“From what I could see online, you have a lot of other trophies, too.”
Emmie paused.“You looked me up?”
“Yeah.” I wasn’t about to deny it. “You’ve looked me up.”
“I haven’t!”she sputtered.
“Uh huh.”
“Not my fault your name just popped up on the screen.”
Her sarcasm lit something inside of me. She went toe-to-toe with me on banter. Something I hadn’t experienced with past women. Then again, the longest relationship I had was back in university for six months.
“So, if I look at your search history, I won’t see shirtless pictures of me?” I raised an eyebrow even though she couldn’t see me.
“You truly are full of yourself, huh? Surprised your shirts fit over that ego of yours.”
“It really is a miracle.”
Emmie huffed.“You have a response to everything, don’t you?”
“Pretty much. Comes with being the youngest of three brothers.” Ever since I was a kid, I was the comedic relief. Landon was serious and grumpy. Wyatt the steady, easy-going brother. And then I was the one who kept things light and fun, no matter the situation.
“So, your job is being the family clown?”
“Resident charmer, actually.”
“Oh god,”she muttered, but I could hear the smile in her voice.“I walked into that one.”
“You did. But don’t worry, I’ll try not to overwhelm you with my dazzling personality.”
“Try very hard.”Her tone lacked any real heat. Emmie was quiet for a moment, the only sound coming through the phone her soft breathing.“I better go,”she said after a moment.
I didn’t want to stop talking, but I conceded. “Okay.”
“But this was…nice.”It sounded like she was surprised to enjoy a conversation with me.
“It was.”
Emmie lingered, like she wasn’t ready to get off the phone, but then she let out a soft sigh.
“Goodnight, Mateo.”
“Goodnight, Emmie.”
After we hung up, her voice stayed in my head, my lips forming into a smile as I stared down at the blank screen. Something about her stuck with me in a way I couldn’t explain yet.
10
EMMIE
“Why do you have that look on your face?” Erin asked, forehead wrinkled as she stared at me across from our kitchen table.
I took a bite of my avocado toast. “What look?”
“The one where you are thinking really hard or are constipated.”
“Maybe I am constipated,” I joked.
