Collins takes another bite of scone and waves her hand like she’s dismissing the mere thought of my ex-boyfriend.
I snort a laugh at her disdain.
“Call it female intuition.” She clicks her tongue. “My best advice? Focus on those around you who are showing up right now.Theyare the people who count.”
It doesn’t take much for images of Emmett to appear, along with a sensation of his rough palm against mine. We’ve barelyspoken since that day at Prospect Park, the whole trip coming to an awkward end when I made the biggest fool of myself—pretty much asking him if there had ever been something between us.
What the fuck was I thinking?
I grimace at the memory and look over at Collins as she stirs sweetener into her coffee. “I think I already screwed up my friendship with one of those good people.”
She lifts a single unaffected shoulder. “Well, if you have, then they likely weren’t your person in the first place.”
I quickly glance over at the restrooms to see Mom stepping out, on the phone, lifting her finger in the air at me.
With at least a couple more minutes of privacy, I decide to take advantage and divulge my fuckup to a complete stranger who, to be honest, I trust more than most people I’ve known for years.
“What if I told you that the person I screwed up with is fourteen years older than me, happens to be my dad’s best friend, and his ex-wife is tight with my mom?” I decide to leave out the part where he’s a famous NHL player.
Collins’s eyes grow to the size of the saucers set on the back wall of the café. “You slept with him?”
I shake my head quickly. “No. No, I didn’t sleep with him.” I cringe at her. “But I did ask him if there was something between us.” I cringe. Again. “And then things got a little awkward and I wanted to vanish into thin air right there and then.”
She just chuckles and sips her coffee. “So, he’s the hot older-uncle type, huh?”
My nod says it all.
She quirks an interested brow. “And you say his ex-wife is tight with your mom?”
I nod again.
She makes an excited sound, and I blow out a laugh.
“Girl, you have got to fuck him.”
My eyes drop to Blake, who is now thankfully sleeping.
Collins mouths an apology at me before continuing herramble. “Forbidden naughtiness is the best kind. If things got awkward between you both the other day, it’s probably because there’s truth in what you asked.” She points to her stomach. “Gut feelings never lie, and I’m telling you that he’s one thousand percent digging that hot bod of yours.” She winks, and I flush. “If he’s single and so are you, have some fun. You can’t help who you find attractive.”
Her advice is either the best or worst I’ve ever received. There is no middle ground when it comes to what she’s said.
I roll my lips together, just as Mom ends her call and makes her way back to us.
My eyes connect with Collins, a rare shot of excitement pulsing through me. “I’ll give you one thing, Collins.”
Her smile turns devilish. “Oh, yeah? And what’s that?”
I respond with my own filthy grin. “You sure know how to play with fire.”
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
EMMETT
Setting the final box down in the center of Billie’s double bed, I cast my eyes around her new place. It’s clear this building is an old warehouse or factory that has been converted into apartments, which are larger than the average you would find in Brooklyn.
Now that I’ve seen the place firsthand, I understand why Billie secured a low rental. It needs a ton of work—kitchen cabinets barely hanging on to their hinges, walls that look like they haven’t seen paint in years, and hardwood flooring that has definitely seen better days. I’m not even sure the refrigerator and couch will last beyond the six months lease she signed.
But as I close the door on her new bedroom and step straight into the kitchen and dining space that leads down into the living area, I realize that none of the rough edges in this apartment bother Billie because she’s simply happy to have her independence back.
