Page 335 of Breaking the Rules
She slides the second bowl into the microwave, brings the first to the table, sets it in front of me. "You first."
"Thanks." I pick up my spoon. Take a bite.
It's a lot. As rich as the eighty-five percent chocolate she favors. The oatmeal itself is bitter, but the sweetness of the strawberries balances it.
It's too much for me.
Too rich.
Too chocolaty.
Too bitter.
But fuck knows I'm not admitting that.
Not after how hard I've teased her for her love of sugar.
"You hate it." She laughs as she slides into her seat. "It's okay."
"Not hate."
"Hate."
"It's just…" I break for a sip of coffee, but that doesn't help. The sweetness of the milk and sugar only makes the oatmeal more bitter by comparison. "It's a lot."
"I'm a lot."
"Yeah, but that's why I love you."
Her cheeks flush.
"You think about Ryan's offer?"
"Which offer?"
"To make you assistant manager?"
"Over the summer. It's sweet, but…"
"You'd rather keep your lingerie discount?"
"I don't know. I prefer working at Inked Hearts, but there's not exactly a lot of upward mobility."
My lips curl into a smile.
"What?" Her cheeks flush. That same blush. Thatomg, why are you giving me that lookblush.
"You sound so corporate."
"You're the one who taught me half this stuff."
I shake my head. I helped her with our books, explained a few things to her, but she learned most of it in school. Or from experience.
Emma is smarter than I am.
Smarter than she gives herself credit for.
She's good at what she does.
