"Thanks for tonight," she says quietly.
"I didn't do anything."
"You respected my space. That's something."
"I'm trying."
She looks up at me. The streetlight catches her face. "I know this is hard."
"It's fine."
"It's not fine. But thank you anyway."
We reach the building, and everyone piles into the elevator. The ride up is quiet. Cassidy's leaning against the wall. Tired. Ember's checking her phone. We reach our floor.
"It was so nice meeting you guys. We have to catch up next time you're in town," Collette says, hugging the girls.
"You're more than welcome anytime to Wisconsin," Cassidy states.
"Not sure what is there, but never say never." Collette smiles.
"It was so nice meeting you," Ember says, hugging Joelle. She whispers into Jo's ear, and I still.
What the hell is she doing?
Joelle nods as she hugs Cassidy. I glare at my sister. She waves me away.
We say goodbye to the girls and head into my apartment.
"What did you say to Jo?" I ask my sister once the other two have left.
"Just that you're a good guy and that she should give you a chance."
"Ember."
"Look, she likes you. You like her. I'm just trying to help."
"I appreciate it. But we have to work it out ourselves."
She nods. "I love you." She pulls me into a hug.
"Love you too."
32
JOELLE
The apartment gym is empty at six in the morning, which is exactly why I'm here. I plug in my headphones, hop on the treadmill, and start running. The rhythm helps clear my head, no thinking about Emmett. No thinking about the impossible situation we're in. Just breathing and running and ...
The door opens.
Shit.
Emmett walks in wearing gray sweatpants and a Mavericks T-shirt, water bottle in hand, his hair still messy from sleep. We make eye contact.
"Morning," he says.
"Morning."
