“No one will see us, Billie.”
“How can you be so sure?” I counter.
He pushes a quick hand through his hair, eyes drifting away from mine before landing back on me.
Whenever we make eye contact, I feel like I’m learning to breathe for the very first time.
“I have a private elevator directly into my penthouse.”
I fight the urge to tease him about being a fancy bastard, choosing to keep the conversation on point.
“The safer option would be to drop me at my parents’ place.”
Emmett nods a couple of times, acknowledging that I’m right, although I can see he’s not paying much thought to the suggestion. We both want to spend time together, even if we aren’t admitting it out loud.
“If that’s where you’d prefer to stay, then we can gather Blake’s bassinet and diaper bag, and I’ll give you a ride. No worries.”
More silence. More tension. Burning apprehension over how this is going to play out.
Emmett speaks first, his words soft and hushed, reflecting the underlying risk I know he’s taking by simply showing up here. “Scott and Freya have no idea that I’m with you right now. I came here straight from morning skate.” A grimace pulls at his chiseled features. “If I drive you to their place, then they may ask questions as to why you didn’t just call Freya to pick you up.”
I chew on my bottom lip. “If they did, I would tell them the truth about us.”
Emmett’s knuckles turn white. “And what exactly is the truth, Billie?”
I could answer his question silently with my lips. But it’s my words that eventually win out, common sense prevailing. “That we’re friends and you are stepping up to help out in the wake of Dad’s accident.”
When Emmett edges closer, a simple swipe of his tongue could reach my bottom lip. His eyes drop to my mouth, revealing that he’s having the exact same thought.
“The last time we were alone in this apartment, I made it clear that I would always be honest, especially when it came to you and Blake.”
He watches the column of my throat work as I swallow down his words.
“I’m not here today, or any other day, just because Scott is out of action and your mom needs to work. I’m here because I want to be and because I like spending time with you and Blake.”
The hand not gripping my stool reaches up to my face, but at the final second, Emmett slides it into his pocket, the slightest show of unease entering his body language.
“I want to spend more time with you both.”
I clear my throat, ready to reveal that I feel the same way.
“Is that what you want?” he rushes out, anxiety laced in his voice.
My gaze tracks to the bedroom, Blake’s bassinet just visible, her soft snores echoing through the monitor next to me. Truthfully, I have zero idea what will happen if I say yes and we head back to his place. All I know is, other than my baby girl, he’s the person that I want to be around the most.
And despite our precarious situation and complicated lives, somehow, everything feels simpler, easier, when I’m in his company.
I wrap a palm around the tense fist he’s formed on my stool, fingers relaxing in response to mine. “Yes. Spending more time with you is what I want. Take us to your place.”
CHAPTER TWENTY
EMMETT
Scott
Hey, buddy. I’m ready when you are.
While Billie is bathing Blake, getting her ready for bed, I get to work on slicing potatoes for the pot roast that I’ve been slow-cooking for most of the afternoon.
