Chapter 22

It didn’t take much to get the happy, upbeat atmosphere back, and Jake relaxed into his usual sociable self. Happy that everyone was having a relatively good time, and even Marissa seemed to be backing off and occasionally smiling.

Emma had never seen him surrounded by people he could relax with, and even though the group was small, he was kicking back as much as she was. He had tried to slow down his alcohol consumption and was no drunker than he had been, although Emma was getting tipsy. He had never laughed so much at her the whole time he had known her. She was cute drunk, funny, and less guarded. She giggled like a child and lost all the airs and graces she sometimes hid behind. Jake loved Emma like this. It was like getting a glimpse of who she could be if she ever felt comfortable enough to let her guard down around him fully, and he wished she was like this more of the time.

She seemed to get on with Leila effortlessly, and he was glad she had chosen her out of a