Page 82 of All Tied Down

And that’s a fucking problem.

And because Colt and Roan will hit me with the I told you so’s, I have to settle for probably not getting yelled at for texting after hours.

GARRETT: I need you to be my friend for a minute

THEO: The picture of the two of you at dinner was super cute!

GARRETT: I really like her

THEO: No surprise there

GARRETT: What do I do?

I watch as the little dots appear and disappear before his message pops up on my screen.

THEO: I need you to be more specific.

GARRETT: Can I get her to not adhere to the deadline?

THEO: As your friend?

GARRETT: Yes

THEO: I don’t know.

My heart sinks slowly into my shoes, because if Theo doesn’t think I have a chance…

THEO: I really want to say yes. I think you’re great together and honestly, I’ve never seen you happier. SHE makes you happy.

THEO: And I believe she genuinely enjoys being with you

THEO: But she’s complicated and I don’t know if she’d be willing to give up the fast-paced life she has in Chicago

GARRETT: But she’s making it work now

THEO: As a temporary solution to accommodate you.

GARRETT: You make me sound like a dick.

THEO: I’m being your friend

THEO: And I don’t want to see you get hurt.

And there it is.

Maybe getting hurt is inevitable, but dammit if I’m not gonna try and win Emerson’s heart before it’s time to sign the divorce papers.

32

EMERSON

In the blink of an eye, another month is gone and while things are fine, they aren’t great. That realization shouldn’t bother me because Garrett and I are closer to the end than we are to the beginning of our arrangement.

Still, the distance between us is unsettling.

We’ve gone to grab coffee at It’s the Grind, a play on the Miley Cyrus song “It’s the Climb,” and have taken walks around both Ironwood and Chicago.

Saw a play and a concert and enjoyed several intimate dinners.