Page 104 of The Emma Special

“Growling?”

“That was Old Yeller.”

“And your cousin Bill,” James pointed out. “What’s up with you and Katie?”

Daniel casually reeled in his line. “We get along. Nothing’s really happening to write home about, and I’m not gonna push it.”

Huh. Not exactly what James had expected from the man who’d been hanging out with Katie more than Emma had this past month. He left it at that, assuming Daniel would tell him if there was anything to tell. After all, Daniel had done a good job of not butting into his relationship with Emma.

The girls might kiss and tell, but he and Daniel didn’t.

“Pass me a drink,” Daniel said, putting his rod down and sitting in the passenger seat.

James passed him a bottle and quietly reeled in his line. “I think we’re fishing the Dead Sea, can I go home now?”

Daniel hummed before letting out a decisive, “No.”

“Come on, man.” James was not above begging at this point. His shoulders were burning, and it had been too many hours since he scarfed down the breakfast sandwich he’d picked up from the gas station.

“When you’ve caught your wife dinner, we take you home.”

James grunted. This sucked. Fishing was a boring stupid way to spend his day off when he could be with Emma.

That was interesting. He’d never thought fishing was boring before.

His pocket buzzed, and he almost dropped his rod in his haste to retrieve his phone.

Emma: Fish biting??? I just pulled a batch of your favorite cookies out of the oven. We’ll try to save you at least one, but girls be hungry today.

James laid his rod down and moved to settle in behind the console.

James: Eat them all, m’lady. I’ve connections with a woman who’s good at making more if I need them.

Her reply was immediate.

Emma: Is she pretty?

James: She’s got golden hair that reflects the sunshine, and a smile sweeter than a lollipop.

Emma: Haha. Is it me? I bet it’s me.

James: She’s smart too.

She sent him a smiley emoji with the tongue sticking out.

Emma: I’ll try not to gorge myself on all of these cookies. But I make no promises.

A jet stream of water pelted James in the face. He gasped and hugged the phone to his chest as droplets fell from his soaked hair.

“What was that about?” He turned to Daniel who lounged in the passenger seat with a super soaker water gun resting across his chest. He had one leg extended straight and the other propped on the side of the boat.

“Oops,” Daniel said. “I missed. I was aiming for the lovesick sap who left the trolling motor and let us drift into the weeds. Oh, wait. That’s you.”

“I’m happy. So, sue me.” James put away his phone and made his way back to the front of the boat.

“Uh, no. I won’t be doing that. I can’t afford a good attorney in this economy.”

James pulled up the trolling motor and strapped it down. “I’m hungry, and I’m going home to my wife.” His wife, who needed to accept that he loved her. So he loved his wife! He was exhausted trying to tiptoe around it for so long.