Page 74 of Pretend To Be My Cowboy
He caught sight of his parents on the other side of the crowd and returned their wave. Emma too.
The sight of his father was just the reminder he needed. It was for the best that she was leaving. It was best for his family, and ultimately for him. It was definitely best for her…
He glanced down at the top of her head as she leaned in toward him for a better view of the musicians through the crowd.
It was best for her to leave...if she still wanted to.
He found himself holding his breath, hoping for...what? That she’d have a change of heart?
Maybe.
Abigail Toulouse approached and gave Emma a big hug. “I’m so glad you’re still here,” she said. “I wasn’t sure when you were leaving.”
“Still here,” Emma said, throwing her arms out wide.
The elementary school principal pressed her lips together and then reached into her purse. “Look, I know this isn’t the time or place, but it just feels like fate that I’m running into you here.”
Emma glanced up at Nash in question and he shrugged.
“Fate?” she echoed.
The principal handed over her business card. “We just found out one of our elementary school teachers can’t come back in the fall so we have an opening to fill.”
“Oh.” Emma stared at the card. “For kindergarten?”
“Yes, in fact. Ms. Grantham’s daughter is pregnant and having a terrible time of it. She wants to move to Texas and help out the family for a while and has decided to resign rather than ask for leave.”
Nash’s insides were twisting oddly. He couldn’t tell if it was excitement or terror, or something else entirely, as he attempted to read Emma’s expression.
Emma blinked at the card, like she was trying to read it but couldn’t make out the words.
“I know it’s a lot to throw at you like this, and I know you already have a good job in Chicago. But if you ever think about staying here…” She looked between the two of them with a chagrined smile. “Sorry. Am I overstepping? It’s not my business, but just know that you are more than welcome to interview for a job at Aspire Elementary.” She smiled and leaned in to hug Emma. “I think you’d be such a great fit for our school, so I’ll leave you with my card and let you think it over, okay?”
Emma smiled but still looked stunned. “Okay.”
The principal walked away and Emma stared back down at the card, blinking at it like it’d been written in some form of Sanskrit.
“Emma? You all right?” he asked.
“Yeah.” She nodded and turned back to the musicians. “That was just unexpected. I...” Her words trailed off and she shook her head.
He gave her a closed-mouth smile, not trusting himself to say anything.
What was he supposed to say?
Please stay, because the idea of you leaving is killing me?
That would be so unfair.
With his father watching them, and the entire town crowded in close, he told himself he didn’t want her to stay. They created this fake relationship for really good reasons.
But as he watched her lips curve up in a smile as she listened, as she swayed to the beat beside him, he knew it for the lie it was.
He wanted her to stay.
24
Emma had always considered herself a fairly decent dancer. She and Lizzy went out to clubs on occasion and she’d always enjoyed getting her groove on. So, no, she never thought of herself as having two left feet.
