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“The other reason I want to see you succeed?”
I go still.
“My kid.” He folds his hands on his desk. “He’s seventeen, and I want him to know that his learning differences don’t have to hold him back.”
“I’m nobody’s role model, sir.”
“I know that.” He laughs. “But maybe you will be. . .someday.”
I walk out of the office with the study packet and more food for thought.
Moving back here isn’t just changing the way I think about Emmy, it’s changing the way I think about myself.
I stash my bag in my room, then head downstairs to the day room where most of the guys on shift are gathered around a table. I walk over to the coffee pot and pour myself a cup, and when I turn around, I see Emmy standing in the doorway, holding a white box, looking awkward and unsure.
Jace glances up and sees her, then looks at me. The others quiet down.
She smiles, and the room gets brighter.
The buzzing inside of me calms just being in the same room as her.
“Bookshop Girl!” Levi calls out. He picks something up off the table and walks over to her, looking at what he’s holding, then up at her. “It’s a different look for you than the photo, but. . .” he indicates from her head to her feet, “. . .this works too.” He gives her a once-over, and my blood starts to boil.
Exactly what he was hoping for, I’m sure.
Emmy takes a step away as Levi reaches her. He drapes an arm around her and holds the photo up in front of her. “What do you think?” He looks at me. “I think Larrabee looks a little bored.” He looks at her. “Which is weird, because this picture has got my imagination working overtime.”
Emmy’s face turns pink, then I see her expression brighten, then change, becoming determined.
She straightens.
“Levi, you’re the human version of period cramps.”
There’s a pause, then a collective Ohhhh!! from the rest of the guys.
Levi steps back, as shocked as I am, and tries to play it off. “Ooh, she’s got spunk, I like that!”
Emmy puts a hand on her hip. “You have the rest of your life to be an idiot. Can’t you just take today off?”
Another round of Ohhh!!! and a few “She got you, son!” and “Quit while you’re ahead!”
Levi holds up his hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I give up!”
Emmy strides past him, pausing beside him only to say, “In my mind, you’re buried in cement up to your neck. . .no, up to your nose.” She puts a hand on his shoulder and loudly whispers, “It’s quieter that way.”
She plucks the photo from his frozen fingers and grins at me.
Emaline Smart can handle herself.
It’s shocking, and impressive, and really, really hot.
“Owen? Can I talk to you for a second outside?”
In my dumbfounded state, I don’t answer right away, and the guys chime in with catcalls and whoops, breaking my stupor.
“Uh, yeah. Yeah, sure, no problem.”
Levi walks back to the couch, embarrassed and angrily shoving the guys away while they continue to pile on.
