Page 51 of Beautiful Crazy

That’s much better.

Proudly I walk my chocolate charcuterie board to the living area and set it next to the pretzels and cheese as the girls marvel over the sweet treats. Then I turn to where Hadley and Lacey are seated, and with a wink I say to them, “Damn right we do. And don’t you forget it.”

I let my eyes linger on Emily for just a few short seconds hoping to God she heard this exchange and actually remembers it, and then excuse myself back to the kitchen for a quick clean up before retiring to my bedroom for the night. The ladies continue their giggling for a while before I hear it quiet down a little. They’re clearly starting to fade.

By midnight, I’m just falling asleep when I hear my door creak open. My room is dark, and I can’t see much, but I would know her scent anywhere. Emily is in my room. And apparently Lola as she just jumped up on the bed and curled herself near my feet.

“Emmett?” she whispers.

Groggily, I answer, “Yeah?”

“April and Shelly went home so I told Had and Lace they could crash in my bed thinking maybe I could sleep in here with you for the night.”

“Mmm.” It’s not an answer, I know, but I’m tired as fuck and it’s been a long day.

“It’s fine. I know you’re probably still upset with me about yesterday, so I can also sleep on the couch, but I just wanted to say, for what it’s worth, thank you for tonight. I really appreciate everything you did for my friends.”

I could tell her to sleep on the couch. I could tell her that her damn spicy chicken gave me the shits and she would probably feel terrible about it. I could tell her I didn’t do any of that stuff tonight for her, but for Hadley, except that would be a lie. I totally did it for Emily. Because despite anything she might say to me, I love her. I care about her. I want her. And I wish above all else, she would see that.

Without hesitating, I toss the blankets open next to me and scoot back, so she has room. “Get in.”

“Are you sure? I really don’t want to bother you. I just—”

“Just get in here, Em.” I reach over and grab her arm, pulling her into bed beside me.

She’s still for a minute but then finally relaxes against me. We’re face to face just as we were that night in her childhood bedroom, only I make no moves to come on to her. Not that I don’t want to. Having her this close to me, smelling all fruity the way she always does, it does things to me. It starts to make me feel, but then her words zoom through my mind – friends with benefits – and my emotions shut down immediately.

If there’s one person in this world I could never engage in a friends-with-benefits relationship with, it’s Emily.

Because what happens when the benefits expire?

I can feel her staring at me even though my eyes are closed. It’s like she refuses to breathe until I acknowledge her.

“What?”

“I’m really sorry about the other day. I don’t know why I said those things.”

Taking a deep breath, I let out a sigh. “You weren’t saying anything that isn’t true, Em. Well, some things weren’t true…and I’ll make you see that in one way or another. For now, let’s just sleep.”

My eyes remain closed.

I badly want to peek and see what she’s doing, but I really am exhausted and would rather have this conversation when we’re both coherent. Finally, she sighs, and I know she’s done for the night. She rolls over, away from me, and quietly says, “Good night, Emmett.”

No way is she getting away from me that easily tonight though. Slipping my hand across her abdomen I pull her back into me, her back to my front, and slip my left arm under her head effectively cocooning her. “Good night, Emily.”

A good thirty seconds passes and then she speaks again.

“Emm?”

“Yeah?”

“You’re spooning me.”

“Yeah.”

“We’ve never spooned before.”

“Well, my dick is cold and I need your body to warm it up.”

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