Holy shit. Did I just witness a darker side to Emmett Richards?
I pick up the receiver and absentmindedly speak into the phone. “Hello?”
“Oh, great. I was about to give up.” A female voice huffs into my ear.
“Is this the pizza delivery?” I ask, eyes flicking to Emmett.
He’s still standing in the same place, back to me, hands stuffed into the pockets of his gray sweatpants. The bill on his backward cap is tipped up, like he has his head bowed.
“Girl, I’m down for trying my hand at most jobs. But delivering pizzas is not one that appeals to me.”
The way the girl speaks is familiar, but I brush away that thought, centering my attention back on Emmett, who still hasn’t moved.
“How can I help you then?”
“I promise I’m not a weirdo or anything, but it’s cold as shit out here, so can you just let me up, and I’ll explain everything when I’m out of the rain?”
I chew on my bottom lip, more inclined to say yes to a stranger with Emmett here. “Sure.”
Replacing the receiver, I hit the door release button and wait for the random guest to reach my second-floor apartment.
“Can you check on Blake for me, please?” I ask Emmett.
He spins on his heel, gaze telling me that he’s still thinking about our last conversation.
Same.
With a nod, he stalks off toward my bedroom, and I slide the safety chain and bolt when there’s a knock on my door.
My jaw almost hits the floor.
“Collins?”
“Billie?” She looks as shocked as I feel.
“What are you doing here?”
She pulls down the hood on her black raincoat and points inside my apartment. “It’s still no warmer in this freaking hallway.”
Standing to one side, I let her in.
She spins on her heel, apologizing several times for dripping all over my floor.
“This has to be the craziest coincidence ever.” She starts talking as I close the door and lock it. “I’m guessing you’re the new tenant who put a deposit down on this place a week ago?”
Collins looks almost proud as I turn around to face her, gaze traveling toward my bedroom for signs of Emmett.
I offer Collins a confused but warm smile. “I am. Although that still doesn’t explain why you’re here.”
She shrugs in the same way she did in the café. “Well, this is why it’s crazy. I’m the previous tenant. I moved out quite a while ago when I met my now husband.” She waves a hand in front of her. “Anyway, they struggled to fill the place because it needed so much maintenance and the cheap-ass landlord refused to address it.” She screws up her face at a thought, rainwater dripping from the ends of her pink waves. “Speaking of incompetent, it doesn’t matter how many times I call my motorcycle insurance and tell them that I’ve moved, no one seems to freaking listen.” She scoffs. “I don’t even own that particular bike anymore!”
I’m pretty sure my jaw is hanging open.
“You used to live here?”
Collins nods. “Yep, and I’ve been coming by every few weeks to check for mail since I refuse to pay for extended mail forwarding and the landlord usually just leaves any packages or letters with my old neighbor.”
That’s the kind of stubborn behavior I’d exhibit. I like this girl even more.
