“Yeah, but I could have kept you out of it. You and Liam.”
Emma shrugged. “I think it’s fine. I didn’t see her car after that red light. I would have felt bad just leaving you there if you really didn’t want to see her.”
I held her in a tight hug, her face buried in my chest. Emma was protecting me, something no other partner had ever done for me. I kissed the top of her head. “I don’t think she’d do anything unhinged, but I want you to know that keeping you and Liam safe is the most important to me.”
“I appreciate that,” she said, turning her ear against my chest.
“And I think you probably heard, but I’m bisexual.”
Emma held me back by my upper arms. “I gathered that. But thanks for telling me.”
“I assume it’s not a problem. If it is, I should probably,” I thumbed toward the door, “hit the rocky road.”
She raised on her toes to kiss the corner of my mouth. “It’s not a problem.” She searched my eyes. “You know how you said that to ignore Liam is to ignore me?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, to ignore that part of you would be to ignore you too. It’s part of you.”
My eyes felt hot, but I smirked. “But you hate me.”
“Well,” she said with a coy shrug. We both laughed and fell into a hug again.
“Thanks, Em.”
“Of course.” She yawned. “Alright. I’m exhausted. Can we go to bed now?”
TWENTY-FOUR
EMMA
MARCH
“Hey, Em.”
The mattress dipped and the smell of fresh coffee permeated the air. I stretched and opened my eyes to find Harlan watching me, wearing one of my old T-shirts that was way too short and tight on him, and his underwear.
“Morning,” I said, then giggled as I took in his appearance. “You look like a seventies himbo. Short shorts, belly shirt, slutty mustache. All you need are some aviators and you’d have been the talk of the town.”
“I aim to please,” he joked. He lifted a mug and pointed to a plate on my nightstand holding a little glass of milk and some sugar in a bowl. “Didn’t know how you take it, so brought some stuff.”
“What a treat. Thank you,” I said, taking the mug from his hands. “I know how you take yours.”
He smirked. “Oh yeah?”
“Yeah. Splash of milk, packet of Splenda when you think no one’s looking.”
His jaw dropped. “That is very rude.”
“Just letting you know that I know all your secrets. If you ever consider lying to me, I will figure it out.”
He chuckled. “Noted. What’s Leroy’s coffee?”
“Black. Come on now. That’s child’s play. Next.”
“Cap.”
I raised my eyebrow. “He’s trickier. So much cream it’s almost not brown at all, two sugars.”
