Page 25

Chapter twenty-five

Hazel James

I lean against the cabinets and watch as Emmett grabs a skillet and sets it on the stove. It’s unusual for me to be taken care of like this. I was self-sufficient from a young age, and as soon as I was able, I took care of Raven too. Then I went into a profession where all I do all day is take care of people.

I shift on my feet. I should at least do something to help. It sounded like he had a rough morning with June. The more I help, the faster we can both rest.

I walk over to the fridge to get the ingredients.

“What are you doing?” Emmett asks while turning on the stovetop.

“Helping,” I say as I look in the fridge.

It’s well organized, with a small drawer labeled cheese . I open it.

“I said I’m cooking for you. You’re supposed to relax.”

I turn toward him. He scowls and crosses his arms. I give him my most innocent smile.

“All I was going to do is grab the cheese. Is that okay?”

“No. That defeats the purpose of me cooking.”

He stalks over to me. I gasp as his large hands circle my waist. “Emmett, what are you doing?” I squeak. I can barely get the words out on account of him picking me up . With ease, he carries me over to the kitchen island and sets me on the countertop. His dark eyes meet mine. Our faces are mere inches apart. His hands are heavy on my hips, like twin anchors settling me after the storm of today.

“No more helping. You’re not allowed to move from this spot,” he says in a low voice that sends tendrils of warmth down my spine.

“Or what?” I tease. There’s something about how utterly safe I feel with him that allows me to let go more than I ever have. It’s an altogether addicting feeling that I shouldn’t get used to, and yet I can’t deny myself with each opportunity that comes to embrace it.

His eyes lower to my mouth, lingering one…two…three beats. Then they slowly rise to consume me with the heat blazing in them. My eyes drop to his mouth in return, tracing the smirk playing on his lips with my gaze.

“Or else I’ll tell June you want the next fairy princess makeover,” he says, then moves away, taking his warmth with him.

Insufferable man! He plays baseball. Surely he knows a signal when he sees one. I didn’t know what any of them meant at the games, but I saw them nonetheless. I feel like I’m behind home plate with a posterboard over my head that reads kiss me! And instead of running over, he walks away.

I try not to let my dejection show. He’s doing the right thing, as much as it feels like we’re resisting gravity by staying apart right now. There’s a part of me that’s scared that it’s easy for him to pull back because maybe he doesn’t feel the tug as much as I do. But he wouldn’t do all of this if he didn’t have feelings for me…I hope.

Even though I want to grab the collar of his shirt and drag him to me, I have to be responsible and consider the fact that Raven is just in the other room. He should be careful too, what with having June to think about. So I have to exercise a little self-control? No big deal. It’s not like I’m known to impulse buy little trinkets at the checkout counter or anything like that. I have iron willpower–no, stronger than that, bronze . Is bronze stronger than iron? Doesn’t matter. I’m unbreakable .

Emmett reaches for a plate and his muscles bunch beneath his shirt. I tip my head back and resist the urge to groan. I’m weak. So very, very weak.

“Hazel?” Emmett’s voice has me snapping my head back down.

“Hm?”

“Are you okay?” he asks, giving me a half-amused, half-concerned look.

“Yeah–yep! I was just admiring the uhh–” I glance up. “Crown molding! It’s beautiful, very intricate and fit for a castle.”

“Mhmm.” His expression is all too knowing.

I duck my head as my face heats. A plate with a golden grilled cheese sandwich appears in my vision. I take the plate and reluctantly lift my head. “Thank you.”

His smile is faint but genuine as he regards me. “Do you think Raven will want one?”

“She might. I’m not sure how much she ate today.” Guilt creeps in as I realize I should have asked her. I was so distracted by my own feelings that I let that slip. “I’ll go check on her and June.”

“Hey.” Emmett’s hands land on my knees. Butterflies take flight within my abdomen at his touch. “I said no leaving. You stay here and eat your sandwich. I’ll go check on them.”

He lifts up my sandwich. His expression is protective, but warm.

“But–” The corner of the sandwich fills my mouth.

“ Eat . You’re allowed to take a break.”

I take the bite of the sandwich, savoring the buttery, cheesy goodness while glaring at him. He sets the rest down on the plate in my lap. Then presses his lips to my forehead. My whole body stills.

“Rest for me, Wildflower. You can go back to taking care of everyone tomorrow,” he whispers against my skin.

He steps back and walks away before I can form so much as a coherent thought. I reach up and touch the spot where his lips touched me.

Emmett Foster just kissed me.

“I’m just across the hall if you need me, okay?” I say to Raven.

She’s doing her skincare routine in the en suite bathroom while I sit on the corner of the bed. I offered to have a sister sleepover, but she took one look at the incredible guest bedrooms Emmett has and wanted her own. This room is the size of half of my apartment, and that’s being conservative. I never thought my apartment was small until I came here.

“You’ve said that eighty-seven times already.” Raven has a tendency to exaggerate, and her favorite number to use is eighty-seven.

“I want to make sure you were listening .” I smooth out nonexistent wrinkles on the bedspread.

“I’m not a little kid, you don’t need to baby me,” she says as she walks into the room. She’s got her hair in one of those heatless curler rods. Those never work for me, but her curls come out perfect every time.

“You’ll always be my baby sister,” I coo and wrap her in a hug, smushing my cheek to hers.

“Stooooop,” she groans, but I can hear the smile in her voice.

I squeeze her tight enough that her back pops, which makes us both dissolve into laughter. Her eyes are a bit brighter when we pull apart, and I know my job is done. She needed a dose of happiness before going to sleep tonight. I did too, for that matter. The dark always brings out the thoughts buried during the day.

“Get some sleep, kiddo.” She rolls her eyes at my term of endearment. “Tomorrow will be a new day, full of amazing possibilities.”

“You sound like a Hallmark card.”

I snort. “I was going for motivational speaker, but that works too.”

A small smile stretches her lips. “Thanks, Hazel. I hope you sleep better tonight.”

“Me too,” I say with a soft laugh. “I love you.”

“I love you too,” she says as she gets in bed. I’m grateful she’s not looking at me straight-on. She’d be able to see the tears in my eyes. It’s not like she doesn’t know I cry at everything, but I don’t want to worry her all the same.

I start to walk to the door.

“Hey.”

I turn around at the door, my hand hovering over the light switch. “Yeah?” I wait for her to ask me to stay, but she surprises me with her words.

“You really like him, don’t you?”

My brow furrows. “Emmett?”

She bobs her head, the curling rod bouncing with the movement.

“He’s my friend, of course I like him.” I trace the frame of the switch.

“You know what I mean.” Her exasperated tone makes me smile.

“Yeah, I do,” I admit.

A small smile stretches her lips. “I knew it. You’re totally in love with him.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the little tug in my chest that says she’s not far off from the truth. “Goodnight, baby sister.” I turn the light off to the sound of her soft laughter, but pause before leaving the room. “What do you think of him?”

She’s quiet for a moment. The blankets rustle as she settles in. “I like how much he looks out for you. And how you smile your real smile a lot more around him. I wouldn’t mind if you dated him.”

“Hm, good to know,” I say and take a step out the door. “Sleep tight, Raven.”

She murmurs you too as I shut the door behind me. I walk across the hall to what’s become my room. There’s a yellow quilt on the bed that I brought from home. My Nintendo Switch is on one nightstand, and my lip balm, hand cream, and water bottle are on the other. The maid service still keeps everything pristine, but it looks like someone lives here now. It’s weird to think that someone is me .

I go through the motions of my nighttime routine, then crawl into bed, snuggling up beneath the fluffy duvet. My mind starts to go over every detail of the past few days. The good, bad, and everything in between.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes.

Emmett: Goodnight, Wildflower.

I bite my lip.

Hazel: Goodnight, Emmett.

Emmett: You’re supposed to already be sleeping.

Hazel: Why would you text me if you thought I’d be sleeping?

Emmett: For you to wake up to.

I don’t think I’ve ever smiled this big in my life.

Hazel: So why not a good morning text?

Emmett: I plan on saying that in person.

I tuck my head under the blankets and quietly squeal, kicking my feet. I draw on my limited supply of courage and type out my reply.

Hazel: I’d prefer your goodnight be in person too.

Emmett: Meet me in the backyard?

My head pops out from beneath the covers. He wants to meet outside? Right now?

Hazel: Be there in five.

Hopefully that’s enough time to feel ready for a secret rendezvous beneath the stars. My stomach swoops as I picture him staring down at me with his mesmerizing dark eyes. I could have five hours to prepare myself for the sight and it wouldn’t be enough.