Page 107 of There's No Us Without You
On second thought, maybe I’ll take as much time as possible, because the idea of Em and Will together has me clenching my thighs tightly to stop the heat from spreading any further. I wonder if they’ve ever, you know, hooked up?
Carter bounces on the spot, rubbing his hands over his dark-blue jeans. “Eden can you please ask Stella if she’ll come tonight?”
“What, are you twelve, bro?” Emerson says, smirking. “Invite her yourself.”
“What?” Carter shakes his head. “No fucking way.”
“She’s not going to bite you.”
“But—”
“But nothing. You’re a professional soccer player, so what’s asking a pretty girl out?”
Carter squares his shoulders and nods once. “You’re right. I can do this,” he says, before marching over to where Stella is wiping down a table with a disinfectant cloth.
I can’t hear what he’s saying, but Stella is wide-eyed and twisting her hands in front of her. Then she smiles and tucks a hair behind her ear before nodding.
How does such a good-looking person have such trouble asking another good-looking person out? I mean, I get it. I just have to look at Emerson to know I’m way out of his league, yet here we are, him staring down at me like I’m the only woman in the world.
“You ready?” he says, nodding to the exit. “Carter drove us here, so me and you will take my car back home. Carter will meet us back there, and I’ll drive us to the bar. Sound good?”
I nod. “Sure thing, let me change.” I head out the back to the storeroom to grab my bag, then pull my dirty apron off and wrap it in a bundle to take home with me to wash.
When I check my phone, I can’t help the smile creeping onto my face at the message from Will.
Will: Good luck today, Sunshine! New DJ at the bar tonight. Emerson will meet you at the restaurant after your shift x
I’m so cliché, I literally sigh at the nickname he’s given me. I only wish I knew what it means. I’ll never get used to Will and his mood swings, but I’ll take him as he is.
Just as I’m shoving my phone into my bag, a familiar presence steps up behind me, making me jump and press a hand to my chest. The scent of stale cigarette smoke fills my nostrils, and I fight the urge to gag.
“Smith told me you did really well tonight,” Tony says, his mouth way too close to my ear for my liking.
Jesus. How long has he been standing there?
My heart races in my chest, so I take a deep breath and push my hair from my forehead as I turn to face Tony, and in the process, take a good two steps backwards. “He did?”
Tony nods, licking his lips while dragging his eyes down my body. “He’s very impressed, as am I.”
“Thank you,” I say, while trying to keep my voice steady as he closes in on me. I duck around him before he can get any closer. “Anyway, I have somewhere to be. Night, Tony.”
I’m making my way back out to the front when Tony comes up behind me again and grabs my arm, his stubby fingers digging into my flesh. “Eden, wait. There’s something?—”
Before he even has time to finish his sentence, Emerson is shoving him in the chest, sending him stumbling backwards.
“Do you enjoy using both your hands?” The words fly from Emerson’s mouth, his chest heaving.
Tony scoffs. “Excuse me?”
I’m tugged under a tense bicep when Emerson slings an arm around my shoulders. “The next time you put your hands on Eden, I’ll cut your fucking fingers off.”
I’ve never seen this side of him—I vaguely remember him punching someone at the party last week. But, if I let him ruin my chances with Tony, I’ll never forgive myself. So I put a hand to his cheek, forcing him to look at me. “Em, it’s fine,” I say, giving him the best convincing smile I can muster.
It doesn’t work though. Everything about him right now screamsRUN!
Tony steps forward, and Emerson pushes me behind his back.
“Do we have a problem here?”
