Page 56 of Beautiful Crazy

I step around Emmett, clearing my throat and looking for the oven mitt to grab the finished pan of pizza rolls.

He follows me slowly to the kitchen. “You’re sooo lying. Your face is fifty shades of red."

“It is not.”

All he has to do is give me that look that says, ‘Okay, whatever you have to tell yourself.’ And I give in.

“I was just thinking that…”You’re not telling him that you want him to possess you so come up with something. Anything but that.“…that Twister is a genius idea and I’m going to write to Nancy and tell her to go for it. I think she’ll love it. Thank you for the idea.”

I dump the pan of pizza rolls into a bowl for us to share and then turn to find Emmett leaning on the refrigerator watching me, a wry grin on his face.

“What?”

He shakes his head. “Nothing.”

I know it’s not nothing.

Holding the bowl out to him, I ask, “Want some?”

“Thanks.” He takes one and pops it in his mouth. “So uh, what else can I help you with?”

“Actually, I have something I need to ask you.” I don’t know why my nerves are getting the best of me right now. It’s not like I’ve never asked Emmett to come out with me before, but this time feels a bit different. He knows, or at least has a good idea, of my feelings for him. Given the way he kissed me the other day, and let’s not forget that little episode outside the bathroom, I’m pretty certain he feels the same for me, but we have yet to actually talk it out and make anything between us official.

And that scares me.

It scares me because I don’t want him to change his mind.

“Okay. Ask away.”

I place the bowl of pizza rolls on the counter and then turn back to Emmett, twisting my fingers and wringing my hands together. “This singles night thing is tomorrow night and I have to go and—”

“I’m coming with you.”

My eyes snap to his. “You are?”

He frowns. “Uh, yeah. Of course, I am. You think I would just send you out to sea alone? In waters that will absolutely be teeming with sharks that are just looking to eat you for dinner? And I mean that just as it sounds.”

“Oh.”

“I get that it’s a work gig but even then, Em, you have to be careful, unless…” He shakes his head and I swear I see his jaw shift. “Unless that’s what you want. If you’re just looking for a quick fuck then—”

My eyes snap to his. “What? No! Emmett that’s not…” I shake my head adamantly. “That’s not what I want. I was hoping you would…”

Why does he seem agitated?

“You know what? Never mind.” I wave him off and turn away to head back toward my desk. “I should just get back—”

“Emily.” He grabs my hand as I walk away and pulls me back toward him. Butterflies are fluttering through my chest, not because I’m giddy nervous around a new crush, but because I’m nervous he took what I said the other day to heart and has changed his mind about me. Maybe he doesn’t want me anymore.

He pulls me closer and with both hands, pushes my hair back away from my face and then quietly and calmly asks, “You were hoping I would what?” I take a deep breath, bowing my head, but Emmett lifts my chin with his finger. “Talk to me. What’s going through that head of yours?”

Deep breath.

Just tell him the truth.

He deserves that.

“Emmett, I didn’t mean anything I said the other day. The whole friends with benefits thing? I’m sorry about that. I didn’t know…I…” I shake my head. “I honestly thought that’s what you were looking for.”

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