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George bit her lip. “And you’re still determined to find a new place?”
Emma pulled the corner of her mouth up. “I know that tone. You think I should stay.”
Her new friend swept out a hand. “It’s not like he doesn’t have the room, and talking about how Rainer and I met broughtback how dangerous the world can be. But you know that already,” she said with a wince, gesturing to the place on her head where Emma’s scar was.
George straightened sharply. “I’m sorry. Should I not bring up your accident?”
“No, it’s fine.” Emma packed another box and realized she meant it. “I admit I used to avoid talking about it. I didn’t like how people looked at me afterward. But now everyone I know is aware of it. All my coworkers had to be told because of my chronic headaches. Some of them are nicer than others about it, but I almost enjoy the ones who are mean about it.”
“Why?” George asked, laughing a little.
“Because they don’t give me special treatment or act weird.” Emma reached for another tiny car. “I don’t remember the accident or anything before it. Plus, people don’t like hearing about what came after—the hospital stuff, physical therapy,therapytherapy.”
Georgia reached out to take her hand. “Well, I do want to hear about it. And anything else you want to talk about.”
“Thanks.” She pursed her lips. “You’re the second person to say that to me. Garrett wants to know every little detail about my recovery, too. Almost intrusively so.”
Emma wasn’t sure if she found his interest comforting or disconcerting.
“Honestly, I’m a little surprised.” Georgia tilted her head. “Garrett is Rainer’s closest friend, but I have to confess I didn’t think that highly of him when I first met him.”
Was it terrible that she was dying of curiosity? “Why not?”
“He was on the tail end of his post-divorce partying binge. But I guess he’s calmed down a lot since then. It’s good to see him concerned about someone else this way.”
George wiped her hands on her pant legs. “And this may sound weird to you, but it appears to be cheering him up. Which surprises me less. Deep down, I knew he and Rainer were friends for a reason.”
Whoa. Way to bury the lead.
“Garrett was married?” she asked, refusing to acknowledge the rock that had just materialized in her stomach.
Georgia hesitated. “He didn’t mention it?”
She raised her brows. “No, he did not.”
Emma didn’t know why this was so shocking. Garrett was handsome and rich. Lots of women would want to be with him. “There’s no trace of a wife in that apartment.”
Shouldn’t there be signs of a former relationship somewhere in that huge apartment? Pictures of them tandem skydiving that he couldn’t bear to put away? His and her coffee mugs tucked in the back of the kitchen cabinet?
Unless he kept the proof of his former relationship in his bedroom, close to him…
There might be a wedding picture on his nightstand. He could spend an hour staring at it every night before bed. Who the hell knew?
“I don’t think it was an amicable split,” George said, unaware of the bomb she’d just dropped. “I don’t know too much about it other than she was an heiress. A socialite with ties to European royalty.”
Royalty?Emma had never felt so pudgy or so scarred in her life.
Her self-doubt lasted until she remembered Garrett was not a romantic prospect.He was merely an unexpected roommate, one who insisted on meddling in her life because of an overinflated sense of responsibility.
Less than a week living at his place and you’re already having to remind yourself of that.This hadslippery slopewritten all over it.
Emma picked at her sleeve. “He must have been sorry to lose her.”
Georgia burst out laughing. “I don’t think a man that parties that hard is sad. That was a celebration. But again, it seems to have run its course,” she added. “He’s been so busy at Next Chapter. I doubt you’re going to have put up with that kind of shit.”
“He did mention being very busy with work.” Emma couldn’t help but worry now. “Maybe he’ll start partying again once his busy season is over.”
“Maybe,” Georgia acknowledged. “But I’m hoping not. For Rainer’s sake and his own. I didn’t get the impression he was happy when Ifirst met him.”