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Her smile is huge as she says, “I am.”
After twenty minutes chasing Chili, we finally get him back in his cage.
“That’s the most exercise I’ve had in years.” Emma picks up a cushion and throws it back on the couch. “I’m sweating so much I’m going to have to shower before I go to bed.”
I grab a few pillows to help. “Or you can go visit the spa in the rodent’s mega resort cage.” My eyes swing to Chili’s home.
“Isn’t that the most ridiculous cage you’ve seen in your life?”
“Did you pick it out?”
Her head kicks back. “No! I would never choose something that big.”
“Can I ask why you have a pet chinchilla?”
She shakes her head. “You can’t. It’s a long, embarrassing story that apparently makes me a doormat. So I’d rather not say.”
“So someone asked you to watch their pet, and you couldn’t say no?”
“How did you know?” The sweet innocence in her expression makes me laugh.
“‘Cause I know you.”
“Well, don’t worry. I’ve learned my lesson. No more saying yes to people just because they ask.”
This draws out my smile.
“What?” She tilts her head. “I mean it.”
“I’m sure you do.” I laugh because I know there’s no way to take the people pleaser out of Emma. It’s a part of her DNA as much as her striking red hair and blue eyes. “Have you watched any good documentaries lately?”
She points over her shoulder to the TV. “Actually, I just watched a good one tonight on Netflix. Have you seen the one about the woman who disappeared from a cruise ship?”
“She was totally sex-trafficked.”
“Right?” she exclaims. “And I think she’s still alive all these years later.”
“Totally!” I point at her. “Did you see the one about the nurse accused of killing all those babies in the NICU?”
“I was horrified. Cried for fifteen minutes straight.”
“What about the girl who crashed her car into the school and killed her two friends?”
Emma’s eyes pop with excitement. “That one was wild.”
“I know. I cannot even tell you how many times I wanted to call you while I was watching it.”
Something flickers across her face. Confusion maybe. Or maybe disgust. Like she’s disgusted I would even consider calling her.
Be real, Vinny. That’s probably it.
“Not that I would call you,” I say. “I just…I wanted someone to talk to about it. Compare notes.”
“Right.” She gestures to Juliet’s house. “But you could tell Juliet. That’s probably one documentary she wouldn’t think was boring.”
“Yeah. I could tell Juliet.” I nod, but the action feels strangely forced.
“So anyway…” She takes a step toward the door, the obvious cue she wants me out of her apartment.
