He blinked. “Huh?”
“I’ll watch them. Until your mom recovers.” I shifted from one foot to the other, suddenly nervous. “I mean, if you want. I work part time, so I have flexibility. Plus, I’m right next door, so it’s not like I have to travel far. And they already know me. It makes sense.”
“Emily.” He was staring at me like I’d just offered him a kidney. “Are you serious?”
“Completely serious.”
“You’re sure? It’s likely to be a lot of evening work, if moves run late. That seems like a lot to ask. I mean, obviously I’d pay extra, since it’ll involve feeding the girls and getting them to bed, but still.”
“Actually, evenings are even better, except for Mondays, because that’s when I have art classes. Which I want to do more of, so the extra money would really help me. So you’d be doing me a favor, honestly.”
His shoulders dropped and he let out a breath that sounded like he’d been holding it for hours.
“Okay.” His voice was rough. “Okay. Yeah. Oh, thank God, yes. Please.”
I smiled despite myself. “That’s a lot of affirmatives.”
“I’m just really fucking grateful right now.”
“Language,” I teased.
That earned me a crooked smile that did all sorts of things to my heart rate. “Sorry, but like I said, you’re really saving my bacon.”
“Yeah, well, every team needs a good backstop. I’m happy to be yours for a little while.”
We stood there for another beat, the evening air drifting in through the open door. A car drove past, headlights sweeping across us briefly. It seemed to break the spell that had fallen over us.
“We should figure out logistics,” he said. “Schedule, pay, all that stuff. But maybe tomorrow? It’s been a long day.”
“Tomorrow works.”
“Thank you.” He said it quieter this time, more intimate. “Really. You have no idea what this means to me.”
I did, actually. It was written all over his face. Gratitude, relief and something else that I refused to acknowledge, even to myself.
“Goodnight, Cam.”
“Goodnight, Emily.”
EMILY
Jack’s office door opened and Mia stepped out, her cheeks flushed pink, hair slightly mussed like she’d run her fingers through it. Or someone else had.
I kept my eyes on my computer screen, very deliberately not looking at her as she crossed to my desk. Professional. I was being so professional right now.
“Ready for that walk?” Her voice came out a little breathless.
I glanced up, finally meeting her eyes. Then my gaze dropped to her blouse. “You might want to fix your top two buttons first.”
“Oh my god.” Her hands flew to her chest, fumbling with the buttons. The flush deepened, spreading down her neck. “I am so mortified right now.”
“Don’t be. I’m happy for you.” I stood, grabbing my purse from the desk drawer. “Really. It’s sweet that you guys can’t keep your hands off each other.”
“We were just talking.”
“Uh huh. Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
She swatted my arm but she was smiling. “Shut up.”
