I put my hand up. “It’s just breakfast. Stop analyzing everything and just go with your instinct. Would you rather have a boring, planned day, or would you like to experience the excitement only I canprovide?”
“Iguess….”
I interrupted Emma in mid-sentence by jumping out of bed, grabbing my backpack, and bee-lining it for the bathroom. “Give me two minutes and I’ll be ready. No changingyourmind.”
“Finn,I…”
I shut the door before she could turn me down. Instinctively I knew I needed to stay a step ahead of her, to anticipate her decisions to keep from losing her to the rational side of herbrain.
Emerging from the bathroom a few minutes later, I was surprised to see Emma fully dressed and her hair, wild only seconds ago, now brushed out to perfection. Even without makeup, she was a stunningbeauty.
“Wow, you don’t take much prep time,” I complimented, as I quickly pulled on a pair of jeans. “Impressiveindeed.”
“Finn,” she said. “I can’t go to breakfastwithyou.”
I struggled to keep my disappointment at bay. Dammit, I hadn’t stayed far enough ahead. Was my charm so lacking that it didn’t linger when I leftaroom?
“Because it’s my father’s birthday, and I’m meeting him and the rest of my family for breakfast. I’m already late,actually.”
“Oh.” Well, thank god. It wasn’t me. “Why didn’t you say that in the firstplace?”
“You wouldn’t let me get awordin.”
“I just thought you were being difficult. Go. I don’t want to holdyouup.”
“Yousure?”
“Yeah, I’ll go grab something to eat and then head over to thefestival.”
“Okay.”
She seemed alternately relieved and bummed. Did she want me to fight harder? Did she want me to go? Would she even tell me the truth if Iasked?
Before leaving, I walked up to Emma and cupped her face with my hands, giving her a kiss to remember me by. “I’ll see you later,right?”
“Yes,” she breathed out. “Later.”
I smiled, kissing her once more before heading forthedoor.
“Finn? Do you…” She inhaled. “Do you want to go with me… have breakfast with myfamily?”
It was the last thing I’d expected her to say, and I was stunned enough that words escaped me. I was starting to see a trend with her. That steadfast determination could be chipped away, but the decision had to come from her, and nothing I could say wouldchangethat.
“I mean, you don’t have to,” Emmabacktracked.
“I’d love to gowithyou.”
“Youwould?”
“Of course. Parents don’tscareme.”
“Oh, well, mine might,” she said,laughing.
“Your dad must be a huge music fan to bring you all here for hisbirthday.”
Emma’s face contorted, and I swear she looked almost guilty. “I guess you couldsaythat.”
I gave her a quizzical tilt of my eyebrows. “I feel like I’m constantly missing some insidejokehere.”
