Page 29 of All I Need (Hearts of the South)
“In the living room.”
Miserable, mad, and completely at their mercy, Emmett followed Clark and Troy Lee through the small laundry room, through a bright, open kitchen and dining area to a living room that under other circumstances would be warm and welcoming.
“Hey. Pregame just started.” In the process of hanging photos on one wall, Bennett glanced over his shoulder at them. His gaze tracked over them, and concern pulled his brows together. “What’s going on?”
Troy Lee set his backpack next to the coffee table and settled into the plush leather chair. He adjusted a drowsy Christopher against his shoulder. “Apparently, Emmett’s pissed over your relationship with Savannah.”
“Huh? Why?” Bennett turned his attention back to hanging a framed photograph. Clark snagged a chip from the bowl on the coffee table and took the other chair.
Emmett’s ears buzzed with anger. He crossed his arms and clenched his jaw. He was getting new friends. Immediately.
“Emmett, use your words and talk to Rob.” Despite the sarcasm, the first real hint of sympathy entered Troy Lee’s voice.
“I know you were with her last night.” He forced the words out in an even tone.
“Yeah, I knew she’d be upset after the paramedic shootings, so I went over to her place when I left the hospital.” Bennett stepped back, inspecting the arrangement of frames. “She was… Wait a minute, you’re the neighbor?”
“Yeah.” Emmett glared as Bennett turned to face him. “What are you?”
“Her brother-in-law. She’s Amy’s sister and a royal pain in my ass, but I love her anyway.”
“Fuck.” The extent of his jealous stupidity exploded in his brain. God, he might throw up.
“Man, you’re screwed. Amy was blowing up my phone about this earlier. Savannah is pissed, and that woman can hold a grudge.” Bennett dropped his tape measure and tools in the small tool bag. He lifted an eyebrow at Emmett. “Did she let you have it with both barrels?”
“No.” Now he was miserable for a completely different reason. Damn it, he’d thought he’d outgrown being stubborn and hotheaded. Why didn’t he think before he let the angry words have their way? “She walked off.”
“Oh, you’re definitely screwed then. She’s stewing and that only makes it worse.”
“Fuuuuck.” He groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. She was never going to have anything to do with him again and he didn’t know how to—
This was not the way a guy acted over a woman who was simply a friend.
When had he gotten this far in over his head? And he’d totally screwed everything up.
“Son of a bitch.”
“You might want to sit down before you fall down. And can you tone down the language? If Christopher picks up one of those words, I’ll be the one in trouble.” Troy Lee chuckled, a wry, sympathetic sound. “Major revelation there, buddy?”
Emmett lowered himself onto one end of the couch. He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m so screwed.”
“Already told you that.” Bennett stowed his tool bag in the front closet.
“Fill us in.” Clark grabbed a handful of chips. “I’m lost.”
“They had this brilliantly asinine plan to be friends with benefits.” Bennett took the other end of the couch. He shook his head, expression disgusted. “I don’t know what Savannah was thinking. She knows she’s not cut out for that.”
Brows knitted in confusion, Emmett glanced at him. She’d been pretty cold about the whole thing from the beginning. “Really?”
“Yeah.” Bennett propped his bare feet on the coffee table. “Don’t let that tough exterior fool you. Amy’s harder than she is.”
“She was pretty tough in that exam room last night.” Clark spoke around a potato chip. “Man, Beau was in bad shape, and I was freaking out and didn’t want to show it. She had it all together though.”
“You didn’t see her after.” Bennett’s somber observation speared Emmett. “She did not have it all together.”
He pinched the bridge of his nose once more. Yeah. She was definitely going to be done with him after this. Sheesh, he wasstupid.
“Em, quit beating yourself up.” Clark patted his knee. “It’s done, and you can’t undo it.”
