Page 109

“Me too,” she said miserably. He gave her a crooked smile before walking off.
“Are you okay?” I asked once we were alone.
“No,” she muttered. “I thought I was gonna die. It was smoking and there were so many cars going full speed in the right lane.”
My breath hitched. “I’m glad you’re okay.”
“Can we go to Gram’s house?” she asked shyly. “I was coming to stay for a bit anyway, but now Ineedto be there.”
“Of course you can.”
“Will Levi be okay with it?”
“He already knows. Family is important.”
She wiped at her nose and gave me a watery smile.
“Now, let’s get out of here,” I said. “I don’t think you need to look at the car anymore.”
“On the bright side,” she said as we drove away, “we were overdue for some girl time.”
“You’re right. It’s been months since you stayed at the house.”
“And I can finally ask about your husband.”
I winced. “Sure. But don’t you need some time to decompress?”
“I’m fine now,” she said.
I raised an eyebrow. “I seriously doubt you’re fine.”
She looked like she wanted to argue, but her face fell. “Maybe you’re right.”
“Don’t worry, you can stay with us. Levi is moving his stuff from the guest room?—”
“Why was his stuff in the guest room?”
Oh,fuck. Her arriving while Levi was in the guest room didnotlook good for us. I’d have to answer to that later, along with all the other things Emma would want to know.
“His stuff is just in there. It’s not like he’s sleeping in there or anything.”
“I didn’t assume he was, so why did you bring it up?”
“No reason!”
“Are you two not sleeping in the same room? Is this purely a marriage of convenience?”
“No, of course not!”
“It would make sense, especially since our asshole brother fired you. God, if you had to marry someone because of him, I’ll go to his house myself?—”
“Levi just snores!” I said desperately. “It’s not ... Who would marry someone for anything other than love?”
“Someone who needs it.”
“Emma,” I started. “Calm down with the questions. You just had something bad happen. Let’s deal with one thing at a time.”
That was the pot calling the kettle black, but if it worked, I could take being a hypocrite.