Page 46 of Brides and Brothers
Surprise lit up Daisha’s eyes. “Oh, you don’t have to do that. Feel free to do what you’d usually do.”
Benson shrugged. “Camille deserves some girl time, don’t you think?”
“Yes, I think Camille deserves all the happiness in the world.”
“Then, we agree.” Benson grinned again, his even white teeth a stark contrast against his dirty face.
Camille glanced sideways to see Daisha appreciating Benson’s smile, too, and more than a little.
“Well, I’d better get washed up,” Benson said after a moment. “Let me get the door for you ladies.” As they walked inside together, he asked Daisha, “Do you play any sports?”
“I play a little basketball and a lot of volleyball.”
Benson offered the use of their court before asking another stream of questions about high school sports and college intramural teams. Camille must’ve missed something because after a few minutes she started to feel like the third wheel. Her mind wandered until Daisha busted up over something Benson said before launching into a funny story of her own. What was happening here? This wasn’t Mr. Potato Head, although he certainly looked like he’d come from rolling in the ground. He was actually flirting, and Daisha was responding. This was an interesting development.
The ring of the doorbell broke up the magic. Or, at least, it seemed like it from where Camille stood. Benson took off to shower, and Camille pulled Daisha back toward the front door.
“What was that?” she whispered.
Daisha had the gall to feign innocence. “Nothing. Just saying hi to Benson.”
Camille wanted to argue, but if Daisha was going to have a sudden change of attitude toward her brother-in-law, Camille needed to keep her mouth shut. She pulled open the door to see Emma dressed more for a date than a girl’s night. Gone were the ever-present glasses and shapeless clothes. Her makeup was flawless, and her outfit, while semicasual, was fitted in all the right places.
“Hey, Emma!” Camille said. “We weren’t planning on going out, but we can, if that’s what you were interested in.”
Daisha elbowed Camille. Whoops. She was talking before thinking again.
“Oh no,” Emma’s soft voice assured them. “I was planning on hanging out here with you guys. I hope there’s a chick flick on the schedule.”
“Definitely,” Daisha answered for Camille.
The women sauntered across the house and ended up in the family room. Oddly enough, the men had vacated the room for them. It was even absent of dirty socks. Camille had spent hours lecturing the guys to clean up, but the subject had never seemed to sink in. She’d bet money Benson was behind this cleanup.
Camille and Daisha plopped themselves on a couch while Emma sat rather regally in a chair across from them. After a few minutes of chatting, Camille noticed Emma take several conspicuous glances toward the kitchen and hallway.
“So, Emma... are you hungry?” Camille asked.
Emma’s blush accentuated her deep cheekbones. “No, not at all. I was kind of hoping to say hello to Easton tonight. Not to talk to him or anything—just to say hi so he didn’t think I was rude.”
“Rude?” Camille asked, confused. “Why would he think that?”
Emma squirmed. “You know, for coming to his house but not because of him.” She said the last part a little fast. “He told you I’m his calculus tutor, right?”
Camille’s brows rose. “No, I had no idea.”
“He asked me out at the beginning of the semester, but I turned him down. I’m surprised he’s still been coming to our tutoring sessions, but he’s never missed one. Honestly, I wish I could go back and say yes. He’s a great guy, and my dating history messed up my confidence.”
Camille glanced at Daisha, but she appeared equally enlightened. Was this really antisocial Emma? Whenever boys were invited to her apartment, Emma acted like the plague itself was hiding behind the door ready to jump out and strike her down. Camille blinked a few times to make sure she was seeing reality. First Benson and Daisha were acting chummy and now Emma and Easton.
“Would it make you feel better if we walked over to the barn and said hello?” Camille asked.
Emma shrank a little in her seat. “No, it’s not important. I don’t want to seem overeager.”
Daisha put her hands out in front of her. “Whoa, girl! I know what you’re saying, but I’m hearing something totally different. Are youinterestedin Easton?”
Emma’s light-blue eyes flew wide. She whipped her head behind her to see if someone had overheard them. Fortunately, the hall was still empty. “Daisha!” she hissed.
Daisha pointed to the seat next to her, which was deeper into the family room than the chair Emma occupied. Emma crossed over to her and sat down. Camille hopped up and took a seat on the arm of the couch so as not to miss a single detail.
