Page 139 of Engulfing Emma

He sweeps his crutch around, motioning at our surroundings. “Can you believe all of this? It’s unreal that people are here just for me.”

“Believe it,” I say. “You’re a survivor, Carter.”

“Thanks to you,” he says.

I shake my head. “No. Not thanks to me.”

“You kept me alive until Brett got there,” he says. “You guys are my heroes. Both of you.” He looks over my shoulder. “Hey, speak of the devil.”

My heart jumps.Oh, God.

“Carter, great to see you,” Brett says, offering him a hand. He looks at me. “Emma.”

I nod hello.

A woman joins us, looking like she’s about to cry. “This is my mom, Grace,” Carter says.

“What you did for my Carter—I’ll never be able to thank you. Oh, heavens, I need a picture of the three of you. Is that okay?”

“Give me a second,” Brett says. “I’m soaking wet. Let me get some of the water out of this shirt. It’ll make for a better picture.”

Then, right here in the middle of everyone, he takes off his wet FDNY shirt, wrings it out several times, and then puts it back on. I try to get myself to look away.

Look. Away.

Brett catches me staring but strangely enough, he doesn’t so much as smirk.

“Okay,” he says. “Where do you want us?”

“On either side of Carter,” Grace says. “Put your arms around him.”

I put my arm around Carter and freeze when I realize I’m touching Brett’s hand. I want to pull away, but I don’t want my awkward moment to ruin the picture, so I stay where I am and pray it’s over soon.

After Grace is satisfied she got a good picture, I pull my arm back. But not before Brett grabs my hand ever so briefly and gives it a squeeze.

My heart beats out of control at his touch. I will myself to ignore the feelings coursing through my body. “We better get back to our booth.”

“But you said I could play some more games,” Evelyn whines.

I give her a hard stare. “Evelyn.”

“Why don’t you let me take her around?” Brett says. “I’m on a break. We can go find Leo. He and Bonnie are around here somewhere.”

“Please, Mom? I really want to see Leo. He’s the cutest kid I’ve ever seen. Isn’t he cute? And remember, every game I play is more money that goes to Carter and his bionic leg.”

“She makes a good point,” Brett says.

Man, am I tired of being manipulated today. But Carter and his mother are standing right here. What am I going to do, tell Evelyn she can’t participate?

“Fine.” I pull a twenty out of my pocket. “Be back at our booth in half an hour.”

“Not a second later,” Brett says, leading her away without taking the money.

I stare after them for a minute, watching them joke around with each other. Then Leo comes running out of nowhere. He goes right up to Evelyn. She picks him up and spins him around. The three of them look so happy together.

Grace stands next to me. “They all seem to get along well. You’d almost think they were family.”

I look away. A family she can never be a part of.

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