Chapter Nineteen
Emily
Later that Week
After helping my mom wash up, I brush her hair. It’s not a job for the weak. Yes, I get it. She took care of me when I was a baby. She did all the things for me, including wiping my butt. But when the roles are reversed, it’s weird.
And my brother is unwilling to take on any of these tasks. Not that I blame him. I should’ve had Bella come over to do her hair. She lives for this stuff.
I stifle a yawn and shake my head. When was the last time I got a full night’s sleep? After my shift yesterday, I drove to the closest town over, worked as a trainer at their football game. The second my head hit the pillow after showering, I got a call to sub for the remainder of the night shift.
As I set the brush down on the kitchen table, she says, “Thank you, dear. I know this is a lot to ask. It’s one thing to fix a sandwich for me and quite another to brush my hair and help me put on clothes.”
“It’s fine, Mom. Sometimes we must do things for the people we love that we might not be over the moon about.”
“You’re right,” she sighs and settles back into her chair. “There are so many times when you or your brother would throw up, and I didn’t want to clean up the mess. I wanted to throw a newspaper over it and walk away.”
I shudder and thank my lucky stars that she isn’t nauseous on top of everything else. “That’s something I’m not looking forward to.” I shove the brush, comb, lotion, and other hygiene items into a bag and close the zipper.
“It’s not all bad. When they’re babies, you won’t mind.
It’ll stay that way until they’re about nine or ten.
But once a fourteen-year-old boy, who should be able to make it to the bathroom on his own, yacks all over his carpet and wakes you up to tell you about it, you’ll struggle with not tossing your own lunch onto the floor. ”
I drop the bag onto the tray with her other necessities and brace my hands on my hips. “Thank you for the amazing visual.”
“You’re welcome.” Her eyes dance with humor before her expression fades to one of relief. “I’m so glad you weren’t home the other night when the fire started.”
“Me, too.” The yawn I previously forced down wins, causing my eyes to water.
“I didn’t make it back home until after everyone had left.
From what I’ve heard, the building is salvageable.
” The owners moved away several months ago, leaving the house unattended.
“The fire department thinks it was faulty wiring that started the blaze.”
“That’s what I heard as well.” She quirks an eyebrow. “I heard Jake was there until the fire was out. Have you seen him lately?”
“Yes.” I shrug. “I saw him the other day.”
“I wondered if that wasn’t why Kaleb was muttering under his breath.” She uses her good hand to brush a piece of lint off her pants.
God, my brother is a pain in the ass. “He needs to mind his own business. Not that it matters. There’s no reason for him to get worked up about anything. I don’t see Jake that way, and he’s never seen me in that way.”
I squeeze the muscles in the back of my neck, poking my thumb and index fingers into the stiffest balls of muscles, and fight back a whimper of pain and relief.
Yes, it was nice of him to check on me, but it’s not a newsworthy event. I live next door to a building that was on fire. He’s my brother’s best friend. He’s a police officer. I’m a paramedic. Together, we’re part of the team that keeps the community safe. That’s it.
Except, we keep missing each other when we’re out on calls, which should be a good thing, but I stupidly miss seeing him.
“Why do you think that?”
I frown as I stop massaging. “Why do I think, what?”
“That Jake would never like you.”
“Mom, he barely tolerates me. I’m his best friend’s pesky little sister.”
“So?” She adjusts her position in the chair, straightening and sitting higher.
“Let it go.” I wave my hand in frustration as I drag my cell phone out of my back pocket. This conversation is going nowhere.
“I think–”
“Stop.” My eyes narrow into slits as I drop my phone down to my side.
She might be foolish enough to think he could be interested in me, but I’m not.
“Jake is a flirt and a serial dater. He always has been, and even if he decided to settle down, it wouldn’t be with me.
It would be with someone like Amanda. The beauty queen type.
” I wave my hand over myself. “Not the gym rat type.”
“I think you’re wrong.”
“Do you remember when Jake’s friend, Spencer, stayed here?”
“Of course.”
“That weekend, Jake said some not-so-pleasant things to me and about me behind my back to Spencer. He made it clear, crystal clear, that I wasn’t someone he wanted to spend time with.”
“What did he say?”
“He said I was plain, boring, and a child.” God, those words still hurt after all this time.
“Emily….” My mom’s voice is soft and filled with pity.
God, I hate pity.
I raise my hand. “Let me finish. I’m not going to say that it didn’t hurt my feelings, because I was trying to fit in, but I got the message loud and clear. He’s not interested in us being friends or anything more than that.”
“Fine.” Her eyes shine with tears as she slumps into her chair and glances away from me. “I’m sorry that happened.” Just as quickly, she grabs my hand and meets my gaze. “And I’m sorry I brought it up. I had no idea.”
She shakes her head and instantly sobers as the unshed tears are replaced with cold steel and determination. “If I’d known, I wouldn’t have let him come here.” She lets go and snatches her phone off the table. “I’ll make sure he’s not here anymore.”
“Mom, don’t do that.” My heart sputters in my chest. I’m too exhausted for this. “He thinks the world of you, and I don’t want him thinking I’m losing my shit over an insult from four years ago. He said it. I heard it. It’s not a big deal.”
Of course, my mom wants to go into Super Mom mode. But that’s the last thing I need.
Her jaw is clenched as she rubs her non-injured hand across her face. “Fine. I’ll let it go, but I don’t like it. I’ve let that boy into my house countless times, and that was based upon the belief that he was a good person. Not someone who insults one of my children.”
I chuckle and shake my head. “I love you, Mom. You’re the best. You’re recovering from shoulder surgery, and you’re still ready to go toe to toe with the enemy.”
“Just wait until you have those kids. You’ll understand.”
“One day.” That’s so far in the future, but there’s no point in even discussing it. I scan my phone for messages, responding to one from Bella.
Bella: I wanted to tell you this before you heard it from anyone else. Dominic and I are together. Together.
Holy shit. A smile breaks out across my face as all the exhaustion shoots out of me. It’s about damned time. I scan the rest of the message, checking the date. Crap. She sent the message last night. And I missed it.
Me: That’s great. I told you. I can’t wait to hear all the details. Well, maybe not all the details.
If I can’t be happy, the next best thing is to watch my best friend find her happily ever after. I can’t wait to see them together. Dominic had always had Bella’s back, and everyone knew they were destined to be together. Except them.
I stride toward the refrigerator. “Do you need anything?”
“Grab me a water.”
When I reach the refrigerator door, my cell phone rings. It’s Ruby. “What’s up?”
“Brock is messaging Bella again.”
“How?” My heart squeezes in my chest. Brock is such a loser. Like Dominic wants to deal with Bella’s ex the day after they officially get together.
Actually, he might enjoy it.
I understand why she went out with him. She was tired of obsessing over Dominic, and Brock pursued her, but the guy treated her like crap and cheated on her; she dumped him, and now, he won’t leave her alone. No matter how many times she changes phones and phone numbers.
“I thought she blocked him, and didn’t she say that Dominic got her a new phone?”
“Yes, but he somehow found out this number as well.”
I pace the floor from the island to the four-chair kitchen table and back again. “She needs a protection order against him.”
“I agree. Can you come over to Bella’s place? And when you get here, can you call Jake to find out what we need to do?”
“I can’t call him.” My heart lurches into my throat. “He’ll think it’s weird that I’m calling him.”
Asking anyone for help is not my favorite activity. And when that person is Jake, it’s ten times worse. He might get the wrong idea and think I’m calling him to get close to him. To put myself in his orbit even more.
“Fine. I understand. I’ll give him a call.”
Seriously, I don’t need my best friend to call a guy for me. I’m a big girl. And for fuck’s sake. It’s to protect my friend’s safety, and I’d do anything for Bella and Ruby. “No, I’ll do it. Give me a few minutes to get there, and I’ll call him.” I grab my mom’s drink and take it to her.
“Good. Bella’s dad, brothers, and Dominic are on their way to Brock’s office to confront him.”
“He’d better get the message this time.”
“He should. If he doesn’t, Dominic will set him straight. He’s fuming.”
I want a guy like that. I sigh as I say goodbye to my mom.