Page 28 of Flawless Foundations

"I don't know. I've always had one. Well, scratch that, I lived here when I first bought it for about three months before Emmy moved in. Before that, I had a roommate for about a year in the apartment I rented after I graduated." She slides the pan into the oven then leans on the counter facing me.

"I've only ever lived alone," I offer.

"I'm going to miss Emmy like mad. But we couldn't be roommates forever. I guess I always assumed that when we parted ways as roomies, we'd still be super close. Now she's shacked up in a house with Jake way out in Brooklyn. Who knows when I'll see her now?" She pushes out her bottom lip.

"She's in Brooklyn Heights, it's one of the closer neighborhoods to Manhattan. It's less than a thirty-minute drive away. She still works here in Manhattan. You'll probably see her for lunch at least twice a week."

She glares at me. I laugh.

"Babe, she talked Jake out of a house in Staten Island. That's nearly double the time." I grin. She's being dramatic because I know this transition is hard for her. Emmy and Becca have been joined at the hip since they were preteens. College was hard for them, they were nearly four hours apart, but they made it work.

She gives me a small smile. "I know, it's just she's entering the next chapter in her life. Before we know it, we'll be at her wedding, and they'll be having babies."

"I get it," I tell her. I've talked with Jake. He's ready to propose. They own a house together. It's only a matter of time.

She walks over to the couch and plops down next to me. "We need to tell Emmy. About us. Soon."

I nod my agreement.

"It just feels like we are sneaking around. Since my time with her will be limited, it would be great if we could all spend some of it together. I want to be able to touch you." She runs her hand over my thigh. "And kiss you whenever we are together." She leans in and kisses my neck.

When she leans back, she's wearing a wicked grin. "Yeah." I clear my throat. "I agree."

"I think I should be the one to tell her." She nods, her mind made up. Which is fine with me? Emmy may be my little sister, but she is fiercely loyal, and Becca was hers before she was mine.

"Fair enough. When are you going to do it?" I ask her as I notice the pre-game show is on, so I find the remote to turn it up.

"This week, for sure." She snuggles in close to me. "That is if I ever see her."

I smirk at her comment. My stomach growls at the same moment, and Becca pats my tummy.

"Patience boy, the nachos have like five more minutes." Just then her phone pings with a text. She looks at it, and her fingers fly across the screen.

"Who's that?" I ask, focusing back on the TV.

"Kevin. He wants to come watch the game." I look over at her, tucked into my side, and she has a grin on her face as she converses back and forth.

"No," I growl.

She doesn't address my argument, just chuckles. "That's what I told him. He normally watches all sporting events with Jake, but I guess Jake told him to stay away for the next week. He suspects it has something to do with christening the new house."

"Meh, makes sense." Then I cringe at the fact he's doing it with my sister. I shiver. "Do I need to be worried about Kevin?" There, let's just get this out of the way.

She tucks her phone into the front pocket of her Giants hoodie. "Absolutely. I've got a thing for brothers for sure." Her shit-eating grin tells me she's kidding, but I narrow my eyes at her. "Nah, I'm not interested in Kevin. I like the older, more distinguished brothers. He's still figuring out who he is." She shrugs her shoulder. I lift my hand and dig my fingers into her side.

Her uncontrollable laughter fills the space right as the timer for the oven goes off. She attempts to push me away, and I let her. "Saved by the bell, aren't you lucky?"

She does a little hop and skip on her way to the kitchen, rubbing it in that she's free from my tickling. As she plates the amazing smelling nachos, she brings up Kevin again.

"Levi. You don't need to worry about Kevin. He's just a friend, always has been. He likes to flirt, but once he finds out that we are together, his interactions with me will be platonic. He's respectful and a lot like Jake." Her smile is calming, and I know I believe her.

I nod, giving her my own grin in reply. She brings a big plate of nachos and few beers back to the couch just as the game starts.

* * *

Two days ago,I was dreading the work week because I wanted to spend all my time with Becca. Turns out, I was in the right mindset. I should have taken the week off. I've put out so many damn fires, been in so many fucking meetings, I'm nearly positive that once I stop moving, I won't be able to handle it. I haven't so much as seen Becca. We've talked on the phone but just briefly. I've taken to texting her when I get tiny spare moments. I'll savor anything I can get at this point.

My father has been in a mood. He's been in a lot of secret meetings. I call them secret since I'm normally in all his meetings. But he hasn't wanted me there. Or I haven't known about them until after the fact. I think he's interviewing for my position.

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