Page 229 of Tempting-
I fill the coffee maker with fresh grounds and filtered water and turn it on.
Slowly, the smell of java wafts over the room.
I find the bread in the fridge and focus all my energy on spreading almond butter over one side and raspberry jelly over the other.
By the time Brendon rushes downstairs all showered and fresh I have my sandwich wrapped in plastic. But my tea is still too fucking hot.
He steps into the kitchen. His eyes catch the sandwich then they meet mine. "Good?"
"Yeah." I bring my mug to my lips and take a sip. It's too hot, but it's tolerable. "Have you heardfrom Emma?"
"No, but Walker said he'd text as soon as she was up. She has work today. She won't skip that."
"You sure?"
"Yeah. She's a responsible kid. And she loves her discount."
I try to muster up a laugh. I'm not sure if he's joking. Emma does love her employee discount. And she's also responsible. But she also ran off last night. She's never done that before. We've fought a lot—who hasn't—but she's never run off without telling me where she was going.
Brendon brings his hand to my jaw. He tilts my head so I'm looking up at him. "It will be okay, Kay."
"How do you know?"
"I know."
I want to believe him, but I'm not sure I do.
Traffic is a crawl.It's Friday morning. Traffic is always a crawl at this time.
The sun bounces off the pavement, flowing into Brendon's sedan, making it hard to read my cell screen.
Not that there's anything to read.
Emma still hasn't texted back.
My parents'have a safe flight, can't wait to see you, let me know when you've boardedtexts are the same.
The only thing changing is the time in the top bar of my cell screen.
I stare at it until the screen goes dark then I wake my cell and do it all over again.
Brendon reaches over and wraps his fingers around my wrist. "Kay, put your phone away. You're driving yourself crazy."
"I know. But—"
"Emma's not gonna text back today. You have to give her time."
I know that. I do. But my heart isn't getting the message. And when I let my thoughts float away from Emma, they go straight to Grandma. To the question mark and all the possible answers. They're too scary. I can't take that.
He rubs my wrist with his thumb. It pulls my thoughts back to the moment.
Brendon is such a loving person, but he doesn't see himself that way. No one else sees him that way.
But it's there. It's just hidden, like the stars on the ceiling.
He rubs my wrist through the last stretch of the 405. As we take the LAX exit. Even through the crawl toDeparturesthen to my terminal.
God, this airport is a mess.
