Page 56 of RomeAntically Challenged
“You always this sure of yourself?”
“It’s the first thing I’ve been sure of since the night you flashed me your panties.” She shivered at his words. He grinned. “Yeah, that’s how it will go down, because even though you would rather die than admit it, I get to you. I get to you bad.”
Before she could reply, he was sitting her on the stool next to her friends, who were gawking at Annie. And Annie was gawking right back.
Seemed she’d missed the memo stating dump the little black dress and, instead, come as you are. To be fair, her dress was more navy blue than black, but it looked red carpet worthy next to Lynn’s pink knit top with white collar.
And don’t even get her started on Beckett, who was in her basic blue jeans, teal flip-flops, and a matching teal SAVINGMANKIND. ONE MISSING SOCK AT A TIMEtank. On her lap was a lop-eared bunny she was training for an autistic girl in town.
“Annie,” Lynn said. “Introduce us to your friend.”
“Roommate,” Annie said.
“We’re living together,” Emmitt quickly corrected.
Lynn and Beckett exchanged a few looks. Which was okay, since Annie was exchanging a few looks of her own.What the actual hell?andWay to leave a girl hangingwere the heart of her message, with some seriousYou guys suckundertones.
“Lynn, Beckett, this is myroommate, Emmitt.” She leaned back so hands could be shaken. “Emmitt, these are my sneaky friends who punked me into dressing up for church.”
“Sweetie, I’ve never seen a dress like that in church,” Lynn said. “Plus, we didn’t want to steal your thunder.”
Annie felt her cheeks heat, because she had picked this dress for that exact reason. And while she’d never admit it aloud, she wondered what Emmitt would think. She hadn’t expected him to be here, but secretly she’d been hoping.
Beckett grinned. “No one could steal my thunder.” She lifted up the bunny and kissed its nose. “This is Lord Hoppington. He decided to crash girls’ night.”
If Emmitt thought it was weird that her friend had brought a bunny into a bar, he didn’t say anything.
“It’s just a dress, and he’s only my roommate for a few more days,” Annie announced. “I’m looking for a new place to stay.”
“That’s not a dress. It’s a statement.” Emmitt scooted closer, sheltering her again from the crush of the crowd. Not a human shield so much as an exclamation point for anyone who might be thinking of bumping her chair. She didn’t think he was aware of the gesture, but her nipples took notice. “As for the living arrangement, I think I have a solution.”
“You’re moving out? Wonderful, I’ll bring the boxes and packing tape.”
“While I do love me a good box party, admit it, you’d miss me.” Before she could say something snarky, he added, “As of four hours ago, I’m Rome High School’s official Decoration Chair for the father-daughter dance.”
“I have no idea how that relates to your moving out—”
“I’m getting there.”
“But you? On a decorating committee? Emmitt, that is the worst idea ever.”Like ever.“I don’t think faux taxidermy and stein collections are really what the committee is looking for.”
“Let me restate, I am the committee. Me. Myself. And I. Crazy, right?”
“That’s a word for it,” Annie said.
“I admit, it’s not the ideal position for a self-appointed bachelor, but that was the only way to work on the same committee as Paisley. The list came out today and while I was on the selfie-arbors, P was put in the decorations group. So I had to decide, nail gun and electric saw but never see Paisley or head up Team Glitter and Bling and spend every meeting right next to her.”
“And you thought, ‘How hard can glitter and bling be’?” Annie asked, not even bothering to hide her disbelief.
“Maybe at first. But then this lady hands me a tome full of color swatches, fabric pieces, and clippings of every formal high school dance from the past decade. These kids are expecting a royal wedding or something.”
“What’s the theme?” Lynn asked.
“Once Upon a Time,” he said, and all the ladies laughed. Even Lord Hoppington twitched a whisker.
“Before you say it, the guys already gave me shit about how I’m going to ruin the dance and Paisley will never speak to me again.” With a huge sigh, he sat down on the stool—her stool.
Scooting her over until she had but one butt cheek on the cushion, he slid in beside her. If it hadn’t been for his arm around her waist—which was doing some sliding of its own—she would have fallen to the floor. “I was ready to call Rachel, the lady in charge, and admit I was in over my head, but Paisley already knows, so I can’t bail.”
