Page 67 of A Little Bit Extra

“I’m glad you did. It suits you, you know. I mean, you’re great at acting, don’t get me wrong, but I could also see you as a writer. You can do whatever you set your mind to, Emmett. I think people think getting older means we need to remain content with whatever we’re currently doing, but it doesn’t have to be that way. If I woke up tomorrow with a new dream to… I don’t know, open up my own coffee shop, I could do it. We create our own glass ceilings and sometimes they need to be shattered.”

Instead of using his words, Emmett lets go of my hand and pulls me on to his lap so I’m straddling him. A surprised squeal escapes my lips. My hands grab his shoulders, then quickly find their way to the back of his head.

Emmett pulls me closer. I dip my head and press my lips against his. Our kiss is full of passion and heat. I’ve never felt like this before with anyone. I’ve never had this desire to want to get to know someone, to wake up next to them in the morning. With Emmett, I’m safe. I’m able to be myself. Like I could wake up one day and decide to do something different with my life and he would support me.

For the next few moments, we remain like this. Our hands moving around each other’s backs, memorizing the shape of each other. I turn my head to the right to deepen our kiss.

Emmett’s hands find my face, and he gently separates us.

His hand tangles in my hair as he takes a strand and tucks it away, leaving a soft, lingering touch.

“I don’t know why fate put us together now, but I’m falling for you.” Emmett’s lips find my neck. My lips part, releasing a soft moan.

I lean close enough that my lips are almost touching his left ear. "I'm falling for you too, Emmett Davis," I say with a shy smile, my cheeks turning a rosy shade. Because of Emmett, I’ve started believing in happily ever afters again.

As soon as I finish getting his name out, he wraps his hands around my butt, lifts me from the couch, and guides us into the bedroom, his lips never leaving mine.

20

Emmett

“Emmett. Emmett, wake up.”

The first detail I notice when I open my eyes is Cassie isn’t in bed anymore, she’s standing next to me, repeating my name to wake me up. The second is the smell of coffee wafting into the bedroom from the somewhat opened door. The third is voices, a pair, echoing in from the living room.

I sit up immediately, knowing who would show up unannounced this early in the morning.

“Emmett,” Cassie repeats for the tenth time. “Your parents are here.” Her voice is barely a whisper, her head whipping from my face to the door and back.

“Why are they here? Why did you let them in?” I find a pair of shorts within arm’s distance and a shirt to match, throwing them on and grasping at Cassie’s waist. I pull her toward me, pressing a kiss to her forehead.

A sigh escapes her as she says, “I don’t know why they’re here. I came to wake you up as soon as I let them in, which I wasn’t going to do at first. But then I accidentally dropped my book, and your dad heard and demanded to be let in.”

“Ah, so you got his good mood today.” I try to joke.

“Very funny.” Cassie groans, pulling away from my embrace. “This isn’t how I pictured meeting your parents.”

I grab her hand, interlacing our fingers one by one.

“There’s no great way to meet my parents.” My lips turn up, but I know it doesn’t reach my eyes. This isn’t how I wanted her to meet them either. “What did they say to you?”

“Barely anything. It was awkward. Your dad asked if I was the girl from the article and when I said yes, he just hummed a response. I only recognized them from pictures online.”

“He’s such a dick. I’m sorry he said that to you.” To help calm her, I move my thumb up and down her finger.

“Thank you, but it’s okay. I just told them I’d come get you and here we are.”

I nod, thankful she wasn’t with them alone for long. “Let’s go see what they want, Sass.”

Cassie nods and follows me out the door.

When we reach the kitchen, my dad is standing with his arms crossed, nose to his phone. My mom sees me coming, a smile plastered on her face. I walk toward her and give her a hug, ignore my dad, then move to the island to stand next to Cassie.

“Hi, sweetie. We are sorry to drop in. Your dad thought to see if you wanted to go out for breakfast. And we met Casey here.” My mom smiles and looks at Cassie, then back at me.

“Cassie,” I correct.

“Yes, we were just talking to Cassie about how we didn’t know you were seeing anyone,” my dad chimes in, finally looking up from his phone to acknowledge our presence. What a dick.

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