Page 316 of Small Town Firsts

Don’t thank me. This whole thing is my fault.

Emmalyn

True. I take back my thanks.

Me

What are you up to right now? Do you want to come over?

After talking to Rob, I have this inexplicable urge to see Emmy, to see with my own eyes that she’s safe and sound.

Emmalyn

Um. It’s like 10! I’m about to go to bed. I have class in the morning and my TA is a real hard ass.

Me

Sleep here?

Emmalyn

Or… I could sleep here. I’m already in my jammies and in bed. I’ll see you bright and early though. Okay?

I want to beg her to let me come and get her. No, I want to demand it. But I know I can’t.

Me

I guess.

Emmalyn

Goodnight, Sterling.

Me

Goodnight, baby.

I set my alarm and put my phone on the charger, double-checking that my ringer is on in case Emmalyn calls, before climbing under the covers and forcing myself to sleep.

"Summer,"I call out as she struts past the podium.

She bats her lashes and flashes a coquettish smile my way. "Yes, Sterling?"

"I was hoping to talk to you about your project." I know Emmalyn asked me not to mention it to her, but the guilt is eating at me; I have this driving need to make it right.

A conspiratorial grin lights up her face. "What about it?"

"I'm gonna need you to start pulling your weight."

Her lips flatten, thinning into a hard line. "But you said?—"

"I know what I said. And now I'm saying this: pull your weight or fail."

Her eyes narrow as she screws her lips up into a mean snarl. "You don't have the authority to fail me."

"Don't I?" I ask, right as Emmalyn walks in. Her eyes widen at the sight of Summer and me together, but I press on. "In case you missed the memo, Professor Ellison—Uncle Vic to me—doesn't really care what I do."

If looks could kill, I'd be dead twice over thanks to the two infuriated women shooting laser beams at me with their angry eyes. But there's only one I'm concerned with, only one whose reaction I care about.

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