Page 32 of Beautiful Crazy

Lacey winks at me and silently mouths, “Told ya.”

“Emily you’re one of the kindest souls I have ever met and you’re not afraid to be uniquely you. You’re not the sassy-ass bitch that Hadley is and you’re not the simple thrifty DIY kind of personality that Lacey is.” He turns to them both and says, “And I mean all that in the most complimentary way possible.”

“What you are, though, Emily, is a beautifully stunning woman with a fun and whimsical personality than many women your age would kill to have. You’re not only so fucking smart, but people likeyou, with the talentsyouhave, make people like these two ladies look good at whattheydo.”

“He’s damn right about that, Em,” Lacey affirms. “I couldn’t do what I do without you.”

“Yep. And I was kinda hoping after the wedding you might be willing to help bring the bakery into the social media circle because I’m shit at it and don’t know what I’m doing half the time.”

Graham’s gentle expression meets my overwhelmed one as he reaches across my cheeks with his thumbs, gently wiping away a few stray tears. “See? I think you’re not giving yourself enough credit. And when it comes to Emmett, for what it’s worth, I can tell you with one hundred percent certainty that you’re wrong about him. And if you were really paying attention to him, as any best friend would, you would see where his heart is.”

“Graham I—”

“It’s okay to pay attention Em. It’s okay to see him. Emmett’s a good guy. He would do anything for you. And I’m not just saying that because he’s my brother. I mean, who knows. Maybe the two of you aren’t right for each other but…what if you are and you never do anything about it?”

“But we have these rules…”

“Uh huh,” he nods. “And would you rather break those rules or let those rules break you?”

I give Graham an anxious glance. One side of his mouth lifts in a smile and then he steps away, gives a kiss to Lacey, and then grabs a bottle of water from the fridge in the back corner of the room. “I really just came in here for water and to kiss my wife, but I’m glad I got to see you ladies.”

Lacey and Hadley both wave but I’m way too up in my head to realize anything else going on around me. Chatting to Lacey and Hadley and Graham about Emmett was more of an eye-opening experience than I was ready for and now I don’t know what to do.

I don’t know what I want.

But I know I don’t want to lose Emmett.

Chapter 8

Emmett

“So gray suits, huh?” I spin around in front of the mirror, looking at myself from as many angles as possible in this sharp looking suit. I look good if I do say so myself. “Really brings out the color of my eyes.”

Asher scoffs, smirking. “You mean from poop brown to even poopier brown?”

“Shut up, Ashole.” That’s been our nickname for him ever since he was eleven and a hellion of a kid around the house. Dad was always yelling at him. Beckham used to have no patience for the little runt of the Fox den, as he would say. “I look glorious. What color are her friends wearing, Beck?”

“The girls are wearing silver. And my suit is a dark navy blue with a silver-gray vest.”

Asher grimaces at himself in his suit. “These things are so…”

Elias steps toward Asher and helps him with a few choice words. “Formal? Professional? Dashing?”

“Constricting. Ugh.” He fusses in his suit jacket like it’s adhering itself to his skin while Elias and I laugh at him. “The last time I wore a suit coat was…”

Beckham gives him a side eye. “Dad’s funeral most likely.”

“Yeah. You’re probably right. I don’t have to stay in this all night, do I?”

Beckham shakes his head. “Just long enough for pictures. Then I don’t give a shit what you do. Don’t spill anything on it though. You break it, you buy it.”

Just then Graham walks through the front door. “Lookin’ sharp gentlemen!”

I spin toward him, showing off how good I look in my suit, and he nods in approval.

“Damn Emmett if I wasn’t related to you, I might want to do you myself.” He winks at me and throws me a fake air kiss.

“Yeah? Well lucky for you, I’m single.”

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