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“I’ve spent a few months... in various states of reflection. I’ll admit that much.”
I want to know more, but I’m not sure how to even ask. “Forgiveness,” I say instead. “That’s... a big ask, Emerson.”
“I know.” He nods. “I don’t expect it to happen now, but... someday? Maybe. When I prove to you I’ve changed.”
When. Not if.
He tilts toward me a bit. “And I don’t know. Maybe you know a thing or two about reinventing yourself after high school.”
He has a point. Again.
“What makes you say that?” I ask.
“Beta Kappa? Never would have guessed.” He eyes me again. This time, he lingers on what’s barely there of my cleavage. “You look good, Kirby.”
Hold on.
“Are you hitting on me, Emerson?” I ask, just tipsy enough to be blunt about it.
Emerson smiles, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip. “I think I am?”
Hold on for one goddamn minute.
“That’s weird.”
“It really is.” His eyes go softer, bluer. “I’ll stop. If you want me to.”
I take a breath, my pulse pounding hard enough to choke me as the corners of my mouth turn upward.
“Dana?”
I blink and Connor’s at my side, his arm close enough to touch mine.
“Hey, Morgan,” Emerson greets, taking a quick step back. “How’s it going?”
Connor ignores him, his focus on me instead. “Is everything all right out here?” he asks.
“Yeah,” I say. “Emerson and I were just catching up.”
A frown. He doesn’t believe it at all.
“So, Coach Thomas seems like he’ll be a real hardass,” Emerson says to Connor.
“Yeah,” Connor replies, stiff and cold. “Might be difficult to impress him.”
Emerson shrugs. “I’m not afraid of a little hard work.”
“Neither am I.”
“Good to know.”A smile and Emerson turns away. “I’ll see you around, princess,” he says to me.
Softer. Bluer.
“Yeah. See you around, Emerson,” I echo.
He walks down the deck, joining the group around the fire pit. They gladly welcome him the moment they catch sight of his golden sticker.
I’ll definitely be seeing more of him around campus. Can’t be helped now.
