I glance at the window and the rain beating down on Manhattan.
I take it as a sign that I need to stay inside today, so I snuggle under the covers and fall victim to a romance movie where the heroine falls in love with the hero in a small town with a big heart.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Emma
I readthe text message Case sent me this morning for the third time.
Case: How are you today? I’m still chained to my desk.
I meant to answer before I got on the subway, but I was in such a hurry that I dropped my phone in my purse, locked the apartment door, and darted out of the building.
Lester tossed me a wave, along with something about wishing me well.
I smiled back, hoping he didn’t think I was rude.
I don’t have any pocket change left to line his glove.
“Are you playing Gem Stars?” Mickey cranes his neck to try and see what I’m gazing at.
I’m at Velvet Bay Books in Brooklyn with Mickey, his mom, and Bella.
When Bella texted me to ask if I was free to meet up with the trio for a bookstore tour and a lunch date, I jumped at the chance.
I spent most of yesterday watching romance movies and staring at the flowers Drake sent me. I’m feeling an unrelenting sense of guilt over the fact that I haven’t told my parents that they have a daughter-in-law.
I went to bed late, hoping that Case would make it home before midnight.
He didn’t. I heard him sneak in shortly before two. He took off before I woke up.
“No.” I smile at the little boy. “I got a text message from a friend.”
Delaney inches up behind me to steal a peek at the screen. “From a boyfriend?”
“Ew.” Mickey covers his ears. “I don’t want to hear that.”
Reaching for one of his hands, Bella laughs. “Come with me. I saw a new book about dragons that you need to see.”
As they take off to the other side of the store, Delaney rests a hand on my shoulder. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
I turn and face her. “You’re not.”
“You haven’t been your cheerful self today.” She pushes a lock of hair behind her ear. “Does that have anything to do with the guy who texted you?”
I nod. “It’s my brother’s best friend. I’m staying with him right now because my brother took off to get married.”
Her eyes widen. “What’s the story between you and the best friend?”
I inch a fingertip over my bottom lip. “We kissed a couple of days ago and…”
“And it was epic?”
I laugh. “So epic.”
“What’s the problem?” Her smile widens. “I haven’t had an epic kiss in years.”
We haven’t discussed her situation.
