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We’re down to the last two weeks, now. Just two more weeks, and I’ll be able to leave and never see the inside of the shitty rental I’ve been staying in. Never have to listen to Penny say, “dada bye?” again because I’ll never put either of us through this again.

I’d rather keep a small crew, a small business that just keeps my head above water, than deal with being away again. I miss my girl, I miss my bed, my sister. I miss Warren and my fucking family.

I miss Emerson.

“You look like you’ve managed to pack on even more muscle,” Sabrina says, popping a strawberry in her mouth and then handing one to Penny who tosses it at me.

“Manual labor six days a week will do that.”

“I started going to the gym.” Sabrina flexes her teeny bicep at me. “Getting them gains, bro.”

I chuckle, shaking my head.

“That’s where I met Stan.”

I slow my chewing and raise a brow. She smiles, a little sheepish. That’s when I notice her flushed cheeks, the way her eyes seem to hold a new lightness to them. “Stan. Is this a…boyfriend?”

“It’s only been a couple months; I didn’t want to say anything unless I thought it could be going somewhere. But…” She shrugs, still holding that soft smile.

“So it’s going somewhere?” My smile back is real, and it feels good to indulge in happiness for someone. “Tell me about him.”

“He’s a science teacher at the high-school. Nerdy, but it’s in such an endearing way, you know? He goes on these long tangents about anything that really snags his interest, and I love that. I love that he can just be himself with me. And he’s such a good listener. I think he will be so good with Penny, too.”

“He hasn’t met her yet?”

She shakes her head and sets down her fork. “No, not yet. He’s going at my pace, and I just haven’t been ready for that yet. But between Morgan, Warren, and Emery, I’ve been able to see him a lot more than I would have without them. They’ve been so good since you’ve been gone.”

What the fuck?

I give her a peculiar look, laughing. “You mean Zane? Ian?”

She shrugs. “I mean, they have helped out a couple of times. But it’s mainly Warren and Emery.” She chuckles and leans over to wipe Penny’s mouth off. “Penny loves hanging out with Unc Em, don’t you, baby? She always comes home with a cute hairdo and freshly painted nails.”

I stare wordlessly at her, too stunned to respond.

Draft saved at 6:34 P.M.

To: EBStyles

From: DMont95

Subject: Fuck, Emerson

You’ve been hanging out with my daughter? Maybe it’s stupid of me, but fuck does that give me hope. Hope that maybe when I get home in ten days and beg you for more, you won’t be terrified of what that means.

I’m a package deal, baby. And until now, I thought that could be the biggest deal breaker for you.

Fuck.

I miss you.

“What the fuck was that picture for?”

I can hear gym equipment in the background. Weights clunking together. Warren has the gall to laugh, then he says, “Give me five minutes, man. Do another set if you can.” The guy in the background groans.

“I thought maybe you would like it. Do you not?” Warren sounds like a smug bastard, and I wish I could reach through the phone and punch him.

After we found Eleanor, and I left Emery, I was equal parts pissed off and homesick. Driving away that time was somehow twice as hard as it had been the first time, and I needed the distraction before I turned around and broke all of his stupid fucking rules. So I called War, and I finally heard what he had to say. Can’t say he’s fully back on my good side yet, but I no longer want to castrate him. It’s a start.