“Don’t,” Millie replied. “You’ve got enough going on without holding onto a grudge for something I literally couldn’t care less about. Let it go.”
Millie was always too forgiving, but Emmeline was her older sister. It was her job to be protective, though deep down, a part of her knew that it wasn’t only that.
That perhaps the real reason she kept Luke an arm’s distance away was because she was afraid of what she might feel if she let him get close to her.
And that thought unsettled her.
Chapter 13
On Sunday morning, Emmeline rubbed her temples as she rushed to the bookshop.
She had informed Luke she would be coming in today, though it was the weekend. Sunday was the bookshop’s busiest day, and she wanted to study the bookshop at its peak to deduce how many workers the coffee shop would need over the weekend versus throughout the week. While she hadn’t told Luke as much, he had confirmed that he would be there as well, bright and early.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t slept well the night before, so she was already in a crabby mood. They had come back from Millie’s later than planned because Ira had wanted Emmeline to do bedtime with her. Millie had said Emmeline should just stay over, but Emmeline already had plans to go to the bookshop today, so she had soldiered through and flew back at night, something Motu was decidedly not happy about.
Of course, once it was time to go home, the baby dragon had suddenly realized that Noah and Ira were his long-lostbest friends whom he could not bear to be parted from. Emmeline was now his number one enemy, for she had ripped him away from those he loved most.
He had been fussy when they’d returned to her place, bothering her for an hour before finally falling asleep. As such, Emmeline hardly got any sleep herself, which had led her to oversleep this morning. She had rushed to get ready and drop Motu off at her dad’s, where the caretakers could watch the baby dragon while she rushed to town.
She had planned to pick up breakfast from the cafe, but she didn’t get a chance. Now, as she entered the bookshop, she heard her phone ringing, and pulled it out to see it was her mother.
“Hi, Ammi,” Emmeline said. She smiled and waved at Minh and Ola with her free hand, then spotted Luke heading for the office. She followed to set down her things.
“Hi,” Samreen replied. “Did you drop Motu off at home?”
Emmeline entered the office, where Luke was hanging up his coat, his back to her.
“Yes, he’s with the caretakers,” Emmeline replied as Luke pulled out his notebook, paging through. “I have to get some work done today.”
Samreen sighed a very motherly sigh, and Emmeline’s eye twitched. “It’s Sunday,” Samreen said. “You should have spent the day with your father and brothers.”
Emmeline closed her eyes, guilt needling through her. Her mother was always making her feel guilty. No matter what Emmeline did, it wasn’t enough.
“I know,” Emmeline replied, opening her eyes. “I’m going to swing by later.”
Even so, she felt bad. Maybe she shouldn’t have scheduled any work today, but she had been at Millie’s all day yesterday, and she was running woefully behind on her proposal.
This was a busy time, and during a busy time, one had to work extra hours.
Samreen hummed. “Okay,” she said. “They’ve been ordering in, so try and cook something when you go. If you can.”
“Yes, Ammi,” she replied, pinching the bridge of her nose, thumb brushing against her nose-ring. She noticed Luke watching her then, and she bristled. She had forgotten he was there. “I’ll talk to you later, okay?”
Emmeline hung up, throwing her phone into her purse. When she glanced up, Luke was still watching her.
“Hasn’t anyone told you it’s rude to eavesdrop?” she snapped.
“Excuse me,” Luke replied, dark eyes glinting. “Hasn’t anyone told you it’s rude to take a call in an office where others are trying to work?”
He was right, which only worsened her already vile mood. She glowered at Luke, hoping it would keep him away, but he only raised his brows, as if vaguely amused.
“You’re perky this morning,” he said, seemingly unbothered. She hissed.
“Here,” he said, handing her a thermos. “I brought you chai.”
Emmeline stilled. He had brought her chai? Precisely what she was missing and sorely needed now?
For a moment, tears pricked her eyes, and the amusementon his countenance shifted into concern. Embarrassment spread through her, and she quickly looked away.
