Page 63 of Emerson

Clint.

I frown, swiping to answer the call. I don’t know what I expect, but with the way my heart is immediately hammering away, it’s nothing good.

“Everything okay, old man?” I ask, closing Penny’s door and walking around the front of the truck.

“No. Emery has called no less than six times in the last twenty minutes. Apparently, his shower drain is clogged. A-fucking-gain. I told him to use the damn hair snake I put in his cupboard last time, and now he’s saying it’s stuck. Pretty sure he finished his damn shower anyway and only shut the water off before it started pouring over the edge with all the splashing I was hearing in the background.”

I swallow, a ghost of a grin on my face as I get in the truck. “Sounds about right.”

“I can’t get over there. Jo has me driving halfway across the world to pick up a damn chicken she saw up for adoption online.”

I snort, sticking my key in the ignition. “Warren?”

“That kid throws one hell of a punch, but I’m not sure pipes are his thing. Can you swing over there, or do I need to remind him that he has a maintenance number?”

Emery told me once that having a random guy come into his apartment freaked him out. As much as I think this is a bad fucking idea, I’m already nodding.

“Yeah, I’ll stop by now.”

“Thanks, kid. He owes you one.”

I toss the phone in the passenger seat when the call disconnects and glance in the rear-view mirror, where I can see Penny in the baby-proof mirror facing her car seat. “Guess where we’re going, baby? Wanna see Unc Em?”

Penny starts chanting Unc Em, and I laugh, feeling a lightness I haven’t felt in a while.

I figure he’ll hear us as soon as I use my key to get in the security door open. Penny is looking around, asking every other breath, “Unc Em?” and doesn’t stop as we make our way up the flight of stairs to the second floor.

It’s been a long time since I’ve seen the inside of Emery’s apartment.

I hike Penny up on my hip and knock. She laughs, leaning forward to bang both hands on the wooden surface.

“Alright, alright,” I hear Emery yell from inside. Then I hear a raspy, broken meow that can only be described as…crusty.

Penny screeches her joy, banging happily on the door.

I let her.

It takes only a handful more bangs from Pen before the door swings open, and Emerson quickly goes from a scowling man to a speechless one.

Well, speechless for a second. And then he crosses his arms and takes a step back.

“What are you doing here?” he looks at Penny, who is actively trying to fight my hold to get to him, and Emery narrows his eyes back at me when I don’t immediately spill my reasons for showing up on his doorstep.

Before he can consider slamming the door in my face, I set Penny on her feet and grin when she blows right by Emery to the inside of his apartment.

Can’t shut me out now, baby.

“Your dad called, said you needed help with the shower drain,” I flick my eyes down, taking in his baggy style jeans and cropped graphic t-shirt. His feet are covered in fuzzy black socks, and his hair is damp, piled on top of his head in a messy bun.

So damn pretty.

He sputters when I skirt around him, careful not to touch. If I touch him, even a graze of an arm against mine, I’m liable to do something stupid, like grab his face and smack a fat fucking kiss on his frowning mouth.

He didn’t say bye when he ran out this morning. No goodbye kiss.

I knew I should have woken him up last night. I also knew I wasn’t strong enough to. Not when he was naked and soft in sleep. Not when he rubbed his face against my chest and threw a thigh over me.

I’m actually so incredibly fucked it’s not even funny.