Page 90 of There's No Us Without You
Head whipping in my direction, Emerson points a finger at me. “I’ll have you know that some of those six-year-olds are going to be the next Elon Musk.” He eyes the remaining bag still sitting on the bench. “What’s in there? Did you buy me anything?”
“No.”
“So... what did you buy then?” Emerson blinks at me, waiting for a response.
I clear my throat. “Pop-Tarts.”
“Pop-Tarts?” Emerson’s eyebrows disappear behind the curls falling over his forehead, a lopsided grin transforming his handsome face and giving me a glimpse of his perfect teeth.
Teeth I’d let leave permanent marks on my skin.
I narrow my eyes on him, daring him to say something smart, while pulling the boxes from the bag. It doesn’t mean what he thinks it does. They were on sale, and I’ve been a dick to Eden since my brother was here three nights ago.
It’s my way of apologising.
That’s all it is.
Speaking of the woman hellbent on making me crazy...
“Where’s Eden? She gone to bed already?”
Emerson shrugs and turns his attention back to the game. “No idea.”
“Yeah,” Carter says, his eyes never leaving the TV. “Where is she? I’ve heard she makes a mean brownie. I’m yet to sample one. Do you have any here?”
Emerson throws a cushion at Carter, smacking him in the side of the face. “Concentrate, idiot.”
“Fuck.” Carter throws the cushion back. “You made me die, arsehole.”
A weird, sinking sensation settles in my stomach. Emerson’s car is in the driveway, but I can’t shake the thought that Eden isn’t here.
I can’t smell her—her scent lingers whenever she’s here.
Ignoring the children fighting in the lounge room, I race up the stairs, taking two at a time until I’m standing in front of Eden’s room. Forget knocking. I barge through the door to find she is definitely not here.
“Fuck.” I storm back down the stairs, rounding on Emerson in the pantry, where he is shoving one of Eden’s home-made cookies into his mouth.
All he does is eat these days.
“Seriously?” I shake my head and pull out my phone to message her. But if she’s going to tell anyone where she is, it’ll be Emerson. I point at my best friend. “Find out where Eden is.”
He groans, a few crumbs falling from his full bottom lip onto his shirt. “Why can’t you do it? Carter and I are about to kick some kindergarten arse.”
I drag my eyes back up to his face, jaw clenched as I point to the door. “Carter, get the fuck out of my house.”
“What?” Carter and Emerson both say at the same time.
“You heard me. Get out.”
“God, you’re a dick.” Carter sighs and throws the controller on the couch. “But just so you know, I’ll be back to get some of those brownies.” He winks at Emerson, slapping his shoulder when he passes him. “Later, losers.”
Any other time, I’d tell Carter to go fuck himself, but right now I need Emerson to do as he’s goddamn told for once and find our girl.
I swear to hell if she’s with . . .
Nope.
She wouldn’t.
