Page 32 of Boyfriend Maintenance

The tool just smiles. He’s clearly enjoying this.

“Something isn’t right here. What is it? I’ve been curious about the two of you from the start. What … is … it.” He steeples his fingers and brings them to his mouth. His eyes ping-pong between us as he tries to work things out.

It takes mere seconds, but it feels like years. Centuries.

“Shit.”He leans back in his seat, his mouth wide, palms pressed to his temples. He’s figured it out. “This thing between the two of you, it’s not real, is it?”

Emmy’s shoulders sag at Levi’s revelation but he doesn’t notice.

“I knew it. I knew something wasn’t right.”

Emmy squeaks, “How?”

“Simple, Jake didn’t know jack-squat about you and … damn. I knew it.” He lets out a little chuckle to himself.

My anger simmers for a second and then annoyance replaces it. We did a fan-fucking-tastic job selling the whole boyfriend-girlfriend thing.

“Oh god, so what if I didn’t know she plays Digibot Go?” I grumble and roll my eyes.

Levi just ignores me.

“Well, look at that, little sister. Seems like you still care very much about what this life you keep running from thinks of you.”

Emmy stands in the middle of the room. She’s trying to regain some of her composure, but I can tell by the tension in her shoulders that she’s fighting to stand tall.

When she doesn’t answer, he continues, “Tell me, Ems, what’s in it for him? Surely not money, since you’ve got none. What is it then? Sex? You paying him with sex?” His words are like venom and she flinches.

I’ve had enough.

I stand from the couch, point a menacing finger and glare in his direction. “Don’t you dare speak to her like that again.”

He has enough common sense to recognize that he has taken it too far. He curses under his breath. “Emmy, shit. I’m sorry.” He at least looks remorseful.

Emmy nods to Levi. She has unshed tears in her eyes when she finally makes eye contact with me. I stop in front of her, too mad to really comfort her.

“Looks like you have some explaining to do. I’m not doing it here with an audience. So, let’s go.” I raise an eyebrow in challenge, but she just nods in agreement. I don’t bother grabbing her hand as I head for the door. I also don’t bother with any pleasantries on my way out of the house.

I pull out my phone to order an Uber. Looks like we’ve got a seven-minute wait.

By the time I slide my phone back into my pocket, Emmy joins me on the steps. I stand at the bottom of them, she sits a few rows up.

“Jake, I’m so sorry for what happened in there.” She brings her arms up around her middle, hugging herself.

“What the fuck, Emmy? What haven’t you been telling me?” I growl but just then the front door opens.

An older couple descend the stairs, I assume to leave. I realize the last thing I want to do is have this conversation in front of gossiping assholes.

“I guess I haven’t been completely honest with you,” she mutters but watches the couple walk to their car.

“I don’t want to talk about this here.”

She nods in agreement and I stay where I’m at. I need some space. I’m drawn to her like a moth to a flame, I want to comfort her and tell her it doesn’t matter that Levi knows about our arrangement. But I can’t because she’s been lying to me. Too bad I don’t date liars.

Nearly an hour later, after one of the longest car rides ever, the car pulls up in front of 425 Madison.

“Are you coming up?” Her hand is on the door handle and I can’t tell in the dark, shadowed car if she wants me to or not. What I do know is that I need to know what the hell she’s hiding from me and I need to know tonight.

All I can give her is a yes, and then I follow her out of the car. Several long, tense minutes later, Emmy and I enter her dark and empty apartment.

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