“I could do it.”
I study her profile as she admires the place. She chews on her bottom lip as she inspects everything. Her mind is working and planning.
“I have no doubt,” I say in agreement. “You got a business idea?”
Her cheeks redden and she shrugs. “Doesn’t matter.”
“It matters to me.”
“I don’t know…” She trails off and looks down at her shoes. “Maybe it’s stupid.”
I take a step closer. I’m near enough I can smell the salty scent of her sweat mixed with the fruitiness of her shampoo. Does it make me a creep that I have the urge to run my nose along her neck and see what she smells like there?
Yes, asshole.
Total creep.
“Does this have anything to do with what you and your mom were discussing last night?”
She stiffens and snaps her head up to meet mine. “I figured she told you all about it.”
“She mentioned you guys spoke about your job and college. Didn’t really elaborate.”
“Whatdidshe elaborate on?” Emma asks, swallowing hard.
Shame courses through me. “To be honest, Em, it wasn’t a good conversation betweenus either.”
Surprise has her eyes widening and mouth parting. “Not good? How come?”
“I told her we needed space.”
“You guys broke up?” She swallows hard, crossing her arms over her chest. “She said…”
“She wanted to get married,” I finish for her. “Yeah. That’s not happening.”
“Good,” she blurts out. “I mean, um, sorry. I bet she didn’t handle that well at all.”
“There were tears,” I admit, wincing at the memory. “But I held firm.”
Emma’s relief quickly morphs into fear. “Oh. Wait. So, like, are we moving out now?”
Without thinking, I grab onto Emma’s wrist, giving it a tight squeeze. “No. I’ll sleep on the couch. You guys can stay. I don’t want you uprooted on your last year of school.”
“So, you’re doing all this because you don’t want me to change school districts?”
“Yes. Uh, no. Fuck, Em, I don’t know. All I know is it doesn’t feel right putting you out. My home is your home.”
She gives me a soft smile that does wicked things to my heart. It’s so fucking sweet and private. A smile just for me.
Because I like to torture myself, I tug her to me. Her arms wrap around me in a tight embrace. Everything about her is small. It makes me want to shield her from everything in this world.
Like a father?
Nothing about the way I hug her feels fatherly. In fact, if I think too much about her tits pressed against me, I’m going to get myself in trouble. My cock thickens as if on cue.
I clear my throat and pull away from her. “I don’t know what’s going to happen between me and your mom, but I want you to know I’m going to do everything I can to take care of you.”
The elation in her eyes dims and she frowns. It’s as though I’ve said the wrong thing to her. Without another word, she slips away and out the front door. I have to sprint again to catch up with her. The run back home isn’t warm and comforting like before. In fact, she doesn’t speak to me at all.
