Gloria smiled. She was glad Faith was here. She and Faith didn’t do many things alone together, but she could see them doing more. Faith may not have the family history Gloria did, but her mom was no picnic. She was detached and kind of mean, from what Glo had gleaned. Apparently, some moms just sucked.
“That is a beautiful sight,” Elana Knight commented, leaning next to Faith to look down at the game in progress.
But not always, Gloria mentally amended. Because Elana was the coolest mom she’d ever met.
“Your husband is a hottie,” Faith said, waggling her brows.
“I’d talk. Your military man is a catch and a half,” Elana commented on Connor. “I can’t thank you enough for helping with the planning for this, and within three days. It was a lot to ask and you should’ve overcharged me.”
“Come on. I wouldn’t do that.”
Faith wouldn’t. That was another thing Glo liked about her.
“We had to impress.” Elana stole a glance at Emily and Jordan, who were standing under a small tent by the wine bar. Gloria had wanted to refill her glass for the last half hour but hadn’t braved that duo just yet. “No one expected a surprise grandbaby.”
Gloria snorted, gripping the railing. Wasn’t that the truth.
Elana leaned past Faith to say, “I hear you over there, Glo.”
She leaned past Faith to retort, “How’d the talk go with the Trudeaus?” Hawk was at Jordan’s feet and she was standing over him like a mama bear, daring anyone to come close and try to take him away. She looked tired and mean and at that moment sliced a glare over at Gloria.
“’Bout like you’d expect,” Elana said. “Emily scowled a lot and Jordan looked like she just put something awful in her mouth.”
“Like Ricky?” Gloria joked.
Faith laughed loud enough that Jordan snapped her attention to them again, looking like she had tasted that same awful thing.
“I need a refill,” Gloria said to her empty wineglass. She’d only had one—and that was about three fewer than she needed to deal with Jordan. Unfortunately, Jordan and her mother were clogging the bar. “Do either of you need one?”
“I’m good,” Faith said with a wave of her hand.
“You be good, too, Gloria,” Elana said, her brows crawling up her forehead. She meant it.
Glo smiled. “I can handle it.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Elana gave her a wink. Then she looped her arm in Faith’s and dragged her to the house, saying, “Let’s talk about the anniversary party for Leland and me next spring…”
Gloria walked to the bar with her empty glass, noting that Emily was already narrowing her eyes. She went behind the bar and unscrewed the cap from an open bottle of white.
“What do you want?” Jordan snapped.
“Just wine,” Gloria answered.
“I’m not sure what you’re doing here. This gathering is for Hawk’s family.”
Gloria gritted her teeth. This was going to go on. And on and on and on unless they buried the proverbial hatchet. As long as Gloria was seeing Asher, she was going to see Hawk, and for now, that included seeing Jordan.
“Maybe we should talk.” Gloria sliced a look over at Emily, then down to Hawk, who looked adorable today in his little khaki shorts and T-shirt. “Alone,” she added.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of my mother.” Jordan cocked her head and put a hand to her hip. By her leg, Hawk said, “Mama!”
“Jordan. Try to be an adult.” Emily stepped in and took Hawk’s hand. “Come on, honey,” she said to her grandson as she led him across the deck.
Gloria watched Emily and Hawk go, then turned back to Jordan. An expression of disgust contorted the brunette’s naturally pretty features.
“We can stop grinding the ax any time,” Gloria said. “I’m here for Hawk and Asher. I don’t want to keep fighting with you.”
“You have two minutes to say whatever you need to say. Then I’m taking my son and leaving this house.”
At the threat, Gloria’s anger spiked. Jordan’s son was also Asher’s son, as the woman constantly and conveniently forgot. Hawk deserved better.
“Are you sure you’re able to make that decision without your mother?” Gloria asked, her anger barely veiled. “She seems to be in charge of your comings and goings.” She could swear she saw a vein pop out in Jordan’s forehead. Perhaps she should also take Emily’s advice and try to behave like an adult. “I’m sorry.” Gloria came out from behind the bar. “I don’t like you and that comes through.”
“Trust me.” Jordan let out a humorless laugh. “The feeling is mutual.”
“I know, and that’s okay. I don’t want to take Hawk from you. I just want what’s best for him.” Gloria licked her lips before admitting, “When I overheard you at Asher’s beach party, something you said struck a nerve and that wasn’t entirely your fault.”
“Who I have sex with is my business,” Jordan snapped, missing the point. Did she and Ricky have sex? Because that would be bad.
“You made it everyone’s business when you were trying to do it beneath Asher Knight’s deck.” Not the point, but Gloria couldn’t help herself.
“I don’t care what you think about me.”
Also not the point.