“No.” Emmett sighed. The insult was unnecessary, but Aaron was right: it was a great opportunity, a dream job. “It’s just the secrecy—”
“We’ll tell them. Eventually. When the time’s right.”
“What, when we’re married?”
Emmett wanted to yank the words back and swallow them. It was a joke. He hadn’t actually meant to imply—but Aaron sat back, shrugging, a twinkle in his eye. “Maybe.”
The waitress delivered their entrées, but Aaron continued to hold Emmett’s gaze.You heard me, his expression seemed to say.
Emmett’s gut churned with hope and confusion. Was Aaron for real? Emmett had never considered the possibility of marriage, at least not seriously. The dream was too big for him, or he was too big for it.
Used to be, he reminded himself.You used to be too big.
“What do you say?” Aaron said. “About the job.”
“I’d need to give two weeks.”
“Is that all? You’re not going to demand more money? Four weeks’ vacation? You have me over a barrel here.”
“I don’t know—”
“All right, you twisted my arm. Fifty-six K and three weeks’ vacation. Say yes.”
Emmett heard himself say, “Okay. Yes.”
“Amazing.Amazing.” Aaron grinned. “We’re gonna have so much fun. I’ll ask HR to send you the formal offer letter in the morning.”
Aaron leaned across the table and gave him a kiss, sweet and lingering. The thought rose to Emmett’s head, uninvited but welcome: the kind of kiss worthy of a wedding.
Aaron’s apartment was a short walk from the restaurant. They’d barely stepped inside when Emmett’s phone rang.
“Sorry, it’s my mom. I should get this or she won’t leave me alone.”
“No problem. Take it in the bedroom.”
Gratefully, Emmett slunk away and raised the phone to his ear. “Hey, Mom.”
“Not interrupting, am I?”
“No, no.” He sat on Aaron’s bed; a door off the living room closed. “I’m just at Aaron’s.”
“Shoot. I’ll call back.”
“It’s fine, I think he’s in the bathroom. I’ve been meaning to text you, it’s just been—”
“I know, honey. You’re so busy. I just wanted to make sure you’re okay.”
“Why—?” In the excitement of the job offer (and everything), he’d forgotten. “I’m guessing you heard about last night.”
“Only Abby’s side.”
There was no point trying to avoid it. Emmett narrated his version of events, how excited he’d been to show off his new look, his disappointment in Abby’s reaction. “She was just being a such a bitch about it all night. I went to the bathroom, and when I came out she was listening at the door, trying to catch me throwing up.”
Joanna gasped. “No!”
“With Aaron there too. It was humiliating. I should’ve let it go, but I was mad and I reacted. I think I called her a hypocrite.” He didn’t bring up Abirexia; when it came to getting Mom on his side, this was how the game was played.
“I don’t blame you.”
