“No,” she mumbles. “I don’t even know what to say.”
“It’s okay; I had plenty to say.”
“So, that’s it, he’s back in her life?”
“I don’t know.”
I run a hand through my hair and close my eyes.
“It seems like he’s back home, and I don’t know; he said she forgave him,” I continue. “He kissed her when he walked in, and she let him.”
“Wait, Brinley doesn’t know. How’d you go off on him?”
“I sent her to the garage.” I laugh and then stop. “Hopefully, she came back in; that was like two hours ago.”
“You sent Brin to the garage? Like a child?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, I’m gonna hear about that when I see her.”
“It wasn’t just about my mom, though.” I take a breath. “It was about you too.”
“Me? What about me?”
“Brinley told my mom I was seeing someone, and she wanted to see pictures.”
“Oh.” Her voice is small and laced with shame, which sucks because if anyone should feel ashamed, it’s him.
“Hey,” I whisper. “He’s a piece of shit, okay? Don’t forget that. Don’t take anything he says to heart because he does whatever he can to hurt me. He knows I’m happy, and he hates it. This has nothing to do with you.”
“Yeah.”
“Em, you’re beautiful.”
“At least you get to leave in the morning.” She groans. “I’m stuck here until Sunday.”
“I could pick you up on my way back tomorrow,” I suggest. “We can lie and say Brinley had an emergency and needed you.”
“As amazing as that sounds,” she says. “I can’t. I’ve got to weather the storm.”
“I miss you,” I whisper.
“I miss you too.” Her cheeks flush as she smiles, like admitting it is embarrassing. “Call me tomorrow?”
“There’s nothing else I’d rather do,” I reply. “Get some rest.”
She yawns a response. “You too. Goodnight, Sanderson.”
“Goodnight, Bowman.”
twenty-six
Ember
December
I’m glad we’re doing this,” Cam says, handing me a bowl of popcorn as he sits down. “Between school and hockey, I haven’t seen you in forever.”
