Page 47 of Emerald

“Ellie, come on, I don’t want to hurt you.”

Urgh. This man.

“Do it.”

He rolls his eyes and then launches himself at me, thinking he’s catching me off-guard. Unfortunately for him, I’m one step ahead. He thinks he has the advantage in the water due to his size and weight, but that means he needs to work harder than me.

My hands end up around his neck as I hold him underwater until he taps out. I let go and he launches himself and gasps for breath. “Fuck,” he curses, sucking in deep breaths as he glares at me.

“I wasn’t going to kill you. I was just proving a point.” I shrug.

“Point proven,” he growls.

“Don’t be a sore loser.”

“I’m not. Okay. I know you can look after yourself. You just fucking proved it. But I’m fucking human so excuse me for being worried about you going on this date with some cartel guy,” he argues back before storming off.

Oh.

“Nash, wait.”

“I need a moment,” he says, holding up his hand as he continues to stomp through the water.

Okay. That’s fair. Today has been a lot. I nervously nibble my lip as I watch him disappear back home.

Sophie: How did things go with Nash?

Ellie: I told him the truth.

Sophie: You did?

Ellie: You guys trust him. And as you’ve told me before I need to start trusting people.

Sophie: Nash is a good guy.

Ellie: Debatable.

Sophie: You’re probably the only woman I know who doesn’t like Nash.

Ellie: I’m immune to his bullshit.

Sophie: He’s not that bad.

Ellie: He really is.

Sophie: You two really don’t like each other?

Ellie: No, we don’t.

Sophie: Guess the feeling is mutual. He’s currently complaining to Brooks as we speak.

Ellie: *Insert eye roll emoji*

Sophie: I would love to be a fly on the wall between you two.

Ellie: I should have never promised to not kill him.

Sophie: You can’t kill people you don’t like.

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