Page 28 of The Emma Special

Allison: I reject those lies! Christ, who is your life, lives in you, babe.

Summer: There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Leave the past alone and walk with courage. You got this.

Allison: Can you put in your earbuds and get a dance in? That always makes you feel better.

Katie: You are loved, roomie. When you coming home? I’ve got leftovers from work.

Summer: With Christ in my vessel I can smile at the storm.

Katie: Smile at the storm. Smile at the storm.

Allison: Ugh, thanks. Now that song will be in my head for the next month.

Summer: What’s happening? Do you need a rescue? Can we beat someone up for you?

Katie: She’s working late with Mr. Hottie.

Summer: Mr. Hottie made you feel bad? He is SO going on my list.

Emma grinned at the conversation blowing up her phone. The girls always knew how to make her smile.

Emma: Oh my girdle, Katie. Please don’t say that out loud. His name is James. He’s a human with a real life and personality.

Katie: Whose face was twice blessed by the Lord.

Emma: Summer, I’m going to write an exclusive “stays off the list” pass for him. Really. He’s not the problem.

Summer: Well. It’s just the two of you there? Is that allowed? I don’t think I like that.

Emma: I buckled my chastity belt this morning.

Katie: She did. The girl hasn’t shaved since November.

Emma: Okay… I’m going back to work now.

Allison: Love you. Put that sparkle back on. See everyone tomorrow. Remember to get through Chapter 15.

“Chapter fifteen of what?” James’s voice over her shoulder electrified her and the phone flew two feet above her head before she even knew she’d thrown it. He caught it mid-air and offered it back to her.

Emma pressed her hand to her chest above her racing heart, then accepted the phone from him. He’d caught the projectile like it was nothing, while her knees were still knocking from shock. “Don’t sneak up on a person like that. I ’bout fell over dead.”

James narrowed his eyes. “Only the paranoid holler like that. But now I need to know what you’re reading through chapter fifteen.”

“Need is a strong word, Mr. Moore.” Emma moved closer to the stack of papers and farther from the man who was suddenly taking up too much space in the tiny room. “And it’s rude to loom over someone’s shoulder and spy on a conversation.”

“Please forgive my rudeness,” James said, proper and poised. “Now, will you please tell me what you’re reading?”

Emma rolled her eyes and slid her phone into her pocket. “I was chatting with my Kiss and Tell Book Club sisters. We’re reading Rebuilder. So far, I don’t see how they’ll ever end up together because she’s acting like a toad.”

“Hmm.”

Emma propped a hand on one hip. “What does that mean? Hmm? Hmm, what?”

“Book club group chat makes you jumpy,” James said as he performed an exaggerated impression of her tossing her phone into the air.

Well, maybe it wasn’t exaggerated. She’d freaked out—with good reason. Hopefully the last text was the only one he’d caught.

Emma slapped her hand on the top of the stack of papers that was taller than her night stand. “Copies, shall we?”