Page 62 of Anything But Lonely

“Emerson is the one crushing on her boss,” Ava laughs, swatting Rumi back.

For as much as I didn’t want to come this morning, watching the two of them playfully go at each other like the sisters I know they’ve found in each other has the chains around my heart rattling just enough to feel something.

“Emerson, “ I interrupt, holding a hand up at each of them, stifling my laughter at their antics, “is not crushing on anyone.”

“Yeah, okay,” Ava scoffs as she takes a sip from her glass. “If you weren’t crushing on him when he was lead singer of your favorite band, you’re for sure crushing on him now.”

“It’s okay to admit it,” Rumi laughs, leaning her shoulder into mine.

I scoff. “I am not crushing on Mateo.”

But even as I say the words, they don’t feel as solid as I thought they would.

I look back and forth between my two best friends, and they smile at me like they can see right through me.

And maybe it’s because they can.

CHAPTER 23

MATEO

I’m supposed to be driving home right now.

Not to the address I made Liam send me.

The address to Emerson’s apartment.

The address I had to resist the urge to demand he forget he ever had.

Luckily, he took the bait when I said I was sending her a holiday bonus check—which of course I am also doing.

I glance at the passenger seat of my car, finding the white envelope.

But I didn’t have stamps.

I pull up to a red light, pulling my phone from my back pocket to re-read my last conversation with Emerson.

Where are you?

Emerson

Needed to get home

I called an Uber and headed out when I woke up

See you in the new year, rockstar

I’m still kicking myself for not saying anything else, but what was I supposed to say to a dismissal like that? I was just thankful that she responded and would be back working for me come January.

When I woke up after that night on the tour bus to find that she completely disappeared, it was enough to have me wanting to burst into flames on the spot.

It’s been a week since, and I’m still trying to figure out what to say to her.

Yet somehow, my brain landed on the conclusion of just showing up at her apartment with a check I easily could’ve mailed.

My first night with a woman in years, and I somehow fucked it up so badly that she didn’t even bother to say goodbye the next morning?

Just my fucking luck.