Who the fuck is this girl?
We don’t technically have to leave for twenty minutes, but I’m not sure what’s going on here, so I turn to Emma. “Can I speak with you for a moment?” I peek over at Amber, then back at Em. “Alone.”
I glance at Amber again. who’s now looking around the open-plan space in my house. “Wow, this place isniiiiiice. I could get used to living in a place like this.”
I turn my head and make eye contact with Emma. “Emma?”
“Sure.” She nods, but her expression is flat.
I hold my hand out to her and she takes it. A charge races up my arm at the feel of her touch. It reminds me of Sunday, but I shake off those thoughts. “Be right back.” I’m not sure who I’m talking to. Cody’s still there watching us, so I use that to my advantage. “Can you entertain Amber?”
“Sure.” Cody smirks. “Glad to.”
In my bedroom, I shut the door just as Emma flops back on my bed. “Oh, my God. She just showed up at my place last night. I came home from work and she was sitting on the floor by my door with a suitcase.” She sits up and glares at me. “A big one.”
I’m not sure what to say. “I didn’t know you had a sister.”
“We’re… not close.”
“Did she say why she’s here?”
Shaking her head, Emma says, “She just said she needed a change of scenery.”
“Oh.”
“I just don’t have time for any of her—” Emma pauses. “I don’t have time to entertain my sister.”
“She’s an adult. Right?”
“Sure. Right.”
“She can entertain herself.” I feel like I need to say something encouraging. “She seems nice.”
The glare she gives me quickly shifts into a smile. “Yep. She’ssonice. Very, very nice.”
Wow, sarcasm isn’t a good look for Emma. “Okay then.” I slap my palms down on my legs. “We’d better hit the road so I’m not late for my appointment.” Standing, I turn and hold my hand out to her. “I also need to stop and get a few groceries afterward. Do you have time for that?”
“Sure.” She gives me a smile, sort of. One of those with no teeth showing. “We can do that.”
“Good. Thanks.” Before we leave my room, I bend down so we’re eye to eye. “I mean it. Thanks for doing this.” I kiss her pretty lips. A real smile finally emerges, albeit a small one. It’s okay. I’ll take it.
“No problem.”
