Page 85 of One Night Only
“I need to go in.” He rubs the back of his thick neck.
“Oh no,” Jenn gasps. “I hope everything is okay.”
And so do I, but also, don’t let the door hit your non-existent ass on the way out, Simon.
Simon glances at Emily, arching a brow. “If you like, I can take you home on my way?”
Emily hesitates a moment, looking around the table, gaze drifting over me. “No, it’s fine. I can get a cab. You should go.”
He nods curtly, looking at Jenn and Andy and apologizing.
“Don’t apologize!” Jenn insists, standing and hugging her brother. “We’ll walk you out.” She waves Andy with them and heads out the door.
Andy glances at me, then across to Emily, and he forces a smile, pushing up from his chair with obvious reluctance like he can’t possibly bear to leave me alone with her.
“Excuse us,” he murmurs, following Jenn and Simon out of the room and downstairs.
It isn’t until I can hear their exchange downstairs that I finally look at Emily to find her gawking at me incredulously.
“What are you doing here?” she hisses.
“Like hell was I just gonna sit at home knowing you were here withthatguy,” I scoff, nodding at the chair Simon had been occupying. “I mean, he was practically perched in your lap.”
“Dallas, this is…” She trails off, shaking her head.
“I decided something last night,” I say, steadying her with a look of complete seriousness.
Emily stiffens, seemingly worried as she stares into my eyes. “W-what did you decide?”
“You’re mine,” I say matter-of-factly. “And I’m ready to fight for you.”
Her eyes widen at my words, but before anything more can be said, Jenn and Andy re-enter the room, moving back to their respective seats, and I go back to eating my dinner as if that’s what I’ve been doing ever since they walked out.
“I’m so sorry, Emily,” Jenn says with a frown. “I promise I’ll try set up another time we can all spend together.” She playfully waggles her eyebrows. “Or maybe you and Simon can catch up… just the two of you.”
At that, I choke on my mouthful of fish, reaching for my water glass to wash it down.
“You okay?” Andy side-eyes me.
I clear my throat, nodding as casually as I can.
After dinner, we’re sitting in the family room sipping coffee, and I’m about to make a move to leave in the hope that Emily does too so we can conveniently leave at the same time. Nottogether. Just… at the same time. But my plan is quashed by the sound of two tiny hippopotamuses trampling up the stairs. I turn in time to see Jenn and Andy’s twins, Jack and Dotty, racing in through the doorway, dressed in matching Grinch pajamas.
“Uncle D!” Dotty squeals, launching herself at me.
“I saw him first!” Jack cries, jumping up and wrapping himself around one of my legs.
“Hey now, there’s enough of me to go around.” I throw Dotty over my shoulder, wrapping my arm around Jack’s waist and holding him upside down, both kids laughing hysterically. Glancing at Emily, I find her watching on with a small smile, andsomething else there in her eyes that highlights the touch of rose in her cheeks.
“What are you two doing?” Jenn chides half-heartedly.
“The movie finished,” Jack says as I turn him the right way up.
“I thought we said movie and then bed?” Andy arches a brow.
Dotty giggles, covering her mouth with her hands.
Right then, Gloria, the kids’ nanny, rushes into the room, breathless and flustered. “Oh, my goodness, you two!” She tuts at Dotty and Jack, offering Andy and Jenn an apologetic laugh.
