I nod, not sure what to say. “Okay.”
I stand back in shock as Emmett continues walking down the hallway to the bedroom. Between the sincerity in Emmett’s eyes,the words he’s choosing to use, and the kiss I can still feel, I’m more confused than fall in the South. Is it hot? Is it cold? That's exactly Emmett. Is he hot? Is he cold? I mean, he’s always hot. The last week he has been cold. Today he’s like that perfect 76-degree day with low humidity that you want to get excited about but you’re not sure if it’s here to stay.
My mind is all over the place right now. But I can’t think about Emmett and analyze each and every word. Right now, the focus needs to be packing up my babies and getting the hell out of this condo.
When I make my way to the bedroom, Emmett already has two full moving boxes in his arms. Holy shit, is he even breaking a sweat? Those boxes aren’t light, and he’s carrying them with ease.
I remember when I thought my type of man wore a suit and tie and had an overly white smile with a trust fund.
I was wrong. I was so wrong.
It’s this man right here. The blue-collar guy who carries my boxes of shoes and kisses me out of nowhere. Whose ass looks damn good in a pair of Wranglers but can also clean up when he needs to. The man who one minute is taking control of the room but I know will let me fight my battles.
Emmett Collins is my type, through and through.
“I’m gonna take these down to the truck,” he says. “Keep packing so we can get out of here sooner rather than later.”
I snap out of my stare and do as he says. I start going for my clothes that I can throw into the suitcase I brought when I hear a door slam.
“Who the fuck are you, and why the fuck are you in my house?”
Oh shit…
I drop the clothes and race out of the bedroom. As soon as I turn the corner and have an eye on the door, I see Emmett and Duncan staring each other down.
Well, Duncan is staring up, but still…
“You don’t remember me?” Emmett begins with a prodding tone. “I’m Simon’s friend. Emmett. We met at his baby stag party. You know, the one where you asked me when the strippers were coming. Actually! Now that all tracks. I hear you have a thing for women in that line of work. Though I have a feeling they just see you as the gullible douche and an easy payday.”
I watch Duncan's face get red with every antagonizing word that Emmett says. Selfishly, I want him to keep going.
“Duncan, what are you doing here?” I ask as I step next to Emmett. Though I might as well not be in the room right now. They haven’t stopped scowling at each other. Duncan is now fully straining his neck to look up at Emmett, and I have to force myself not to laugh.
“I wanted to come see how you were doing,” Duncan says, finally breaking his stare-off with Emmett. “Maybe see if you needed a hand?”
“No. That wasn’t what we agreed on,” I say. “You were supposed to stay away all day. So unless a lawyer’s work day now suddenly ends at four-thirty after years of you telling me you didn’t finish at the office until at least eight, then you shouldn’t be here.”
“Fine. You caught me,” he says as he holds his hands up in defense. “I wanted to come talk to you. I thought you’d be alone.”
With those words, he gives another glare to Emmett. Except Emmett knows he said it to get a reaction out of him—one he isn’t giving him.
“We have nothing to say to each other,” I say. “And I’ve been advised to not speak to you without the presence of my attorney.”
“See, that’s just it,” Duncan says, taking a step toward me. I immediately take a step back. “This whole lawsuit thing. We should both drop them. We both filed them in the heat of the moment. We just need to sit down and talk. Figure everything out. Patch things up so we can start fresh.”
I wish I had this man’s audacity and delusion. This is now the third time he’s asked me to get back together. Does he not know the word no? Does he have a rejection kink? Oh, maybe that’s it. I should ask Nadia. Oh! I wonder how she’s doing. Maybe we should get lunch…
I shake my head and focus back on the task at hand—which is shutting this man down for good.
“Duncan, in what world—either the actual round one or the flat one you think we’re on—do you think that’s going to happen? The answer is no. It’s always going to be no. I don’t know how many ways I can tell you that we’re not getting back together or patching things up or starting over. If I need to learn another language, I will. But we’re done. Over. And as for the lawsuits, I’m not dropping a damn thing until you pay me back the money you stole from me. Do you understand?”
“Stella, baby…let’s just talk…”
Duncan reaches for my arm, barely grabbing onto it before Emmett shoves him away, stepping between us.
“Don’t you fucking touch her.”
“What the fuck?” Duncan says. “Don’t you fucking touch me!”
