Page 29 of Emerson

“I just think it’s funny that he blames it all on me. What an asshole. Temper tantrum, my ass.”

“Who?”

“And I think it’s absolutely fucking hilarious that he’s pretending to… That he’s acting like he wants…” I jab the lettuce repeatedly, then toss the fork on the table and sit back, crossing my arms over my chest.

“Boy troubles?”

“I should just move to a convent and become a nun. Do they accept gay men yet?”

“Oh, so it’s like, a full meltdown then.” Zane takes another bite of his wrap and checks his watch. “Would you say a medium-sized meltdown or a major one? I could probably go back to work late.”

“Unc Em!”

Zane looks behind me, a smile immediately taking over his face.

“Don’t make eye contact,” I hiss, slinking down in my seat.

“Penny-bug,” my idiot brother says, dropping his wrap to stand and make grabby hands in the air.

“Unc Z!” the little voice screeches, then follows it up with giggles. I slink lower, refusing to turn around. But soon enough, the little girl is passed over the low wrought iron fence next to us, separating the cafe patio from the sidewalk. Penny slaps a little hand on Zane’s cheek, and he smiles wider.

“How are you, Penny-bug?”

“Sorry,” a woman's voice says. “She would have screamed the whole way to Dill’s house if we didn’t stop to say hi.”

Zane flicks his eyes over to Sabrina and winks. I roll my eyes to the heavens and cross my legs.

“It’s okay. We love Penny-bug over here, huh, Unc Em?”

The little girl flings her head around to look at me, and I smile through a cringe. “Hello, Penelope.” Her hair is wild, two uneven pigtails sitting on top of her head with bows hanging on for dear life. Her pink shirt is stained, and it looks like she has chocolate or something dried on her cheek. Jelly?

What a mess. Kids are gross.

With absolutely no warning, Penny folds herself in an attempt to get to me. Zane laughs, and I’m shaking my head, but it's no use. It’s either grab her or end up with a crusty baby in my salad.

I settle back in my chair with her facing me in my lap. She studies me quietly, biting at two of her fingers and drooling all over the place.

I sigh, setting her on my knees and working on tightening her pigtails.

“Dillon not at the cabin today?” Zane asks Sabrina.

“He was this morning, but he’s taking the afternoon off so I can work an extra shift. The daycare didn’t have an open evening slot last minute.”

Zane tucks his hands in his pockets and nods. “Dill’s a good dad.”

“The best,” Sabrina says, nothing but honesty in the words. I glance over at her, and my stomach sinks like it always has when I look at her. The same soft, tall babe with beachy, effortless brunette waves and bronzed skin. She’s one of the prettiest women I’ve ever seen in real life. Exactly the type one would expect to procreate with a man like Dillon.

“I just wish he would find a life outside of work and being a dad.”

Zane waggles his brows. “We did just see him with a lady.”

Sabrina laughs. “We both know that’s not what Dill is looking for.”

Zane’s eyebrows stop waggling, staying somewhere mid-forehead, slightly confused smile stuck on his face.

Penny wipes her wet, slobbery fingers on my cheek, but I’m stuck looking at Sabrina, tense and braced for impact.

Sabrina misses Zane’s look, still chuckling. Then she looks over at me. “Maybe you could take him out sometime? I feel like he needs to hang out with more gay people, you know?”