but I don’t. And I don’t want to dance with him, either.

“How about some ice cream?” I suggest to Katie, smiling down at her as I avoid the glare of Jess’s eyes on the side of my head.

Tricia looks at me and then narrows her eyes on her brother, growling his name.

The band strikes up again, playing a popular slow country song, and a few older couples drift into the makeshift dance circle.

“Let’s dance,” he says, his voice low but demanding.

“I don’t think so,” I say, but he reaches for my hand, holding firm.

“One dance.” My statement goes to Katie as I look down at her while her father tugs us a few feet away. I call back to her. “Then ice cream.”

Suddenly, Jess wraps his arms around me, and we fall silent as the singer croons about love lost and second chances.

“Jess . . .”

“Shh,” he mutters as he pulls me a little closer, almost as close as two people can be. But I know what it’s like to be closer to him. How did we get to this place where I feel so distant even in his arms?

“Did you just shush me?”

Jess snorts and admits nothing.

“Where’s Sami?” I snap.

“Where’s Gabe?” he retorts.

“I did not come here with him.”

“And I didn’t come here with her.”

We stand at an impasse. Actually, we sway to the beat of a slow song, and I’m reminded of dancing in my nana’s living room, when I felt for a just a moment like happily ever after could be a real thing.

Not for you, Emily.

“God, I want to kiss that mouth of yours,” he mutters.

“Not after you kissed her last night,” I say. “Not to mention, you smell like her.” I exaggerate a sniff and lie because he smells like Jess, all man and sunshine with a hint of cinnamon. But I’m still upset that she was hanging on him like he was her next pole routine, and he did nothing about it.

Jess tugs me tighter. “You have no idea what you’re talking about, but I like your jealous streak.” He looks over my head as he speaks instead of addressing me directly.

“Jealous? Of that?” I snap, no longer worried about defending the sisterhood of scorned women.

“Hey, kids.”