Page 51 of Home Game

“Thank you,” I said.

The sound of Emmett padding down the steps came through the air and he appeared a moment later, hair damp-dry and tousled. He was wearing casual clothes now, but still managed to look like his normal self. His outfit looked like black sweatpants and a short-sleeve shirt, but I was pretty sure both of them were made out of some sort of silk. Because ofcoursehis house clothes were fancy, too.

“Let’s head out back,” Emmett said, going into all-business mode. “Got some filet mignon steaks fresh last night. I’ll fire up the grill.”

“Never going to say no to a steak,” I said.

“Pepper,” Emmett called out, and his dog came running. “Want to go outside?”

Pepper started to hop back and forth near the big glass back doors. As soon as Emmett went over and slid them open, Pepper took off in a sprint, heading toward the fence of my yard.

“Oh, no,” I said. “I think I know what that means.”

I headed outside and nodded in recognition. Oreo was sticking her little fluffy head through a new hole she’d dug beneath the fence, and as she saw Pepper, she dug fast and hard until she popped through the hole.

“Hey, li’l girl,” I said. “That’svery bad, but very cute.”

Oreo was a tornado of wags and licks and then the two dogs ran around in circles together on Emmett’s lawn. When Emmett came out with the steaks, I shrugged.

“Renovations start next week on the house. Hopefully the new fence will go in soon.”

“Excuseme, Oreo,” Emmett said, looking down at her as she wagged so hard she looked like she may take flight. “Who said you could come over for steaks, miss? Go ahead, play with Chili Pep.”

“You call Pepper Chili Pep?” I asked. “I love that. I call Oreo Cookie sometimes.”

Emmett smiled wide, and in the glowing lights of his patio deck, I swore he looked actually relaxed for the first time all night.

Hell, I’d barely been able to see Emmett look actually relaxed for the entire time I’d known him. He was always revved up around me, probably wishing I’d fuck off and get out of his life entirely.

But right now he looked… happy.

And it made my heart warm in a way I’d never have expected.

“He has way too many nicknames for Pepper,” Landry said from over near Emmett’s expensive grill, firing it up. “Salty Pepper, for when she’s feeling annoyed. Dr. Pepper. Peppy Girl,Wild Pepper, or Pep Talk when she’s in a particularly howly mood.”

“And Bullet Train,” Emmett said, squinting out at his lawn, “which sounds nothing like her name, but is exactly what she’s up to right now.”

Pepper was zooming around on the lawn as fast as she could, speeding like a fast train. Oreo ran around in a little circle nearby, hoping to catch Pepper but failing each time she ran by.

The next hour was a blur of beer, steak, and some of the best french fries I’d ever had. Emmett knew his way around a grill, and the filet steaks were perfectly cooked and utterly delicious. After eating, the three of us sat around the table on Emmett’s back deck, watching the dogs romp around in the yard.

“Thank you guys for letting me stay,” I said. “I know it wasn’t planned.”

Emmett pulled in a breath, looking up at the sky. God, he looked good. Like royalty, in his silk clothes, as if the modern mini-mansion behind him was his castle.

Since when did I hang out with people like Emmett?

How had I gottenhere, when I’d grown up in dusty trailer parks and apartments where the drywall was crumbling in every room?

When Emmett spoke, I felt like I was in a trance. “Dad always used to say: we have to let go of the life we had planned to accept the one that’s waiting for us.”

“Another good Dad quote,” Landry said, nodding his head.

The saying hit me right in the chest. I wanted to lightly roast Emmett like I usually did. I wanted to poke fun at his constant Dad quotes or make a joke. But I was starting to think the quotes were working on me.

Let go of the life we had planned to accept the one that’s waiting for us.

I’d certainly never planned on being rich. On kissing a silver-spoon wealthy guy who drives a damn Porsche. I’d never planned on sucking his dick and loving every moment of it.

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