Page 102 of Runaway Bride's Guide to Love

I don’t give Emmett a chance to answer as I go racing out the back door and around the building into the diner. The only thing that stops me is the counter, which I nearly fall over and slam my hands onto, getting Charlie’s attention.

“Stella? Are you okay?”

I furiously shake my head. “Simon just walked in on me and Emmett making out in the office and he’s pissed. I need food or pie or something to soften the blow we’re about to tell him that we’ve basically been sleeping together since Florida.”

Charlie’s face goes from concerned, to shocked, to happy, to damn near giddy in the span of seconds. “Yes! It’s out in the open! Finally!”

“Yes. Fine. Tell everyone. But first can you help me with your man so I can tell him about mine?”

“Oh. Right. Yes.” Charlie starts furiously making Simon some sort of iced, sugary, who knows how many pumps of things, drink as she calls out to someone in the kitchen to cut her a slice of apple pie.

“Here,” she says, handing me a to go bag, as well as coffee for Emmett and a Diet Dr Pepper for me. “I’d come over to help you, but I know I won’t be able to keep my poker face in check during all of this. So Godspeed.”

“Thank you,” I say. “And when he tells you tonight…”

She nods so I don’t have to finish that thought. “I’ll play dumb. Your secret is safe with me.”

God, I’ve hit the jackpot with my future sister-in-law.

I wave to Charlie as I exit and walk back into the office. I decide to go through the back door again because I’m a chicken shit, and I’m startled when I see Emmett waiting for me.

“I thought you were going to stall Simon?”

He shakes his head, takes the drinks from me and kisses my forehead. “We’re a team now, Tiger. We go into battles together. Hand in hand.”

As he holds out his hand for mine, I look down at it, almost confused to what he’s doing. No, not confused. Just still a little shocked that this kind of man exists. Emmett has done many, many things to make it known he’s different from any other man I’ve been with. Even when he wasn’t trying to. Never in the years that I was with Duncan did I feel this kind of support. Or love. Or that I wasn’t alone. I never felt a part of a team.

Not until now.

With our fingers locked and a deep breath, we walk down the hallway into the conference room. Simon looks up from his phone and over to us, noticing our hands.

“Here,” I say. “I brought you a drink.”

Simon rips it from Emmett and takes a big swig.

“And pie,” I add. “I got you pie.”

“Apple?”

“Of course.”

He eyes the bag, but doesn’t make a move for it. “Thanks. But you’re not going to soften me up with a drink and pie.”

Damn. He caught on. Emmett stays back, holding my chair out for me, which I don’t know if it’s his manners or laying it on thick for Simon, but either way, it was a good move. “We have a lot to tell you. And I’m sure you have a lot of questions.”

“Damn right I do.” He turns his gaze to Emmett. “How long has this been going on?”

“Which part?” Emmett asks. “There are a few different stages to this.”

“Stages! Stages take time. You’ve…wait. Did this start in Florida? Did I pay for your sex vacation?”

“Technically…yes…” Emmett’s words trailing off before I chime in.

“But that’s not where we met.”

Simon turns to me. “Where did you meet?”

I look to Emmett, fondly remembering the day that changed everything. “When I ran.”

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