Page 48 of One Hot Summer

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She exhaled slowly. “No.”

The kid’s face fell.

“I mean, no, I’m not mad,” she clarified. “You can stay at Caleb’s if it’s okay with his mom. I’m just glad you’re okay.”

I watched the exchange, noticing that she seemed more like his mom than his older sister.

The man at the window of the Patty Wagon leaned down toward us. “You kids gonna order, or what?”

Emersyn shook her head, taking a step back.

I leaned over to her brother. “My treat. Get whatever you want.”

Ethan grinned but checked with his sister first.

“I gave him some money,” she informed me. “You don’t have to do that.”

“I want to,” I told her, turning to Ethan. “Save your money, kid. Girls are expensive. Trust me.” He thanked me and I fist bumped him.

After they ordered cheese fries and milkshakes, I ordered my food and Axel’s—explaining that the second double bacon cheeseburger and fully loaded cheese fry combo was for my brother. Then I leaned toward Emersyn once more. “I’m ordering you the cheese fries and a shake. They’re seriously amazing. You’ve had a rough night. Live a little.”

After I paid and we found a nearby picnic table, another kid around Emersyn’s brother’s age and his mom appeared. The mom, an attractive redhead that was probably in her forties or so, blatantly checked me out.

Emersyn shot me a curious look.

I focused on my food where it was safe. When they exchanged numbers, the woman made sure to call hers out extra loudly as if hoping I would hear. I was almost positive Emersyn noticed.

They worked out the details of the sleepover and returning Hailee to her parents before the lady took all of the kids and headed toward the exit, leaving me alone with Emersyn once again.

“Thank you,” Emersyn said, gesturing to her shake. “This was sweet of you. And the fries are amazing.”

“You’re welcome. I’m glad you liked them.” I was also glad she ate like a normal fucking human in front of me and didn’t go all self-conscious girl at the sight of carbs and calories.

“And, um, Mrs. Anderson is divorced and available in case you were interested.”

I laughed, amused by how casually she threw that out there. “Think she’ll be upset that I didn’t jot her number down?”

Emersyn shrugged. “There’s always social media. I hear she’s on all the dating apps.”

I nodded, pretending to think it over. “She’s not my type. I tend to prefer them a little less…”

“Obvious?” she offered.

“Something like that, yeah.”

We finished our food and I threw away our garbage before I realized my dilemma. There was no longer a reason for her to come back to my place now.

Well, fuck.

“So…probably not a great idea for me to bail on you with a dead phone. Can I give you a ride somewhere?”

I was reaching and we both knew it.

She glanced around. “I think my friend is still here. I’ll find her. But thanks for the offer.”

I didn’t want to leave her alone with no phone and no ride home. But I didn’t want to be the skeezy weirdo that she couldn’t ditch either.


Tags: Heidi McLaughlin Romance