Page 41 of There's No Us Without You
Why is he so casual about that amount of money?
What I could do with seventy-five grand. For one, I wouldn’t need my mother, and I could get my dad’s restaurant back all on my own—if the bank agrees to loan me the rest, of course. But man, would that help.
My footsteps slow, and I scuff my shoes against the bitumen, sending a few loose rocks scattering as I stare at Emerson’s back. My heart is racing, my hands sweating with the knowledge I’m about to potentially ruin my blossoming friendship with him.
But . . . I’m desperate. I can’t go crawling back to my mother, not after what she did. This opportunity is way too good to pass up.
And talk about coincidence.
Maybe the universe is on my side after all.
When we reach the Jeep, Emerson throws his bag into the backseat and opens the passenger door for me. “Hungry? We can grab something to eat on the way home.”
I’m so lost inside my head that I take a moment to realise he asked me a question. “Yeah... sure,” I say, unable to look at him.
My body is vibrating with nervous energy as I chew on the inside of my cheek. I don’t think Emerson’s team would let just anyone in on their bet unless they had something better to offer.
What if I could get their Captain to sleep with me? It’s just sex, right? No-one gets hurt—except Emerson losing his money.
We aren’t that friendly, and my living arrangements are just temporary.
Oh god, who am I kidding? I’ve already got feelings for him, yet I’m still going to ruin everything for the ghost of my father.
“Where are the toilets?” I say, blurting out the words before I change my mind.
“Back at the changerooms. Why?” Emerson tilts his head and frowns. “You okay?” He places the back of his hand to my forehead. “You look a little paler than usual.”
“I’m fine.” I step back, clearing my throat. “Just need to pee.” In seconds, I spin on the balls of my feet, the gravel underneath my shoes crunching as I race off back in the direction we just came from. “Won’t be long.”
“Want me to walk you back?” Emerson calls out.
I don’t bother answering him or glancing back. Instead, I wave a hand over my head to signal I’m fine and keep my legs moving.
Under any other circumstance, I would never betray someone who has been nothing but accepting and kind to me. But this is my future we’re talking about. A future where the only person I can rely on is myself.
If my dad was still alive, maybe I’d feel differently, but he’s not and I don’t have the leisure of fully trusting anyone—even the two men who took me in when I had nowhere else to go.
When I reach the changerooms, I pause, my hands fisted at my sides. My intestines are dancing around inside my stomach as a wave of nervousness washes over me, my face now hot and burning.
I can do this.
I need to do this.
Holding my head high, I march into the room to find a few stragglers from the team still dressing.
I cover my eyes with a hand and clear my throat to get their attention. It smells like wet dog and dirty socks in here, making me wrinkle my nose.
“Did you need something, sweetheart?” one of the men says, his deep voice a little jarring.
Separating my fingers, I squint through them. Thank god they’re all fully dressed. I don’t need any half-naked distractions putting me off my game.
I drop my hand and lift my chin, attempting not to show the amount of panic racing through me. “I want in on the bet,” I say, the words coming out a little shaky.
The man who just spoke to me glances at the other two and shrugs. “And what bet is that?” He keeps his eyes on me as he bends down to tie a shoelace.
“You know what I’m talking about.” I glance over my shoulder to make sure Emerson didn’t follow me after all. “Emerson just told me.”
The man’s eyebrows shoot up, a small smirk lifting a corner of his thin lips. “Oh, he did, did he?”
