Page 85 of Always Be an Us

His lips press together, but he nods and continues off without Emma.

With his departure, some sanity returns, just in time for Emma to ask, "What the heck was that about?"

I sigh. "Nothing."

"What do you mean nothing? You just went off on him for no reason." She pauses, and then she grins. "Wait, were you by any chance jealous?"

"No. I don’t get jealous."

Her eyes widen. "Ever?"

"Ever." It was one of the things that drove Rachel crazy, the fact that I didn't have a jealous bone in my body. She could flirt with as many guys as she wanted at a party, even dirty dance with a few of them, and all I could muster up was mild annoyance.

I thought at the time, I didn't have the jealousy gene.

Now I'm wondering if that changed or if I don't know myself as well as I thought.

"Ah," Emma nods sagely. "Got it. But if you did get jealous—I mean if you had the capacity for it—you should know that there was no chance of anything with Robbie over there. We went to preschool together and he used to put boogers in my hair. Also, I've watched him eat cereal with his mouth open. Not a chance."

"Oh." I still won't admit that I'm jealous, but the news does make me significantly happier.

Emma smirks and extends up on her tippy toes to brush her lips against my cheek. Then she winks at me silently before sauntering away.

As I watch her retreat, I lift my hand and touch the spot where her lips just were. An inexplicable emotion unfurls inside me, one I don’t recognize.

But rather than investigate, I shove it aside. I can’t dwell on feelings when there’s work to be done.

Later I stop by the police station to give them a rundown. It's in a small building, sandwiched between a fire station and a coffee shop of all things. As I walk in, I note the popcorn paint job, dim lighting, and the smell of coffee and funnel cakes.

The sole officer in the room peers at me from behind wire-rimmed glasses as I hand him the sack.

He picks one of the pearls out and holds them up to the fluorescent lighting.

"Are these fake?" he asks.

"No idea," I tell him. "I guess that's your job to find out. And also find out who broke into my hotel and left them there."

"Oh. You're the new owner of the Pink Hotel, right?"

"Right." I think back to the other incidents and sounds I heard. I wonder if the bastard has been snooping around for longer than I thought. "And you better find him quick. Because the next time he does it, I won't be so forgiving."

Alarm sets in his face. "You're not going to shoot him, are you?"

I shrug. I've never shot anyone before but there's a first time for everything. And considering how the people in this town apparently feel about me, a gun might not be a good idea

"Probably," I answer and then I get up and head out. I think I hear him mutter behind me, "Just what we need. Another psycho who likes shooting things."

I head back to the Pink Hotel, where Emma is hanging outside with the contractors, pointing at the roof. I approach them and pull her away for lunch.

"Any spots you know?" I ask as we head to the car.

"Depends. What are you in the mood for?"

"Seriously. A nice bass."

"Oooh." She purses her lips. "You know what we could do?"

"What?"

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