Page 71 of Crossroads
Emerson is doing well in college, and even though he tries to hide it from me, it’s clear he’s exactly right where he needs to be. And I need to let him be.
“I want to show Emerson!” Logan says, and of course that’s his first thought after getting dressed.
“I’ll send him a pic, but we need to get going. The Trunk or Treat downtown is starting any minute.” I’ll take him around to houses after this, but it’s a Kensley tradition to start out downtown first and then trickle out.
“No!” Uh-oh. He stomps his little booted foot, and I can feel the tantrum coming. “I want to video call him! He has to see it!”
“Lo—”
“Nooooooo.”
I sigh, giving up and pulling my phone out of my pocket, dialing Emerson for a video call, part of me hoping he won’t answer. Seeing him hurts as bad as not seeing him.
But seconds later, his beautiful face is lighting up my screen with a bright smile. “Please tell me Logan is with you.”
Emerson looks so damn excited at the prospect. I’d told him I’d be taking Logan out trick or treating this year, and the pirate costume was actually his idea. Logan immediately steals my phone, bouncing excitedly. “I’m here!”
Emerson’s sexy laugh filters into the room. “Hey! You look great, kid! Sayarrrrghfor me!”
“ARRRGH, matey!” Logan does his best pirate imitation, and the laugh falls from my lips effortlessly. He’s too cute.
Emerson looks proud as I take in his face on the screen. “Are you not wearing a shirt?” I ask when I get a glimpse of his bare chest and curse myself when I immediately start salivating.
“I’m a lifeguard,” he says, the phone traveling the length of his sexy-as-hell, sculpted torso and down to his red board shorts.
Well, fuck me.
“Nice,” I say, hoping my tone sounds halfway bored and not like I’m contemplating hopping on a plane.
“Oh, I’m a verynicelifeguard.”
He winks at me, and the fucker knows exactly what I’m thinking. “Emerson!” Logan breaks through the moment, oblivious to our flirting. “You should come trick or treating with me!”
His smile falters only for a second, but I don’t miss it. “I wish I could, buddy. I don’t think I could make it there in time.”
Logan frowns, but then quickly recovers. “Next year!”
Emerson smiles, and it’s almost convincing. “That would be fun.”
I try not to let this conversation put me in a bad mood, but Emerson and I both know he won’t be here next year either, and yeah... I’m in a shitty mood now. “Well, it looks like you’re about to go out too. We should let you go.”
I look into the phone, directly into his eyes, and I see the sadness there. A dull ache settles in my stomach where it just seems to be stuck permanently since I flew back from California. “I’m just going to this thing in the dorm. Then I’ll probably come back and study.”
I snort. “No way that happens.”
“Hey, it could,” he jokes, and I know he’s probably going to a party after whatever is happening at the dorm, but I don’t ask.
A part of me wonders who will be at the party, like some sort of jealous boyfriend, but I don’t have any right to any of the details, so I don’t ask. I just smile like an idiot. Like I’m totally fine. We hang up, and I take Logan trick or treating, the whole time wishing Emerson was here with us.
He’d likely be very into it and try to steal Logan’s candy, but he’s busy with his fancy college life—and I’m trying to not sound like a totally bitter asshole.
I’m happy for him.
I swear.
THIRTY-ONE
“So when are you finally going to ask me out?” Amber asks, flicking her hair and sending me a flirty smile across from the small table in the library on campus. We have a couple of classes together, and yeah, I noticed right away she was attracted to me, but I didn’t feel even a flicker of interest toward her.
