Page 18 of Beautiful Crazy

“What?” she asks.

I nod my chin and then bring my hand to my own mouth. “You just…have a little something right here…on your lip.”

“Oh. Do I?” Her brows raise. “How very un-adult-like of me.” She doesn’t make any move to wipe the chocolate mustache from her face which makes me desperately want to lick it off, but I can’t be thinking that way about her. She’s telling me she’s still mad and I’m hearing her loud and clear.

“Emily, I’m sorry about this morning. You know I didn’t mean a word I said.”

“Then why did you say it? Why do you say things you don’t mean?”

“Because I’m a stupid guy sometimes and things slip out of my mouth before I even think about what I’ve said, and I know that sounds ridiculous but it’s true. You know me, Em. I’ve never been an asshole to you on purpose. I would never knowingly say something to hurt you and I’m really sorry that my own ignorance hurt your feelings.”

She raps her nails on the side of her mug and then wipes off her mustache with the sleeve of her sweater. “I know you do more than just doodle all day. I’m sorry I said that.”

“Nah, you’ve got that pretty close, actually.” I shrug. “I do a lot of doodling all day. Sometimes it’s just digital doodling.”

She offers me her mug. “Do you want some cocoa?”

I shake my head. “No, thank you, but I do want to hug you.” I open my arms wide and sigh with relief when she puts down her mug and steps into them. Folding my arms around her, I rest my chin on the top of her head and close my eyes for a quick moment, reveling in how it feels to have her in my arms. Safe. Warm. Comfortable.

“Are we okay?”

She nods beneath my chin. “Yeah, Emmett. We’re okay.”

“Good. Let’s go.” I squat down and wrap my arms around her legs, picking her up in a fireman’s carry, and walk across the room to the front door. Emily squeals and immediately starts giggling. I love that sound.

“Emmett! Where are we going? Put me down!”

I let her slide down my body – hey I gotta get my kicks where I can – and point to her shoes. “Put those on.”

“What? Why?”

“Because I want to take you somewhere.”

“I can’t go out like this. Look at me.”

I don’t even have to look at her. “You’re fucking adorable, Em. It doesn’t matter what you’re wearing, just put your shoes and coat on and let’s go.”

“Emmett, I don’t think—”

“Emily…” I lift her chin with my finger and smile at her. “Trust me. I wouldn’t lead you astray.”

She’s already pushing her arms through her coat sleeves, so I know deep down she trusts me one hundred percent. “Okay. Let’s do this…whatever it is.”

She’s going to fucking love this.

And I’m about to score a bajillion points.

___

“Oh, my God! You’re serious? Like, seriously serious?”

I nod with confidence. “If you don’t pick one, I will.”

She looks around the room and then back at me. “Well, just out of curiosity, which one would you pick if you had the choice?”

I take a moment to study each of the cats around the shelter’s cat room. Some are climbing the cat tree in the corner. Three are sleeping in their little hanging hammocks, two are playing together on the floor, and one is playing in its litterbox.

Definitely not that one.

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