Page 65 of Splintered Memories
So, as another week passed, I kept my distance from her. I couldn’t let her get closer, because that would only lead to failure.
She was counting on me to keep her safe. We still had no information about her attacker. I had no idea where her brother went or whether he was involved in any of this. Roman assured me that it could be awhile before the fire department finished their investigation. There hadn’t been much left of Emersyn’s home after the flames were put out.
“You seem…uncharacteristically grumpy,” Fox mused as he lounged on my couch, both of his hands tucked behind his head.
I scowled in his direction. The only reason he was here was because I’d needed to borrow one of his dress shirts. I hadn’t owned many, and the one I actually liked burned in the fire.
I rolled my stiff shoulder, which was slightly difficult in the tight, button-up shirt. “And you need to get to the gym and bulk up a bit, brother,” I said, indicating the differences between the width of our shoulders.
Fox had always been leaner than me, but I was only slightly joking.
My twin shrugged. “What do I need all those bulging muscles for when all I do is sit in front of a computer all day?”
I refrained from rolling my eyes. Fox could act like he did nothing but sit around, but I knew better. Sure, his main job was computers, but most of us still trained. He was in the gym almost as much as I was.
“Speaking of.” I tucked my hands into the pockets of my slacks. “Any news on Jake?”
Fox clenched his jaw. “You’d know if there had been.”
I ignored the sinking feeling in my chest. The way Emersyn’s brother had simply disappeared was more than a little concerning. Fox had been on the lookout for any activity from his phone or his credit cards. There had been nothing.
“Do you think he’s still alive?” I didn’t want to think that, but preparing for the worst-case scenario had become second nature.
Fox scrubbed a hand along his sharp jaw. “There’s always a possibility. Emersyn said he’s disappeared before.”
Jake had lived out on the streets at one point, too ashamed that he’d succumbed to his vices that he had isolated himself from his family andfriends and had cut himself off. This felt different, though. “I guess we can hope. Don’t stop looking.”
Fox nodded. “I won’t.”
Just then, the door to Emersyn’s room opened. My mouth automatically lifted in a grin as I turned toward her.
“It took you long enough to—” The rest of my sentence got lost somewhere on the path from my brain to my mouth as I took her in.
She wore a short, forest-green dress that hugged her every curve. The sleeves were long, but the small slit up the side and dipping neckline was anything but modest. The whole thing seemed to shimmer in the light from the sequins sewn into the fabric.
It was…shewas…stunning.
She ran a hand over her long, curled hair as she stared at me. She leaned on a hip, her mouth pursing as she looked me up and down. “Why do you look like somebody slapped you across the face?”
Her glasses were missing, but I hardly noticed. She glanced from Fox to me and back again as if he had an explanation for my sudden bewilderment.
I closed my gaping mouth, opened it again, but still words failed me.
Fox chuckled from behind me as he clapped a hand on my shoulder. “He’s fine,” my brother answered for me. “I should probably get going. I’ll see you both at the party.”
The door snapped closed behind Fox, leaving Emersyn and me standing alone in the living room.
Emersyn shifted in her high heels. “Is it too much?” She looked down at her dress.
The self-conscious tone in her voice finally snapped me out of my stupor. I shook my head. “You could never be too much.” I cleared my throat, drinking her in. “You look—you look beautiful, Emersyn.”
A faint flush crept up her neck. “Thank you.” Her eyes flicked up and down my form. “You look nice too.”
I looked unsubstantial compared to her, wearing a black dress shirt and a pair of gray slacks, but I just nodded.
“Thanks.” I offered her my arm. “Shall we get going?”
Her eyes bounced to my arm, and her full lips twisted into a small smile. She nodded, threading her arm through mine, and I led her out the door.
