Page 68 of Christmas with Brother's Best Friends

Emma stares at me in tense silence for a few seconds before speaking. “You don’t know that.”

A serious expression settles on my face. “You mean the world to me. I don’t care what you do or what’s going on. That won’t change.”

Emma chews on her bottom lip before taking a deep breath, her entire body tensing like her next words are about to burst out of her.

My heart stops. Maybe she’s finally going to tell me what’s been making her act so weird.

“I should probably go home. I’m not feeling that well.”

I have to stop my shoulders from sinking in disappointment. I thought I was right on the verge of the truth, but I’m back at square one, wondering if there’s something important that she won’t tell me.

It’s hard to read her now. I used to do it pretty well when we spent almost every day together, but it feels like there’s a wall between us that wasn’t there before. It’s depressing.

“I’ll drive you,” I offer.

“No, I’ll get an Uber,” Emma tells me.

Her voice is firm enough that I don’t argue. I don’t want to piss her off and drive us even further apart. Not when she’s acting so odd and flighty.

I might lose her if I push too hard.

Emma pulls her hand away from me and stands from the bench, her eyes meeting mine for a second before she walks off in silence.

It takes everything in me not to chase after her. It doesn’t feel right just letting her go, but I told myself that I wasn’t going to force her to do anything.

And that includes talking to me.

Chapter thirty-one

Chapter Thirty-One: Josh

Ibelieve I’ve waited a respectable amount of time after the whole throwing up in a bush situation the other night.

I can’t wait any longer. I need to properly apologize for what Stacy said because I don’t want Emma to think that I agree with her or, God forbid, am interested in her. I would’ve talked to her sooner, but both Ryan and Max have had pretty unsuccessful interactions with her lately.

She isn’t coughing up whatever is bothering her, but even if I can’t get it out of her, maybe I can at least cheer her up. It’s kind of my specialty.

After swinging by a convenience store on the way to her apartment, I end up in front of her door with a plastic bag full of bribery in my hand. My heart beats unusually fast as I stare at the painted wood.

What if she doesn’t let me inside? What if the snacks don’t even work?

What if we’re actually losing her?

Before I can get too into my own head and back out, I knock on the door, the sound echoing down the quiet hallway.

There’s faint noise inside before Emma opens the door, barely cracking it open to show her face as she peers out into the hallway. When her eyes land on me, she sighs and opens the door the rest of the way.

“What are you doing here, Josh?” she asks me.

My eyes sweep over her as she crosses her arms, her large t-shirt swallowing her figure and almost hiding the gray pajama shorts that she has on underneath. Her hair is pulled up in a loose bun with a few escaped strands. What really catches my eye is how tired she looks.

The heaviness of her eyes. The dark circles beneath them. Her weighed down shoulders.

“Peace offering,” I say as I hold up the bag of snacks.

Emma cocks an eyebrow at me. “Peace offering?”

“For what happened the other night with Stacy,” I tell her.