Page 58 of All Tied Down

I smile at the use of Tom’s nickname, the feeling both nostalgic and childish in the best way.

EMERSON: Again—that’s once in a while—not every day

ISLA: Did something happen?

Putting the stopper in the tub, I add some bath salts and sigh as I type out a response.

EMERSON: An employee went to an influencer/reporter about Garrett and me. She was fired and we’ve been dealing with it.

ISLA: I saw the write up Arden did

EMERSON: Trying my best to control the narrative

EMERSON: I’m exhausted and I just wanted to come home and relax

I watch as three dots appear and disappear before her message pops up.

ISLA: You said home

EMERSON: That’s what you got from that?

ISLA: You called Garrett’s house—home

The smell of lavender does nothing to ease the way my heart is beating faster in my chest because dammit, I did call it home.

EMERSON: I told you I’m tired

EMERSON: Semantics

ISLA: It’s okay that his house feels like home

EMERSON: I don’t have time for the fallout if I get attached. In a few months, he’ll go on with his life and I’ll go on with mine

ISLA: Is that what you want?

EMERSON: Of course it is

ISLA: You don’t have to be married to your job

EMERSON: But I like my job—I don’t work crazy hours to prove a point—I’ve done that already.

ISLA: I just don’t want you to fight this pull with Garrett because you think you have to

EMERSON: It’ll be fine. We’re just enjoying our time while we’re here.

ISLA: If you say so

Dropping my phone on the vanity, I strip out of my clothes as I ease into the piping hot water with Isla’s words still rattling around in my head.

If you say so.

I do.

So there’s nothing more to say.

23

EMERSON