Page 39 of That One Night (The Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation #4)

“They already got tables,” Hendrix told her, leading her past the crowd of people. And sure enough, taking up one whole corner was the Hartson family. As soon as they saw Hendrix, their chatter halted, and they all stared at him and Emery as they walked toward the tables.

“Hey.” A man who looked just like Hendrix called out. One of the twins? “Pres,” he said, holding his hand out.

“Thank you for telling me.” She smiled at him. “I wasn’t sure which one of you was which.”

His twin laughed. “It’s easy,” Pres’ doppelg?nger told her. “I’m the good-looking one.”

“You are so not.” Pres shook his head.

“They’re both assholes,” Hendrix whispered in her ear. “I’m the good-looking one.” He held out his arms and a pretty almost-teenager jumped into them. “This is my niece, Delilah,” he told Emery.

“I’m so happy to meet you,” Delilah said to Emery, beaming. “Now he’s got a girlfriend, maybe he’ll stop skipping family get togethers.” She lowered her voice conspiratorially. “They can’t give him lectures about needing a girlfriend anymore.”

Emery laughed, completely charmed. “I’ve heard so much about you,” she told Delilah. “And Club Solo.”

“You can join if you want,” Delilah said. “Even if you don’t know the misery of having twin brothers.”

“I’d be honored.”

Emery smiled softly, as Hendrix led her to the seat next to his mom.

“Maddie Hartson,” his mom said, her eyes crinkling with pleasure as she held her hand out to Emery.

Emery took it, and then Maddie shook her head.

“Come here,” she said, hugging her. “It’s so lovely to officially meet you.

I’ve heard a lot about you. Tell me, how’s your mom doing?

And how is the sale going? Has your mom seen any houses she likes yet? ”

Emery started to tell her about the viewings they’d already had, while Hendrix’s cousin Sabrina called out to him.

“Hey, you look annoyingly happy,” she said. “I told you that she was your type.”

Hendrix smiled. “Next time remind me to listen to you,” he told her.

“Who is that man?” his mom whispered to Emery. “He never listens to anybody.”

“He listened to you,” Emery told her. “He told me about the talk you two had. I think it meant a lot to him.” He’d told her all about it that night when they’d stayed up talking.

How he’d thought he was doing the right thing for her and his mom.

How talking to his mom made him realize what a fool he’d been.

Maddie’s eyes were soft. “It was so lovely that he actually talked to me. That’s because of you. You’ve softened him. Made him more open.” She smiled at Emery. “I’m so grateful for that.”

“I think he did that for himself,” Emery replied, though she liked that way too much. One thing was for sure, he’d taught her to think much less. To stop worrying all the time. To learn to enjoy the moment.

They were a good team. She already knew that. Since last Saturday she’d been staying at his place. Hadn’t even bothered hiding it from her mom. Not that her mom cared. She was too busy packing things up to think about Emery’s sleeping arrangements.

And secretly, Emery thought she might be getting a soft spot for their soon-to-be ex neighbor. Her mom even made him some lemonade today, without being asked. Hendrix looked like he’d just won a prize when she pressed the glass into his hand.

“I’m Kate,” one of the women opposite Emery said, smiling widely at her.

“And I’m Cassie. Married to the less good looking twin.” She wrinkled her nose.

Emery laughed.

“We should get together,” Kate told Emery. “Cassie and I have a WhatsApp group you should join,.”

“What kind of group?” Emery asked her.

“A Stop-The-Hartson insanity support group. We compare what idiots the guys can be. Then we grill our husbands for all the dirt on their brothers so we can use it against them.” Cassie smiled. “It’s guerilla warfare, basically.”

Emery grinned. “Count me in.”

“Why am I not a member?” Hendrix’s mom asked. “I’m married to a Hartson, too.”

Cassie typed something into her phone. “You’re in, too.”

“Add me,” Sabrina begged. “I know I’m a Hartson, but I have to live with Hartson men. I need all the support I can get.”

Emery laughed softly.

“Everything okay?” Hendrix murmured in her ear.

“Everything is fine,” she told him. And it really was. His family was lovely. So welcoming and funny.

“You know, next time we get together, you should bring your mom,” Maddie said to Emery. “It would be lovely to get to know her a little better.”

Emery nodded, her throat tight. And for a breath or two she was silent, just appreciating this moment. Everybody was talking over each other. Hendrix was getting teased by his brothers. And a few of the children were playing a game in the corner.

Hendrix looked up, his eyes catching hers.

“I love you,” he mouthed at her, and it sent a shiver down her spine.

“I love you too,” she mouthed back, and he gave her that little smile he always saved for her. The one that had shyness in it, and a hint of promise for later.

A promise she’d be sure to hold him to.