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“You didn’t have to do this.”
“I know,” I acknowledged, turning back to look at her.
“Did you sleep at all?” she asked gently.
“Nope.”
“Yeah.” She sighed, crossing her arms over her chest. “I kept waking up thinking I’d open my eyes and he’d be standing in your room.”
“He’s not gonna be back,” I assured her.
“You didn’t see him,” she argued. “He was so sure that I took that money.”
“He won’t be back, Emilia,” I repeated firmly, hoping she wouldn’t ask any questions. I wasn’t forbidden from telling her, no one had given that order, but the less she knew about her old boss, the better for her.
“Oh,” she breathed, understanding dawning on her face. “Okay, then.”
“You’re safe, sugar,” I said, taking a step forward. “I swear I won’t ever let somethin’—”
“Michael,” she said, lifting one hand to stop me. “I think me and Rhett should stay with your parents until I find a place.”
“What?” She couldn’t have surprised me more if she’d slapped me.
“We tried, you know,” she murmured with a shrug. “But living together isn’t working. This isn’t working.”
“Sugar, I know I let you down,” I said, my heart starting to thump hard in my chest. “I fucked up. I know you can’t see past that now—”
“That’s not what this is,” she said, shaking her head. “Not at all.”
“Then why do you think you need to move?”
“I needed you at the club yesterday,” she replied, her eyes sad. “I was scared and embarrassed, and I needed you, and you bailed.”
“I already told you—”
“You bailed because you’re still angry at me,” she said, talking over me. “And I get it, okay? I do. But I can’t just live here, waiting for the day that you decide to forgive me for something I didn’t feel like I had any control over. I can’t live like that, half in and half out and walking on eggshells so you don’t get pissed and take off for a few hours… or for good. I thought I could, but I can’t.”
“I’m not goin’ anywhere.”
“You’re saying that because of what just happened,” she said, lifting her hands in supplication.
“I’m sayin’ it because it’s the damn truth.”
“Keep your voice down.”
“You want me to tell you I love you? I love you. There. Done. You’re not movin’ out.”
Emilia scoffed. “Yeah, that’s exactly what I was looking for.”
“I told you,” I said, stepping forward. “You leave and there’s nowhere on this earth I won’t find you.”
“You won’t have to look,” she sputtered. “We’ll be two miles away at your parents’ house.”
“No, you won’t.”
“Why are you making this so hard?” Her hands balled into fists.
“That’s what she said,” I replied, the words falling off my tongue with zero thought.
