Page 86 of The Emma Special

“It’s great news, but I don’t have insurance yet.”

James stood and pushed the chair under the bar. “I guess that means I need to hurry up my meeting today so we can finish our talk this afternoon.”

“Why?”

“So we can get married tomorrow.”

Chapter 24

Emma Is Not A Floozy

Emma blinked away the remains of sleep as the chorus of “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go” played.

Oh, Skittles. Katie was calling.

Emma hurried to her feet and immediately crash landed on…

A rug? It wasn’t her rug, and… she wasn’t in her living room.

She was in James’s living room with a pounding knee and sore pride.

Wham!’s upbeat song called to her from the end table. Gritting her teeth against the pull in her knee, Emma army-crawled to the phone and answered it.

“Hello.”

“This is a well check. I haven’t heard from you, so I need proof of life,” Katie said.

“I live to see another day.” Emma shifted onto her behind and propped her back against the couch. “What time is it?”

“Eleven thirty-seven. You sound groggy.”

“I was asleep.”

“Oh! James took you home? How’d the talk go? Are you headed for the chapel? Should I book a caterer?”

Letting her head fall back against the cushion, Emma rubbed her eyes. “It looks like we’re getting hitched, but don’t book a caterer. I have an appointment on Thursday if James can get my insurance into effect before then.”

“Ahh! That’s the best news! You get surgery and a husband in the same week!”

“I think this is just an initial visit, not the actual surgery,” Emma said.

“Well you’re closer to healing than you were yesterday. I’m so stinkin’ excited.”

Emma braced one hand on the couch to hoist herself from the floor. “Yeah, it’s all fun and games until I have to live with a boy! Katie, I’m still at his house. He told me to take a nap because he had to run to the office for a meeting. He wanted me to sleep in the bed—between the sheets!”

Katie gasped. “In his bed? Without him? This sounds scandalous.”

“Oh, quit it. I’ll have my own room, but I couldn’t bring myself to slip into the bed at a man’s house. I’ve never lived with a man before!”

“You’ve never been married before either. Get ready for a lot of firsts. Speaking of firsts, did you have the talk about the birds and the bees yet?”

Emma jerked to a halt. “Of course not! We barely got through the first talking point. Plus, I never had that talk with my own mother. I have no idea what birds or bees have to do with sex.”

Katie hummed. “You know what? Me neither. I mean, my mom taught me about safe sex, and I know why it’s important to keep yourself for your spouse, but don’t ask me what birds and bees have to do with it.”

“Sciency stuff probably.” Emma’s phone buzzed against her ear. She pulled it away to check. There were five messages from James.

“I’m sorry, but James has been texting, and I need to reply.”