Page 50 of Pretty Obsessed

Nowhere. I scrubbed a hand over my face. He'd up and left me five miles up in the middle of nowhere. I was starting to believe I wasn't the one with intimacy issues. Maybe I was more normal than I thought.

"There's coffee."

I spun, trying to figure out where the voice came from. He was there, tucked into a back corner, he fit the aesthetic of the cabin so well in the loose flannel he'd donned.

"You abandoned me again." I pushed to my feet, following my nose to the steaming mug of coffee sitting on the table tucked back with Emory.

"I didn't go as far this time." He grinned at me over the top of his laptop.

"For that I am thankful, I'd have to try and rescue you from a bear cave."

"Who says I'd need rescuing?" He set the laptop aside.

I shook my head, picking up my coffee. "Don't you dare. Back to work, I'll go outside."

His brow creased but he didn't reply right away. I lingered waiting for him to decide what he was going to say.

"You don't have to…"

"What would you like me to do?"

“…Have coffee with me?"

I found the hesitation endearing.

"Is that a good idea?" I ventured closer, sitting on the arm of the sofa, facing his rocker. "If you are in the middle, I don't want to disturb you."

"I'd barely started. Twenty minutes maybe." He pulled his knees into his chest. "The coffee probably woke you."

I brought it to my lips. "I'm going to put this in your hands for the most part. I don't want to be a hindrance while I'm here."

His smile was genuine and he nodded, dropping his eyes to his cup. "I'm going to tell you something and you may want to leave now after I do because it paints me in a pretty bad light."

It was my turn to frown. "Do I need to sit down for this?"

He peeked at me. "It's not that bad. I don't kill people."

"My mind is not eased," I said, half kidding.

He sighed. "Let me start again?"

"Sure, sure, after you've instigated a panic."

He searched my face, seemingly alarmed.

"I'm teasing you."

Emory put both hands over his face. "You're so dry! Ugh." He took a few slow breaths and I did my best not to laugh. "I can feel your smile."

"Can you now? Tis a shame, maybe you should be looking at it."

He moved his hands away from his face. "I'm just going to say it so this awkward moment can stop."

I gestured for him to continue, afraid if I said anything it would be the hands on the face again.

"Well, I can't now."

"What did I do?" This time I couldn't hold back the laugh.

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