Page 82 of The Emerson Effect
How did four guys as hot as this end up living together? It’s a reality show in the making.
“Oh, hi. I’m Ritchie,” he says, smiling softly as he holds out a hand for me to shake.
I use the right motions, shaking his hand and nodding, but I’m still a bit dazed by the soft timber of his voice and the way his ringlet curls bounce when he moves. God, he’s downrightbeautiful.
As I gather my wits, Ritchie notices the twins’ frowns and cocks his head, silently asking them what’s up. I open my mouth to explain and to assure them that I won’t be trying to come onto them, or anything, but Emerson shuffles in before I can speak.
“Oh, good. You’ve all met,” he says on a yawn.
I look from him, to Ritchie, to each of the twins, then back to Emerson again, my expression obviously bewildered. Emerson narrows his eyes, confused.
“What?”
“Why did you think you needed to fake a romance with me for higher numbers?” He looks confused, so I wave my hands at the circle of masculine beauty around me. “You’ve got threeroommates who are damn near as hot as you are. Making videos with them would send you mega-viral in a second.”
The twins seem to relax as one at my “damn near hot as you” comment, confirming their protective tendencies toward Emerson. It makes me wonder if women have ever used him to get close to them. I make a mental note to ask him about it later, when we’re alone.
Stone is grinning, and he shoves Emerson on the arm as he asks, “Yeah, E, why haven’t you put us in any of your videos?”
Emerson rolls his eyes at him before turning back to me and saying, “It’s not for a lack of trying. They won’t do it because they know I’d insist on splitting the earnings with them.”
I look between him and the others as I connect the dots. They refuse to do that because splitting the earnings would mean less money going to Emerson’s mom and sister.
And just like that, I fall in love with them. In a totally platonic way, of course.
“Do you guys have BingBang accounts?” I ask, my mind spinning with ideas.
“We do…” Mason says.
“…but we don’t post,” Stone adds, finishing his brother’s sentence. “We mostly just have it to scroll and waste time.”
“Same,” Ritchie says when I look at him.
“What if,” I start, my mind spinning, “we shoot something together? All of us can be in it, and I’ll post it and tag your accounts. Your following is guaranteed to grow, and if you decide you want to, you can start posting, yourselves, and monetize your own accounts. It would be a nice, easy side hustle for you, if you’re interested.”
Ritchie, Stone and Mason look a bit skeptical, but nod and say they’ll think about it. Emerson just smiles before shuffling over to the coffee maker to pour himself a cup. Once he has itdoctored like he likes it, he takes my free hand and pulls me toward the staircase.
“Nice to meet you all,” I call out to the others as we head up, and Emerson tightens his grip on my hand.
Once in his room with the door closed behind us, he turns to me and says, “Thank you.”
“For what?” I ask, my brows drawing downward.
“For trying to include them.” He shakes his head. “For just beingyou.”
I brush off his thanks. “That was nothing. I mean sure, they could do all those things I said, but a video with all of you? The thirst trap possibilities are endless.”
He laughs like I’d hoped he would, and I smile along with him.
“Can I ask you a personal question?” I ask, and he sobers like he almost dreads what I’ll say.
“Sure,” he says, his voice low. “I’m an open book.”
“Do women ever… You know what? Never mind.”
“Oh, no, Mrs. Greene-House. You can’t stop there. Do women ever…what?”
“Do women ever try to use you? I mean, like to gain access to Ritchie or the twins?” He frowns, and I jump back in without waiting for him to answer. “Forget I asked. That was inappropriate.”
