“Yeah,” she mumbles.
We say goodbye to Angelo and step outside. Keeping our hands together, I scan up and down the street, searching for anyone hanging around with red hair. Something about Emilia’s panic has bled through, making my own heart race. “Where do you want to go?”
“We have work,” she mumbles.
“Not for a few hours.” And fuck knows that she needs a break. I’ve never known her to go a full day without working, either at the florist or the bar. She balances her time between them. “Want to walk?”
She nods, and we set off down the street. After a minute, she seems to notice our hands.
My hold tightens. “Want me to let go?”
Don’t ask me to let go.
Emilia silently shakes her head, and the tightness in my chest loosens.
Benny, I could use a steer here. She needs help, and I don’t know what to do.
She stays quiet until we reach a park a few streets away. Emilia gently untangles our fingers, walking up to the gate and pushing it open.
My throat tightens when I walk up behind her and she reaches back, taking my hand again.
It feels natural. As easy as breathing.
The lights above us illuminate the path, and we walk aimlessly until Emilia sighs. “I don’t know where to start.”
“You don’t have to tell me anything if you don’t want to.” The words taste like ash on my tongue, but I let them out anyway.
She doesn’t owe me anything.
But I want it.
I want everything.
I stop in the middle of the path. Emilia turns back to look at me, her brows drawing down. Her nose is pink from the cold air, stray strands of caramel blowing around her face. “Jared?”
“I—,” My choked voice cuts off.
Because I want itall.
I want Emilia Marsters. Her story. Her hopes and dreams.
I want to take the fear in her eyes and make sure it never touches her again.
I’d even take the damn doll with a smile on my face if it meant I could haveher.
I stop fighting it. That knowledge that I shoved down the moment I walked up those stairs and saw her standing there, exhausted from taking care of Ben. A small, fiery bundle of everything I never knew I needed.
I fell in love with Emilia Marsters the moment I met her.
I’m in love with my brother’s girl. With his Emmy.
Emilia is still staring at me. Dazed, I shake my head. “Sorry. I…,”
I was glad that I met her first, and not you.
He always knew me better than anyone else.
“Sorry,” I say again, my voice hoarse.
