Page 56 of Bossy Ex's Brother

A few seconds later, Emmett stuck his head out of the kitchen and said, “Hey, it’s just soup, so I’m going to call for a pizza delivery.”

“Knock yourself out,” I said, and he beamed at me before disappearing back into the kitchen.

Angel, on the other hand, came back holding a bowl of soup in both hands and stood in front of me expectantly.

I lifted her and put her on the seat beside me, but she still stared at my lap. Then she put her soup down on the couch,climbed onto my lap, and then picked it up again, glancing at me in question.

I smiled at her. “Yes, it’s fine, Angel.”

She smiled at me happily and then proceeded to start drinking her soup. When Emmett walked out of the kitchen, he watched the both of us and scratched his head awkwardly. I didn’t blame him. I wasn’t great with kids either, and I wasn’t sure what to do with a little girl, but she seemed to like me, so I would roll with it.

Emmett sat in the living room to wait for his pizza, and an awkward silence descended.

“Do you play video games?” I asked Emmett because that was just about the only thing I knew about kids.

“Yeah.” A glint of excitement entered his eyes. “Most COD, but Jane hasn’t been able to afford the new pack. So right now, I only have Mortal Combat and a few MMORPGs, but I’m already pretty high up, so it’s not worth playing anymore unless I can buy more packs.”

“Uh-huh.” I had no clue what the kid just said, and it must have shown on my face because he questioned, “You don’t play video games?”

“Nope,” I said. My mother could never afford them, and by the time I could, I’d lost my taste for them.

“Yeah. Jane’s pretty iffy about them too. She lets me play once in a while when I’m done with school work, but she gets worried if it’s too violent or I get too angry when I play.”

“So, which ones are your favorite?” I asked.

“COD, easily,” he said. “Here, I’ll show you.”

And then he walked to the TV and turned on the black box under it, turning on the TV simultaneously. He then took one of the consoles and began flipping through until he landed on what he wanted.

I watched him play for a few seconds before I got the gist. It was essentially a game where you shot people. It got a zero for realism, but it was pretty entertaining.

“I’ve played this level so many times,” Emmett said. “I wanted to get the new one, but…Jane says maybe on my birthday.”

“Or you can get it now.”

“Really?” His eye was wide with so much excitement that I nodded. Even if I hadn’t meant it before, I definitely meant it now.

“Yeah,” I said. Definitely felt something there.

“Thanks,” he said, and he turned back to playing his video game while Angel finished her food. She turned to blink up at me.

“What do you do for fun, Angel?” I asked, and she ducked her head without answering.

“She likes to read,” Emmett said without looking away from his game. “Jane’s supposed to get her some new books, but with work and everything, I guess she forgot.”

“We’ll go out and get one later.”

The girl’s eyes widened with so much hope in them. “Promise?” she whispered.

“I promise.” I would promise the world to those eyes.

That was when I heard more voices coming in from outside, and they sounded angry.

“That must be Felix and Beth,” Emmett commented without taking his eyes off the game.

And they were going to wake up their sister, which I couldn’t allow. I sighed, moving Angel out of my lap so I could get up. Angel looked up at me curiously.

“I’ll be right back.”

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