by Stella Rhys
It was for Aly’s sake more than mine. My mom had been in the hospital the day Aly was born – she loved her like a daughter, but she was also fiercely protective of me in a way that she wasn’t with even Julian. Maybe it was because I was the younger one. Maybe it was the fact that I was the one who was around during her darkest times. Whatever it was, it meant that there was no doubt in my mind that she’d take it personally and lash out at Aly for ignoring my attempts at contact.
And considering how much Aly had always craved my mother’s approval, I couldn’t do that to her.
“Well, if your roommate situation is peachy, that’s one less thing for me to worry about,” Mom said. “Anyway, now that I know you are not in the Maldives, will you be making it to the game this Sunday? Gram misses you and Ozzy.”
“Of course,” I said. Sundays at home were on autopilot for me. For as long as I could remember, I spent Sundays at Empire Stadium with my family. It had been a tradition since I was a baby – one that included Aly’s family, too. Of course now, the tradition had us sitting not in the bleachers but a VIP suite behind home plate.
Perks of being related to the owner.
“Perfect,” Mom said. “And feel free to bring Aly. I don’t think she’s watched the game from our suite yet.”
“Sounds good. But I thought I wasn’t allowed to bring girls to Sunday games,” I grinned.
“Well, Sunday is a family day, so no bringing girls unless they’re serious girlfriends. You know that,” Mom lectured. “But Aly is different. I know she’ll never be your girlfriend – Lord, I wish – but she’ll always be a part of the family.”
I held in my laugh. There was no reason for Mom to suspect anything romantic between Aly and myself, but I still didn’t want to tip off her ultra-sensitive radar when it came to my dating life. I could only imagine how she’d react if she found out that Aly and I were any kind of involved. She’d probably sob for hours and have wedding invitations out by the end of the week. Just the thought made me shudder.
“Anyway, Ma, I gotta go. Someone’s calling me.”
“A girl?”
I took my phone off my ear to look at who was calling. “It’s Britt.”
“Oh. Her,” Mom said bluntly. “That reminds me, you do need a date for the gala next week. Not her though.”
“Yeah,” I said vaguely.
“I mean it, Emmett. You’re hosting it, so you cannot show up solo. Not unless you want me and all my friends pushing their daughters on you.”
“Alright, Mom,” I forced a laugh despite my exasperation. Leave it to her to remind me of how much I wasn’t into commitment. “I have to go though,” I said. It was just a line at first but then I remembered I really had to. “Shit. I just realized I’m supposed to have a meeting with Britt about the gala today. Fuck.”
“Language.”
“Sorry,” I winced. “I gotta go though. Love you, Ma. Tell Gram I say hi.”
“Love you too, Emmett, and will do,” Mom said with a smile in her voice. She was always good at going straight from pissed to happy again. At least with me. “Please pick up the next time I call though, alright? And give my grandkid a hug for me. Bye.”
I laughed and rolled my eyes when I hung up, but I still turned to Ozzy and said, “Grandma says hi.” Mom called herself “Grandma” around him enough that his ears perked up when he heard the G word. Most days, he cocked his head as if to ask, “Well? Are we going to see Grandma or not?” but today, he just went back to annihilating his tennis ball. I sensed he had aggression to get out for being kicked out of his spot in my bed last night. I laughed as I made a mental note to get him some new toys to make up for that. Then with a grimace, I listened to Britt’s voicemail and opted to text her back instead of call.
ME: Sorry I completely forgot about the meeting. Yes we’re still on for noon.
BRITT: All good sweetie. How’s the headache?
I squinted for a second before I realized what Britt was talking about. I’d barely thought about whatever excuse I’d given to get away from her at Cantina last night. From what I recalled now, I made up something about being irritable from a bad migraine. I was under no impression that Britt believed me but she never seemed to call people out when they lied. She did it so often herself that she didn’t think twice.
ME: I’m better thanks. I’ll meet you at Blue Harbor at noon. Usual table.
BRITT: Let’s switch it up for once. I’m already doing my 10:30 meeting at your little friend’s restaurant. Wrapping up soon so meet me here later. It’ll be like a reunion of last night. ;)
I stared at her text for three seconds then grumbled, “Shit.”
For some reason, I didn’t trust Britt to behave herself around Aly today. I wasn’t the best at reading the subtleties of girls’ interactions with other girls, but it didn’t really take a genius to know that Britt was less than pleased with being ignored throughout dinner last night – and then bailed on no less.
So hurrying into my closet, I tore off my towel and got dressed in about thirty seconds flat. Another thirty seconds, and I had Ozzy in his harness and both of us out the door.
20
ALY
Opening your restaurant has transformed the Stanton Family name from just a company to a brand. Tell us a little about the journey it took to get here.
Chewing my nail, I stared at the email interview on my laptop like it was a Calculus test from high school. It was an easy enough question. I had sought out specific jobs to get close to specific people – basically network my way into knowing how to run a business.
I totally knew the answer to this question. I just had no idea where to start because twelve hours later, I was still reeling from what happened last night. I was still processing the fact that I’d had sex with Emmett Hoult – and woken up without an ounce of regret. Disbelief? Sure. Nerves? You bet.
But no regret.
And because of that, I’d made it through only two questions of this interview so far – and I’d started it well over two hours ago.
“I’d exchange assignments with you, but you know the answers better,” Evie said, grinning at her laptop as she did the scheduling for next week.
Tuesdays at the restaurant were slightly less busy than weekends, which meant that instead of the office, we did our work on the floor at the little corner table between the raw bar and window.
Peering over the top of her screen, Evie smirked.
“Also, you don’t deserve to have the best sex of your life and get all your work done for you the next morning. That’s entirely too much good fortune in a short period of time, and we don’t want to spoil you,” she said, giggling when I looked up and shook my head at her. “Seriously though, can you give me the details of how he made you come with just the head of his dick? I need to know the logistics of that. For science.”
“First off, no. Second, can you not talk about his dick so loudly in front of our staff? I think that might be blatant sexual harassment,” I said, nodding at poor Teddy behind the raw bar. He was an oyster-shucking ace but he was also a shy nineteen-year-old kid who was blushing furiously while trying to pretend he couldn’t hear us.
“Okay, I’ll whisper,” Evie whispered. “So, like, was he using his dick like a vibrator against your clit, or – ”
“Evie!” I hissed. “How was your night last night?” I asked hastily.
“Oof. Talk about a boner-killer. Well, as you know, we were out of frozen pizzas,” Evie started, tapping away on her keyboard. “But we did agree on something the therapist emailed us. He said something about how Mike and I need to hang out together with each other’s friends, because watching your significant other interact with other people is supposed to remind you of what you love about them or whatever. So whenever you and Emmett are ready, I’ve got a double date with your names on it,” Evie said. But then she snorted. “Unless you’re still recovering from last night’s double date.”
“It was definitely… a doozy.”
> “Yeah, I’d think so, because it’s got you using the word ‘doozy,’” Evie laughed. “I want to thoroughly make fun of you for that but I’ll give you a break.”
“How weirdly merciful of you,” I teased.
“Well. I figure you’re gonna need it considering who just walked in.”
I squinted at Evie for a second but then my face fell.
Crap.
I knew without looking around that it was Britt. One, she always came around ten-thirty on Tuesdays. Two, she had an insanely loud voice that she showed off with pride. I stiffened as I waited for her to prance over and say hi, but luckily, I only heard her greeting whichever client she’d come to have a meeting with.
“You’re safe for now,” Evie said under her breath. “Though I can feel her cattiness brewing.”
It sounded like a typical Evie joke but I could honestly feel it too. Aside from the palpable heat of Britt’s eyes on the back of my head, I could see through the reflection in the raw bar that she kept looking my way. It was no surprise at all that she strutted over to our table the second she wrapped up her meeting.
“Good morning, ladies,” she smiled, perching her butt on a stool in front of the raw bar.
I usually saw her wearing sexy but work appropriate outfits to my restaurant, like skintight blouses and tiny pencil skirts, but today Britt had on a peach-colored sundress with the wide V-neck cut damned near down to her navel. I almost wanted to ask her where she bought her boob tape because it was a miracle that she’d yet to have a wardrobe malfunction.
“Morning, Britt. Hitting the club soon?” Evie asked, wiggling her eyebrows at Britt’s dress. Britt looked down her front and waved a hand in the air.
“Oh, this thing? No, no club for me, doll. I’m actually going to have a meeting with Emmett here in about twenty minutes.”
Ah. Well, that explained that. I smiled at Britt, knowing well that she expected me to ask what she and Emmett were meeting about, but I didn’t feel like giving her the satisfaction of making me feel out of the loop. Besides, I could guess that it was probably for Emmett’s gala.
“It’s for Emmett’s gala,” Britt said importantly.
Yep. Exactly.
“Ooh. What gala?” Evie cocked her head. I knew she was genuinely curious because she found Emmett’s wealth to be so very fascinating. “Why, Aly, that sounds very fancy,” she said, grinning at me. Britt cooed.
“Oh, you’re so cute! Yes, I guess you could call it ‘fancy.’ It is black tie, so you’ll definitely have to save up a few paychecks for your dress, Aly,” she winked at me.
Aaand there it is.
The first dig. Evie and I had predicted it so the second we heard it, we glanced at each other and shared a satisfied smile – which was kind of twisted, but that was just us.
“I mean we’re definitely going all out for this one,” Britt nodded, once again carrying the conversation all by herself. “The cause means a lot to him, as you know,” she nodded at me then quickly furrowed her brow. “Or maybe you don’t know. Do you know what the gala’s for this year?” When I didn’t answer right away, she smiled. “It’s for heart disease. Because his dad died of a heart attack when he was eighteen.”
“Yes. I know that.”
“Really? Were you at the funeral? Because I don’t think I saw you.”
I couldn’t help my surprise. “You were at Uncle George’s funeral?” I blinked then caught myself. “I mean – George.”
Britt’s eyes went wide. “Wow. Your families are so close you call his parents aunt and uncle?”
I chewed my lip, knowing well that Britt was setting me up. Still, I answered, “Yes.”
“Yikes. Then why didn’t you go to the funeral? Emmett was such a mess that day. It was so, so sad. I mean – to have your father and grandpa die within days of each other? So horrible.”
I blinked.
Wait. Holy shit. I didn’t even know that his grandfather died within days of his dad. What the fuck? Did I know and forget? Or did I just not know at all? A deep frown furrowed my brow, and guilt panged in my stomach as Britt went blithely on.
“Poor thing. His life, his whole family – it was such a horrible mess,” she said, wearing an exaggerated pout. But in a snap, she perked right back up. “But hey, look at him now! Sexy, successful and sleeping with a new girl every week.” She tossed a wink at me. “Wonder what adventures next week will bring. Right?”
Evie bristled. “Something tells me he might’ve just found a girl to stick with for awhile,” she said defensively as I kicked her under the table.
“Oh, bless your heart. You don’t know about his ten-day rule then, do you?” Britt smirked. “Don’t worry. Just ask him – he’s pretty open about it.”
“Totally. Will do,” Evie said with irritation, engaged in some fake-smile stare-off with Britt as my brain tried to catch up with everything she said.
I had a feeling I’d normally be rattled by whatever ten-day rule Britt was talking about, but I was too busy stunned by what she said about Emmett’s dad and grandfather. I’d always assumed George Hoult Sr. had died of old age, but apparently, he’d died within days of his son. Then there was Britt’s claim that Emmett’s life had been a “horrible mess” for years after.
Damn.
My heart twisted at the thought of easy breezy Emmett going through suffering of that magnitude. His only worries back then were his three favorite things: football, friends and girls. I could hardly imagine what he was like in the face of hardship. But whether or not I could imagine it, it didn’t change the fact that it happened, and that Emmett had been through a world of pain since I was gone. He just didn’t show it.
And I was an asshole for assuming his life was never anything but easy.
“Oh, look!” Britt chirped. “Speak of the devil.”
I heard the chime of the door swinging open and before even turning around, I watched Evie’s eyes and mouth pop open.
“Holy fuck – hot, hot, hot!” she mouthed furiously before I turned around and felt my breath hitch in my throat.
Because not only did Emmett look sinfully good in a plain white tee and blue jeans, just looking at him reminded me of everything we’d done last night. Maybe it was because he was wearing the shirt I’d slept in. But it was probably more to do with the fact that his blue eyes locked on me with such intensity I could feel a hot prickle dance over my skin.
“Hey,” he grinned at me, the sound of his voice flooding me with a sense of ease.
“Hey.” I’d set out a plan to be calm and cool when I saw him, but I couldn’t help the giant smile that spread my lips. “How… are you this morning?” I asked awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. We both somewhat snorted at my question before he gave an answer.
“Great. Better than ever,” he said before Britt cut in.
“Ibuprofen works wonders,” she said for reasons I didn’t completely understand. “Now that you’re feeling ‘better than ever,’ Emmett, are you ready to start our meeting?” she asked, innocently clasping her hands in a way that required her to push her cleavage together. Emmett looked at her then nodded at her table.
“I’m early. I’ll meet you there soon,” he said, prompting her humph sound as she marched off. When he turned back around, he smiled at Evie. “Sorry for being rude. I’m Emmett.”
“Yes, Emmett Hoult. I’m Evie. I’ve heard all about you,” she said, putting true emphasis on the word “all” and earning another kick under the table.
Emmett laughed. “Well, I hope it’s all good things.”
“Mm, it’s been a mixed bag.”
“Okay, Evie,” I interrupted before turning back to Emmett with a shy smile. “Hey,” I murmured. “What’s up?”
“Wanna order sushi and watch the Empires game tonight?” he asked.
“Oh.” My eyes fluttered. I hadn’t expected him to reply with a full-on plan, but I guess it didn’t sound half bad. “Yeah. Okay,” I said brightly to hide the fact that I wasn’t
particularly jazzed about these plans. “That sounds like… a nice, relaxing night.”
He smiled. “Sure. Well, I’ll let you work then,” he said, giving Evie a goodbye nod before turning back to me. “See you back home.”
“See you,” I said slowly, trying but failing to think of something better to end our conversation on. I mean the conversation we had was technically fine, but I couldn’t help the sudden knots in my stomach.
“What?” Evie frowned, easily reading my expression.
I shook my head to wave it off but eventually caved. “Was that weird just now?”
“Was what weird?”
I wiggled my lips. I didn’t want to admit it but I was suddenly worried by how casual Emmett was. I’d been just about losing my mind over him all morning. It felt like I’d become a new person – that everything in my world was about to be different. I was so sure that what happened between Emmett and me last night was turn-your-life-upside-down crazy, but apparently, I was alone in feeling that way.
Maybe I’d just over read things.
The thought crossed my mind just as Evie arched an eyebrow.
“Aly…? Still waiting.”
“Oh! It’s nothing. I mean I know this is gonna sound stupid,” I whispered hastily. “But I just thought he’d have… more to say to me?” I cringed at myself as I shrugged. “And be more excited to see me? Oh God, I sound like an idiot.”
“Stop it,” Evie scolded. “You don’t sound like an idiot. You’re just over-thinking things because you like him.”
I wrinkled my nose. My instinct was to deny it but there was no point anymore. I liked Emmett Hoult – to the point that I was getting irrationally jealous that he was sitting with Britt right now and not me. Good Lord.
“He was totally excited to see you before. Don’t hold it against him that he didn’t have an over-the-top reaction. Boys are just like that,” Evie said. “I mean Mike definitely is,” she muttered before pursing her lips for a second and frowning at me. “Was it what Britt just said? About some ten-day rule?”
