Page 70 of Does He Know?

I hold my hands up. “You can stop there. I don’t need the details.”

“Mind straight to the gutter.” Mom shakes her head, but she’s smiling.

“This isn’t my first rodeo,” I tell them as my phone alerts me to a message. I quickly dig into my pocket, hoping it’s from Emerson. I smile when I see her name.

Emerson: Well, I didn’t plan on wearing my coffee this morning, but here I am.

It’s followed by a picture of her light-colored jeans covered in what I assume is her coffee.

Me: You okay? Did you burn yourself?

Emerson: I’m fine. It was lukewarm at best. I went to the library early to study and stopped to get it on my way, so yeah, it wasn’t a huge loss, and the cup was only maybe a quarter of the way full. Thankfully.

Me: I hate that, baby girl, but I’m glad you didn’t get burned. It could have been much worse.

Emerson: Facts. Missing you. Have a good day building that deck.

Me: Thanks. Text me later.

Emerson: Always.

I shove my phone back in my pocket and look up to find my parents staring at me. Dad is smirking and Mom has a grin from ear to ear lighting up her face.

“There he is,” she announces.

“I’ve been here the whole time.” I reach for a cinnamon roll and dive in.

“Oh, you were sitting here, but you were with whoever you were texting. Who is she?” Mom asks.

Fuck.

“Nosy.” I point my finger at her and she grins.

“Fine. Don’t tell me, but whoever she is, I like her already for putting that dopey, happy grin on your face.”

“Mom,” I groan, and they both laugh.

“Eat up,” Dad says. “I hope to finish today so you can take tomorrow off and do nothing. Or… something.” He winks, and my shoulders shake with laughter.

I love my parents. They’re supportive and not pushy. I know it’s killing my mom not to pry and beg to meet the mystery woman, but they’re letting me take this at my own pace. She’d truly flip her lid if she knew that she already knows and adores the woman who has stolen my heart. I’ve never brought anyone home to meet them. I never wanted to.

Not until Emerson.

I finish scarfing down my cinnamon roll, thank Mom with a kiss on her cheek, and follow Dad out to the back deck to get to work.

I’m stepping out of the shower when my phone rings. I make a dash for the sink where I left it, not willing to miss a call or a text from Emerson. I’m aware of how whipped that makes me sound, and I’m okay with it. I miss her like fucking crazy. Those calls and text messages are our lifeline. I smile when I see it’s a call.

“Hey, baby girl, how was your day?” I greet her.

“Meh,” she says, and my protective instincts kick in.

“Emerson. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” She sniffs. “Everything. It’s just been a shit kind of day.”

“Tell me everything.”

She sighs heavily, and I’m preparing myself to coax it out of her when she finally starts talking. “You know about the coffee. I bombed a big test, which sucks, but the entire class failed miserably, so we get to retake it. Then on the way home, I got a flat tire. Thankfully, one of the guys from class, Gabe, was behind me. He stopped to help me, not that I can’t do it on my own, but it’s raining, and I felt bad, so I stayed outside of the car to help him, and we both got drenched. I came home to shower and curl up in bed, and my blanket no longer smells like you, and I fucking miss you, Rome. I miss you so much that my chest physically aches, and I hate this. I hate being away from you, and today just fucking sucks.”

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