Page 57

Me: Okay

I zigzag through the neighborhoods surrounding Decatur Street until I can’t think anymore. About Collin. Sadie. Reeves Construction. Or a stupid legal document that’s keeping me chained to Hollis.

I know I’m cutting it close when I climb the stairs to the bathroom for a shower. Emma and Rachel are due home. I yank my sweat-soaked training shirt over my head, tossing it on the bathroom floor. I close the door just as I hear the front door open. Great.

I'm about to shove my shorts down and quickly rinse off when the door flies open and slams shut in a single motion. Emma’s standing in front of me wearing a pair of basketball shorts and a sports bra, also soaked with sweat.

“Hey?”

Emma stares at me. “Uh, sorry.” She crosses her arms over her chest, but she doesn’t move. I shoot her a curious look while her eyes sweep over me. “I didn’t know you were here.”

Emma turns to leave when Evan calls out, “Em? I’m here.”

“Shit.” Her forehead falls against the door. “Uh, I’m running late. I’ll be down in a little bit.” She doesn’t move for a full minute. I can only imagine the internal freakout she’s having right now.

“Wow. This is awkward.” I fight back a laugh. Awkward and funny as hell.

Emma spins around and glares at me. “You think?” Apparently, I’m the only one who thinks so.

“So…you have a date?” I ask as if we’re sitting in the kitchen having coffee.

“Jonathan!” She widens her eyes at my bravado. “What am I supposed to do? How do I explain you coming out of the bathroom while I’m supposed to be taking a shower?!” She’s verging on a panic attack. Well, shit.

“It’s okay,” I say, calmly. “Just take a shower.”

“What?!”

Can’t help but make it worse every time I open my mouth.

The rattle of the front door, followed by “Evan?” silences us. Rachel’s home. This just keeps getting better and better. “How are you? Where’s Emily?”

Emma looks like a cartoon character, her eyes are so round. I let out a small laugh. She gapes at me.

“She’s taking a shower,” Evan tells Rachel. “I guess she got held up after the game and she’s running late.”

“Emily!” Rachel climbs the stairs. “Are you almost done?” The handle jiggles, and the door starts to open. Now my eyes widen in panic.

Emma shuts the door with force, right in her mother’s face. Damn.

“Hey!” Rachel sounds affronted.

“Sorry.” Emma latches the door to keep that from happening again. “I’m about to get in the shower. Do you need to get in here?”

Guess this is really happening. I was only messing with her initially, figuring we could still get out of this without causing a major misunderstanding. Not now that Rachel’s on the other side of the door… We’re screwed. She’s already suspicious about our sleepless nights on the couch. She hasn’t been subtle either.

Did I really commit to sticking this out for another week?

“Have you seen Jonathan? He was supposed to be here by now.”

Yeah, Rachel. I’m right here, trapped in your bathroom with your daughter—half-naked.

Emma’s glare has me on the verge of laughing again. She’s freaking out, on top of being annoyed with me. I can read her every thought just by looking at her face.

I mean, it is pretty messed up. But I can’t help but find humor in it. I know Collin would. Damn, I wish we were still talking.

Why the hell did I just think that?

“Uh, no.” Emma silently growls at me. “But I didn’t really look for him either.”