Page 105 of Take It Offline

Don’t ask. It’ll only hurt.But I’m a glutton for punishment.

“Have you answered him yet?”

Why the fuck do I even want to know? For proof, I guess. Anything that will kill the hope I’ve got for a future I can’t have.

Abandoning her shot, she faces me, eyes earnest and vulnerable. “No.”

Good. I still have a shot at this.

“Hold up.” I slot in behind her, and her breath stutters. “Take your time,” I guide softly, nudging her right foot in line with the shot. “Better.”

She tilts her head just an inch my way. “I thought you wanted to win.”

Angling closer, I brush my lips against her ear. “Who says I’m not?”

Her breath leaves her in a rush, her hips pushing back into mine.

Christ.

I step back.

You’re only friends, asshole.

Emma glares at the table. She’s already circled it twice, searching for a shot and scowling adorably. It probably doesn’t help that I’ve blocked her shot.

“Want to move some of your balls out of my way?”

“Oh, sorry, am I making it too hard for you to win?”

“That yellow is taunting me.” Then she rolls the cue ball in a fantastic kick shot that sinks it. Damn, she’s good.

It’s been too long since I’ve had this much fun in a game. Reese isn’t a bad player, but she prefers to limit her competitiveness toMario Kart.

“How’d you learn to play? Don’t tell me they taught billiards in private school.”

Emma peers up at me from where she’s leaned over the long rail, inspiring a thousand filthy thoughts. I’m ten seconds away from getting us kicked out of here.

“Oh, of course. Right after pickleball. No, Dad had a table, and I had a lot of time on my hands.”

Without taking her eyes off me, she shoots, sinking the black like a pro, winning the game.

I might be in love.

Emma asks to come back home with me, as if the answer is ever going to be no. I find her a pair of sweats and a T-shirt to change into and settle in for a movie. I’m not going to think about what this all means or how soon it’ll be over.

I get it. When it feels like everything is slipping through your fingers, you need something to hold on to.

Right now, I’m a convenient buoy in a chaotic ocean, and if she needs my help to stay afloat, I’ll be that for her.

Ten minutes in, and she’s asleep on my shoulder, soft hair falling out of place. If I could believe she’d stay here forever, I’d give her anything she asked for, including me.

Because I might not be capable of loving someone, but if I was, I’d want it to be her.

CHAPTER 34

I SEE YOU IN MY NIGHTMARES

EMMA

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