Page 49 of The Love Chase

Maybe Emma had the right idea with the noise machine.

And just like that, my thoughts were back on her.

Emma is right upstairs.

Why couldn’t I stop thinking about it? It wasn’t like this was the first time we had slept under the same roof. We’d had plenty of sleepovers as kids.

Maybe it’s because you two got married today, and this isn’t what you had in mind for your wedding night.

Or maybe it’s because you were rendered speechless when Emma came down the aisle, and you suddenly had thoughts about her that you’ve never had.

I bolted up in bed at the thought, quickly scrubbing the image from my mind.

I didn’t like Emma like that. I repeated it to myself over and over, trying to drill it into my brain. Yes, she was stunning today. Any guy would’ve been an idiot not to think she was beautiful. But that’s all it was. I didn’t suddenly think she was pretty because I had feelings or anything. That was nonsense.

The faint ticking of my watch on the coffee table was like a pounding drum, and I almost kicked the covers off and smashed the thing with the tissue box next to it.

Calm down, Liam.

I forced myself to take a deep breath in for four counts, then out for four counts.

This was fine. We were friends—best friends. We could live in the same house like adults and not make it weird or awkward. I just needed to adjust to having her here, that was all. I was used to living alone. It had nothing to do with the fact that it was Emma or these infuriating thoughts I kept having. I just needed time to get used to it. That was all.

“Liam?” a voice suddenly said and, instead of screaming—because I was trying to be manly—I bit down on my tongue and leaped off the couch bed, spinning with my arms up in defense.

When my senses stopped being stupid and I realized it was just Emma, I put my arms down and took a step toward the stairs where she stood at the top. I was thankful it was dark because my face was on fire.

“Y-yeah—” I started to squeak and cleared my throat, deepening it as I said, “Yeah? You okay?”

“Can’t sleep,” she said softly before padding down the stairs in a pair of slippers. Even though it was too dark to see them, I knew they said “twisters are cool.” She had been wearing them when she came downstairs for a glass of water before we each went to our separate beds.

I had bought them for her the Christmas before I moved to California. I hadn’t realized she’d kept them, especially after being so angry when I left. A strange, warm feeling filled my insides, and I tried my best to push it away.

I flicked on a dim lamp in the corner so she wouldn’t trip on her way down.

Aww, look at you being thoughtful, my inner cynic sarcastically said, and I mentally told him to shove it.

Her hair was up in a cute little bun, and she was wrapped in the comforter from the bed. I had the sudden urge to go hug her, to squeeze my way into the blanket with her, but I forced that little intrusive thought away.

“Me neither,” I finally said when she stopped in front of me, looking up with tired eyes. “Want something to drink?” I headed for the kitchen. I thought I had a box of Sleepybye Tea somewhere in the pantry.

“Hot chocolate?” Emma asked, throwing the blanket onto the couch and taking a seat at the island.

I couldn’t help but smile. She never passed up a chance for chocolate. That and caffeine were the quickest ways to win her heart.

Not that I was, or had ever been, trying to win her heart.

That was just nonsense.

“Coming right up,” I said, grabbing the milk from the fridge, then the cocoa powder from the pantry.

I got to work mixing the milk, sugar, and cocoa in a saucepan on the stove while trying to ignore Emma’s eyes blazing a hole in my back. What was she thinking about?

Why do you care, Liam?

“That couch doesn’t look very comfortable,” Emma commented, pulling me from my thoughts. I glanced over my shoulder to see her staring at the mess of blankets.

“It’s fine.”

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