“Did you give yourself a super wedgie from the cabinets again?” I grinned to lighten the mood, ease the tension in her face.
“No, you butt.” She shook her head, but that crack in her frown pushed me to continue. I leaned closer and plucked one of her fries.
“Did you have to pull something out of a patient’s rectum again?” She shook her head, and the smile grew.
“Oh, I know. You did the hand-in-water-bowl trick and made your sister pee the bed.” I’d call that poetic justice if she did.
“Oh my god, no. I couldn’t do that.” She wouldn’t. Emily was good, through and through.
“Money’s been tight. Rent’s gone up in the building. Teens are expensive, and well…” She chewed on her bottom lip, and I held my breath. “I’ve been doing a few night shifts as a phone sex girl.” Her head tilted down, and I saw the darkness reach around her shoulders. Emily wasn’t always so bubbly and grateful. She had another side that she tried to keep others from seeing. Her hands drifted to her arms. I figured I had thirty more seconds before she was lost to her head for the rest of the night.
“You should tell them the wedgie story. I bet guys would pay extra to know how you jumped on the counter to get something, then when you jumped off, your panties got stuck on the knob. Better yet, do it again and we could send the ripped panties for mad money.”
She blinked, her face void of all emotion.
“You thought that would shock me? We’ve talked almost every day for the past year. We’re not ones to judge each other. Broken people shouldn’t throw stones at other broken people.” I stayed in a toxic marriage and worked as a time-jumping superhero. If she wanted to moan deliciously over the phone to make extra money, good for her. Did I wish I could help her struggles? Yep, and I might. I had money, but I doubted she’d take it.
“You really don’t care that I tease and talk dirty to people over the phone for money?” Those green eyes went all doe-like on me. I wanted to scoop her up, hug her, and let her talk dirty to me all day. Except I couldn’t. Fuck.
“Not one bit. I gotta take a piss. Be right back.” I winked and left Emily sitting at the booth with a smile on her face. As soon as I entered the empty bathroom, the orange flecks were on me, and I was out.
The tall trees bristled in the wind of the island where Seahill would be in a couple hundred years. With no one around to hear me, I cursed, then groaned so loud an echo danced across the bay. I gripped my hair and tightened my hold.
“Keep it together. She’s not yours.” I groaned and transported back to Emily’s time but four minutes later. I glanced in the mirror before leaving and pointed a finger to myself. “You’re her friend and nothing else.”
I left for our table where Emily had finished her burger and sported clean cheeks. Damn, I had wanted to see how long it took for her to notice.
“Thanks for being here, V. I’m glad I have you.” She reached out to touch my hand as soon as I’d set it on the table, and I slowly nodded. I was glad I had her too, but I held the words in. Her petite hands squeezed my fingers, and her gaze remained on me. Moving from my eyes, down my nose, darkening over my lips, and staying there. I pretended my dick didn’t harden. Then she licked her lips, and I pretended that I didn’t want to toss her ass on the table and devour her.
“I should probably get going. Want me to walk you home?” I pulled my hand away, and like a veil had lifted off her eyes, she shook her head and blushed.
“Yeah. I need to get home. Um, no, that’s ok. It’s not too far from here. I’ll see you on Saturday?” Her hands chaotically dug through her purse, but I’d grabbed money from this time just in case. I placed the bills on the table and stood with my hand out for Emily.
“I got this. How about I bring lunch tomorrow? I’ve got something in the morning that is likely gonna piss me off. I could use a break.” I shouldn’t, but I’d continue pretending if it meant I could have moments like this. Where I felt lighter, happier. My deepest addiction in the form of a pink-haired goddess.
“Yeah. I should be taking lunch around one.” I helped her up, but then in a move I should have expected, she wrapped her arms around me, and I rested my chin on top of her head.
“Get some sleep, ok? It’s not good for your chaotic brain.” I embraced her once, then put some needed space between us. Emily chuckled and took one last sip of her drink before walking to the exit.
“See you later.” She held the door open for me. We waved bye and walked in separate directions.Once I was out of view from all eyes, I jumped to my timeline outside my apartment with Chasity. Just as I moved to go inside, a dark figure stepped into the light.
“How did the date go?” Phillip grinned and I relaxed my body. Not that I’d have won against him anyways.
“It wasn’t a date,” I stated, and Phillip rolled his eyes.
“Right. We’re in the pretending future. Got it. How was dinner with a woman who makes you happy and you would kill for?” He pushed away from the apartment wall and walked over, full of mischief in each step.
“Worth it.” No use lying. Though I did wonder what other futures he saw between Emily and me. Then I smacked the thought away just as quickly as it entered. “She’s having a hard time, and I wanted to get out of the house. Nothing I would be ashamed about happened.” I shrugged and took a step toward the building. I wanted a shower and to go to sleep. Time jumping took a lot of energy sometimes, today being one of those times.
Phillip stepped in my way, and I arched a brow.
“I’m tired, Phillip. Is there something I need to know? Do you need me to work tonight?” I waited and Phillip’s eyes glazed over for a moment. I knew the face and gave him extra minutes to do his whole search through the future thing. When he came out of it, he shook his head.
“Nope. I came to check on you. It’s not an easy path you’re walking. I want you to know that you’re not alone, and you have family with the Hero Society.” He turned with a wave and strolled down the street like he wasn’t the king of the city.
A headache blossomed in my temples as I rode the elevator up to the apartment, and just as the doors opened, I saw the real reason Phillip showed up. To stall me from coming home.
“See you, precious.” A tall man with dark hair and rumpled clothes stepped into the hallway. I knew my wife had a visitor tonight, hence the reason why I sought out dinner with Emily. The guy gave me a nod with a happy face as he entered the elevator.
