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Oh, my heart.
He's standing up for me. He's standing up to these people and putting them in their place. It can’t be easy for him, but he’s doing it. For me. My heart feels like it’s going to burst.
Chapter 31
JETT
“She’s uppity,” Bryce’s wife says.
“Terrible attitude,” her sister adds as we start to walk away. It’s loud enough for me to hear it.
Unfazed, I turn around. “The only uppity, terrible people at this shitty party are you people,” I growl. I don’t recall Bryce, his wife Tiffany, and her sister Nicole being so despicable before. I don’t think highly of Bryce, but witnessing the others’ behavior leaves me feeling disgusted.
To think I had Cari go to Abigail’s house, where these women were. And I wasn’t there to protect her from any of this.
Brooke looks shell shocked, so I gently take her hand. “C’mon sweet pea, we’re going home.” The color has drained from Cari’s face. I can’t tell if it’s surprise or shock.
We walk away but I hear a familiar voice chiding them.
“You knew exactly what you were doing. Shame on you people.”
I look over my shoulder to see Celine. I feel reassured. If anyone is going to put those two divas in their place, it's Celine. “I’m disappointed in you, Tiff,” she says, wagging a finger at Bryce’s wife. “This is beneath even you.”
I chuckle to myself.
“Hey, hey, hey ...” Bryce starts on Celine, but Celine turns on him, her mouth set in a hard line. “I didn’t hear you speak up, Bryce. You know they were wrong. You should have been a better host.”
They’re out of earshot now, but I make a note to call Celine tomorrow to thank her. The night ends on a sour note, though it wasn’t so great when we got here.
“Slow down,” I say to Cari, who seems to be in a rush to get away. I don't blame her. Celine rushes past me, calling out Cari’s name. They hug each other.
“I'm so sorry you had to bear the brunt of that,” she says to Cari.
“It's ... it's okay. Jett stood up for me.” Not only can I see the admiration in Cari's eyes, I hear it in her voice.
“They were despicable,” Celine hisses, looking the angriest I’ve ever seen her. “Jealous because you’re young and beautiful.”
“It’s … okay.” I see the way Cari shrinks back, like she doesn’t want to have this conversation in front of Brooke. It’s true. My little girl seems a little scared. I scoop her up in my arms.
Celine gently pokes me in my ribs. My mom's oldest friend surveys me fondly.
“Jett.” She leans in and gives me and Brooke a hug. “Were you going to make plans to come and visit me on this trip?”
I open my mouth, but don’t want to lie.
“Daddy, this is Grandma's friend,” Brooke says cheerily.
“Yes, she is. She is Grandma's dearest and oldest friend.” I set Brooke down again and take Celine's hands in mine. An ache crawls into my heart and takes up residence there. “Scold me all you want, Celine. I have no excuse. I’ve been busy with business and spending time with Brooke.”
“Make time in your schedule for old friends, Jett. It would be good to see you all.”
Looking at Celine, I am reminded of my own mother. It gets me thinking about how old she would be now, had she not died. She would have been a proud grandmother, and would have been so happy with Brooke. It hurts to know how much she has missed, how much we’ve all missed, my brothers and I.
“Though it makes me happy to hear that you’re spending time with Brooke,” Celine says.
“We're having a wonderful time, aren't we, sprout?” Brooke nods enthusiastically. “You and Cari have already met,” I say, looking at Cari.
Celine lets go of my hand. “You’re way behind, Jett. Cari and I are practically kindred spirits.”