Page 150 of Engulfing Emma

So, for the rest of the night, I bake.

I bake for Evelyn.

I bake for Becca.

I bake for the grand gesture mom was talking about.

I just hope it’s not too little, too late.

Chapter Thirty-nine

Brett

“I forgot to ask you yesterday how your date with Holly went,” Bass says.

I shrug. “Good, I guess. She’s a lot of fun.”

“Fun?” Justin wiggles his eyebrows. “I know what kind of fun can be had with Holly Greene.”

I throw my breakfast bagel at him. “I didn’t sleep with her, you tool.”

“Why the hell not? You aren’t still itching for that teacher who blew you off, are you?”

“Dude,” Denver says, kicking Justin under the table. “Sometimes you need to know when to shut the hell up.”

“Hey, speak of the devil,” Bass says.

My eyes go wide when Bass nods his head to the door behind me. I turn around and see Emma standing there with two arms full of baskets. She looks at the floor and shuffles her feet. “I, uh, didn’t know what to make, since you seemed to like it all, so I brought a little of everything.”

I frown. “Are you talking to me?”

She nods.

“Hey, hey, hey,” Justin says, going over to her. “Damn, girl, we sure have missed you around here.”

“Justin, get over here,” Denver chides. “Give them some space.”

“What are you doing here?” I ask.

“Extending the olive branch. Or maybe the breadbasket.”

“Emma, what does that mean? You want to be friends? Fine, we’re friends.” I take the baskets from her. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to have the baskets returned to you.”

“I just thought—”

“What did you think? That you could come around anytime you want a goddamn booty call? I’m not that guy. I never should have been that guy. Go back to Richie Rich in the Armani suit and sit around and have a safe fucking life together.”

Captain Dickerson comes over the loudspeaker. “Squad 13, see me in my office before you leave today.”

I nod to the back hallway. “I have to go. I’ll make sure the guys get these.”

I put the baskets on the table and walk away. A pin drop could be heard in the deafening silence. When I’m out of her sight, I lean against a wall, waiting to see what she’ll do.

I hear the door to the garage open and close, and then the guys are talking about what just happened. Bass pokes his head around the corner. “Kind of harsh, wouldn’t you say?”

“You mean harsh, as in finally accepting someone into your life, making them fall in love with you, and then dumping them?”

“Okay, I get your point. But she didn’t leave. She’s sitting on the bench across the street.”

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