8. Emma
CHAPTER EIGHT
emma
I darted upstairs, almost face planting on the top step, and barely managed to slam the bathroom door behind me. Letting out a breath, I leaned against the wall. My stomach was feeling especially bubbly, but that wasn’t shit-related, it was shitty situation-related.
This was way harder than I’d thought. How long could we possibly keep this up? We needed Josh to leave Citrus Cove ASAP.
I decided to wash my face and brush my hair, listening to the kitchen sounds and murmurs downstairs. I heard a knock at the front door, followed by Hunter’s voice.
Thank god.
I stepped out of the bathroom and looked over the rail, meeting his gaze for a brief moment.
Help, I mouthed.
I’ve got this, he mouthed back before he continued into the kitchen.
Haley’s voice echoed a little louder and I knew she was giving him hell. I took another deep breath, getting myself into the right mindset.
Hunter was my fiancé.
Hunter Harlow was mine.
I could do this. Right? I could do this.
I squared my shoulders and headed back downstairs to the kitchen. Hunter turned around as I came through the doorway, giving me a smile that stopped me in my tracks.
Hunter had dimples.
Had I just never noticed before? Or had he just never smiled at me?
“Morning, sparks,” he said casually. His long arm darted out and he pulled me into a hug, kissing my forehead. I was speechless as he turned back to face the scrutiny of Sarah and Haley. “See? We actually like each other.”
Hal pressed her lips together. “Hmm.”
“You know, your husband made a similar noise when I told him,” Hunter said.
“Was that before or after he made your nose bleed?”
My mouth fell open and I craned my head back to look at Hunter. His hair was still wet and he smelled good. Really good. “Cam punched you?”
“Well, he nailed me with a bag of birdseed first. But yeah.”
Sarah narrowed her eyes. “Okay. I suppose I believe this. But only a little. Honey believed it immediately.”
“What?” I hissed. “You told Honey?”
“I called Honey to see if she knew,” Haley said. “I called Sarah first, then her. And Hunter, Cameron can’t keep a secret from me to save his life, by the way. Don’t try that again unless you plan on taping his mouth shut.”
“Noted,” Hunter sighed. “He’s too much of a simp. You’ve changed his brain chemistry.”
Haley smirked. “Yeah, maybe.”
“What did Honey say?” Hunter asked.
We were both interested. Mostly because Honey usually knew everything. She could be tough and stubborn, but was sometimes sweet enough to give me cavities.
“She said she saw it coming from a mile away. And she saw the looks you gave each other at my wedding.”
Did she mean murderous looks? I bit my tongue and Hunter tightened his hold on me. I became painfully aware of how my shirt had hiked up slightly and his hand rested on top of my hip, his thumb brushing my bare skin. Slow tantalizing circles sent a shiver up my spine.
“Okay, so pop quiz. The two of you have been dating for how long?” Haley asked.
“Months,” Hunter answered.
She crossed her arms. “How many months?”
“Six.”
“Okay. What’s Emma’s favorite shampoo?”
“Nope, we’re not doing this,” I said. “We’re not playing twenty questions.”
“If he’s been dating you for months then he should be able to answer some basic questions,” Sarah said sweetly.
“This is a trick,” he snorted. “She orders a custom shampoo and conditioner. She also rotates through three different perfumes. My favorite is the black violet one.”
What? How did he know that? Why did he know that? Haley and Sarah both looked as shocked as I felt.
“Okay. Her favorite ice cream?” Sarah shot.
“Oh, come on,” I groaned. “This is silly.”
“It’s not. Answer the question,” Haley demanded.
Both of them glowered at Hunter in a way that made me feel loved and terrified.
“Wild Blueberry Shortcake or vanilla.”
I stifled a gasp. How does he know?
His thumb brushed back and forth, my heart rate kicking higher.
“Drink order?”
“Bar or restaurant?” Hunter countered.
“Bar.”
“She likes the super sweet wines or dirty martinis. She always eats the olive first.”
What.
The.
Fuck?
“What’s her job?” Haley asked.
He snorted. “Do you even know?”
She fought a smile. “Not answering that.”
“She works in marketing. Clearly, considering the new cider logo.” Hunter let out a dark chuckle. “Anything else?”
“Yes. Why have you two acted like you’ve hated each other? We’ve been dealing with your shit for years,” Sarah said. “I’m still not buying this.”
“It’s complicated,” he said lightly. “But, do you mind if I have a moment alone with Emma?”
Haley and Sarah nodded and then both gave me a prying look. I didn’t have a moment to get a word in before he was manhandling me out of the kitchen. His rough hands slid around my waist and lifted me, practically carrying me to the back porch.
The moment he shut the door behind us, I slammed my bare heel on the toe of his boot and yelped.
“What the fuck?!” I wheezed.
He caught me before I fell over, pain radiating up my leg.
“I’m wearing steel toed boots,” he said. “Did you seriously just stomp on my foot?”
“I did because you manhandled me,” I snarled. “You can’t just move me around like I’m?—”
“You’re short and tiny and I needed to get you out of there before you gave us away.”
“I am not tiny,” I growled. Now my foot hurt and I was mad. “Why didn’t you call me last night and tell me what you spilled to Cam? I thought we agreed to keep this simple.”
“Well, I thought my brother would actually keep a damn secret. And I had shit to do yesterday.”
“Like what?”
“For starters, I bought you some security cameras.”
“Hunter. I don’t need that.”
“You’re living alone,” he said. “You’re a woman.”
“Okay, that’s sexist.”
“Emma, are you really going to keep arguing with me after what we’ve seen Haley and Sarah go through? Even I have security cameras at my house. I just want you to be safer while your ex-husband is hanging around. Also, I did some digging on him. And you.” His eyes sharpened and he stepped closer. “I’m starting to doubt that you’re actually safe.”
“We’ll have him over for dinner tomorrow night and he’ll leave,” I said. “We just need to make it through the weekend. That’s it, okay? Then we can call off this ridiculous act.”
He shrugged his shoulders. “Fine.”
“ Fine . Also how did you know those things about me?”
He raised a brow. “What things?”
“My shampoo? My perfume? My favorite drinks and ice cream?”
“I’ve known you for almost three years now and we see each other at every fucking family event and holiday. It’s not hard to notice things about you.”
My heart leapt to my throat. He made it sound so damn casual, but I couldn’t think of a single person I’d dated who could ever rattle off those facts about me.
I wasn’t sure how to feel about any of this after that.
Hunter’s gaze slid past me and he blanched. “Oh my god. What are you doing to these poor plants?”
“What?” I hissed. He shouldered past me to one of the plants on the porch. I didn’t know what the hell it was called. I’d put it in a pot and watered it, but the long leaves were yellow. “Hey, it’s still alive.”
He shook his head in horror. “Do you even know how to care for it? You’re overwatering it.”
“Okay, plant man,” I said. “Noted.”
He looked at the next one and shook his head. “You’re a plant murderer.”
“Hunter. We’ve got to focus,” I said. “You can repot my plants later, if you’re so determined to save them.”
“I’m going to steal them all and take them home.”
“Oh my god,” I sighed. “You’re so dramatic. Hunter, please.”
He hesitated and turned to look at me, casting me a worried look. “Are you doing okay?”
I swallowed hard. The shift in subject caught me off guard. It was easier to deal with when no one asked how I was. The truth was, I didn’t really know. “I haven’t cried yet, if that’s what you’re asking.”
His lips thinned. “You can grieve without crying. I don’t know if it’s healthy, but?—”
“We need to get back in there before they think of a thousand more questions,” I interrupted. “You can rescue my plants later. And don’t worry about my feelings, I’ll be fine. I’m tough.”
“Okay.” His eyes roamed over my body, the corner of his mouth twisting. “I like the pink.”
Heat spread through me like a wildfire, but I rolled my eyes. “Whatever. Let’s go.”
The two of us went back inside. As we walked into the kitchen, Haley handed me a cup of coffee and before scooping up Donnie, peppering kisses on top of his scruffy head. Sarah was seated at the table, holding her mug close to her chest.
“I have a proposal,” Hunter said.
“You mean one with a real ring?” Haley asked.
“My god, you’ll never let that go,” he chuckled. “There will be a real ring. But no. How about we all go on a triple date?”
What?
“Hmm. I think that’s a good idea,” Haley said.
“I’m sure Honey will watch the boys,” Sarah said. “I’ll check in with Colt and Sammy, but I think next Saturday would work for us.”
Haley nodded. “That would be good. And weird.”
We all hummed in agreement. It would be super weird.
“She’s finally letting me install some cameras around the house,” Hunter said.
Damn this man .
“Yep,” I said. “I want to be safe and… all that.”
“Good,” Haley said.
“I agree,” Sarah said. “Citrus Cove is a small town, but we all know how people can be. Well, I guess we should leave the lovebirds alone, huh?”
“Yes,” Haley said. She let Donnie down and pointed at me. “Brunch on Monday.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I snorted as she pulled me into a hug. I held onto her for a moment, shoving down the wave of guilt. I hated lying to her. “I’ll see you then.”
Sarah got up to clean out her coffee mug but I shook my head. “Leave it in the sink, I’ll take care of it.”
“Alright,” she sighed with a smile. She gave me a big hug too. “We’ll see you soon.”
I nodded and leaned against the counter, going still as the two of them left. The front door clicked shut, and the sound of their cars starting and driving away filled the silence.
“Welp,” Hunter said.
“I would like to kill you right now,” I said.
He smiled, flashing those stupid dimples. “I’m gonna get to work on the cameras.”
“I’m going to go take a hot shower and pretend you don’t exist.”