Page 22 of This: Blake & Emon

“Yeah, my bad,” she acknowledged. She knew he was worried, and she knew she shouldn’t have done him like that. It was just that she was in a cloud of love and not ready to come down. Brooks just wouldn’t understand. He’d been all business and no play for a long time.

Blake left and hummed down the hallway as she left. Her happiness meant a lot to him, but he couldn’t help but feel like he was supposed to do the most, even if it was for his benefit. Even if it wasn’t needed. He waited until he heard the front door close before pulling out his phone. He needed to follow up on Emon Dowlen, especially if his sister was going to be seeing him.

“Yo, it’s Brooks,” he said when the line connected. “Need you to run something for me... Yeah, everything on Emon Dowlen.”

He pulled up the photos from Point Palace on his phone while he listened. His sister, tipsy and happy, dancing with Emon. It was the way Emon watched her that got under Brooks’s skin. He was staring at his sister like a man who’d already mapped out their future without anyone’s input, his input in particular.

“What you mean his record clean?” Brooks’s voice rose slightly. “Man ain’t get shot playing checkers.”

“Ain’t nothing there to find,” Rex mentioned.

“ I hear you. What about his businesses? The carwash and that community store?”

The answer made him pause. “Legitimate. All of it. Clean money, proper permits, even paid his taxes. He did have some juvenile shit, but it’s sealed.”

“Bet. Good looking out.” He ended the call. Maybe he couldn’t stop Blake from seeing Emon, but he could damn sure make sure Emon knew what came with dating a Bishop woman.

His fingers hovered over Emon’s number. One call and he could get Emon here for a different kind of conversation, but Blake’s words echoed in his head.I’m your baby sister, but your sister ain’t a baby.

Instead, he typed out a text to his sister.

Brooks:Be safe. Call if you need me.

Sometimes being a big brother meant knowing when to fall back. That was what he was going to do. For now.

She sent a text back.

Blake:Ok, I love you, Brookie. I’m good.

Chapter 11

Blake could barely focus as she pulled out of Brooks’s parking lot. The conversation with her brother had her trying to piece two and two together because something wasn’t adding up. Brooks knew too many details. Intimate details only Taylor or Paige would know. It wasn’t just concerned brother’s behavior; it was too specific. She knew pillow talk when she heard it.

Her gut already knew the answer before she connected her phone to Bluetooth and dialed Taylor’s number. Paige wouldn’t run her mouth or judge. She’d been nothing but happy seeing Blake finally let someone in. Plus, Paige knew Blake better than anyone; knew she’d cut things off quickly if Emon wasn’t worth her time.

“Hey girl—”

“Cut the shit,” Blake interrupted, turning onto the highway. “How long you been fucking on my brother?”

The silence on the other end was deafening. “Blake, I can explain—”

“That’s why you been so worried about Emon? Because Brooks got you playing spy?” She couldn’t believe Taylor. They’d been friends for a long time. Too long for backstabbing. Taylor was a little older, but they met at vacation bible school andconnected every summer until Taylor moved into her school district and they got to see each other more. Taylor’s smile and warmth were always intriguing to Blake. She was the quiet kid that played by the rules at all times. They’d grown up in different households, Blake being the daughter of Boss and Taylor the daughter of Preacher. They couldn’t have been more different. But somehow, Taylor had turned into family. She didn’t like wondering if she could be trusted or if her interest in what she had going on was genuine.

“Blake, stop being dramatic. I’m grown and so are you.”

“What about Tyree? Like, girl, is this really you? You’ve been on me about my moves, but this is out of character for you.”

“It’s not what you think—”

“It’s exactly what I think. You ain’t been worried about me. You been trying to keep Brooks’s attention.” Blake merged into the fast lane, her hands shaking with confusion. “How long?”

“Three months.”

“Three… wow.” Blake pulled up to Emon’s house. It was beautiful, but she couldn’t focus on that at the moment. Putting the car in park, but staying inside, she continued. “Y’all could’ve just told me instead of all this sneaking and creeping.”

“Blake, it wasn’t that serious and you don’t know everything.” Taylor’s voice cracked, emotion bleeding through. “You just don’t.”

“Well, tell me what it is, then, because right now, this feels like my best friend betrayed me and if I’m wrong, I’m woman enough to say I’m wrong.”

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