The tip to my lips is slight and shaky as I swipe away the last lit bit of crust from his skin. Step back. Clear my throat.
“T-thanks,” he whispers and looks down.
It takes a beat for me to turn away from his downturned head. A moment to take the first step away. Another clearing of my throat to speak.
“There might be loud noises. The tone.” Emmett falls in step beside me and there’s something about it that feels … comfortable. His silent acknowledgement enough for me to keep moving forward. “It doesn’t last long. I still jump every time.”
I bite down on the inside of my cheek at the admission and keep facing the building.
We just need to get in and out. That’s all.
“I noticed.”
“What?”
When his eyes meet mine, there’s a flash of something that I glance away from.
My chest goes tight again.
“They’re just loud,” I mutter.
The click of the side-door latch release announces us once we’re inside, Emmett sticking close through the dark corridor. It’s close quarters, the hallway originally built when the average person was much smaller than me, making me walk at an angle to get through. Even Emmett’s shimmying sideways like the idea of touching the wall appalls him.
I snicker when we reach the light, though it quickly dies off.
“Back already Ten?”
“Damn, I thought we got rid of you.”
The chorus of insulting questions have me rolling my eyes at the tableful of firefighters, and I head straight for the stove to hover over the pot of red sauce simmering.
“Holy shit, this smells good,” I nearly groan.
The spoon is in my hand when it gets slapped.
“It’s not ready yet, kid. Didn’t your momma teach you some damn manners?” Mumford hisses and hip checks me out of the way. He’s a big guy, too, so I sidestep easier than I’ll ever admit.
“Clearly not,” I hear Emmett mutter from somewhere behind me and I spin my scowl on him.
“You’d rather face this pack of wolves all alone?” He follows when I thumb over my shoulder to the four sitting and flares his eyes. Barely shakes his head like maybe if he makes no sudden moves, they won’t see him.
I chuckle. “Didn’t think so.”
In all honesty, I barely know them.Except for Mumford.They seem like good people, the lot of them, and so far that’s worked out just fine for me.
Listening to my gut has saved me plenty of times, so I guess I’ll just keep paying attention to it.
“If you’re staying for dinner, kid, you’re gonna have to wash plates.”
I may roll my eyes at the back of Mumford’s head.
But then I do exactly as I’m told.
Chapter 15
Emmett
I’ve barely touched theplate of spaghetti.
