Page 41 of Heartbeat

“Can I get you something to drink?” I asked, already halfway to the kitchen.

“Sure! Are you alone?”

“Mom and Dad are at the lake.” I wasn’t keen on mentioning it, but the way I figured, it was better to get that out of the way as soon as possible. “Noah’s out on a date.”

“No! Noah dates?”

“I know,” I said, smiling. “He’s in high school now.”

“Jesus, I feel so old.” She sat on one of the stools in the kitchen.

I got two beers from the fridge, opened them, and handed her one before leaning against the counter, facing her. “You look the same.”

She raised both eyebrows. “You too.” She put her beer down. “Except you look a bit thinner, and that hair is absolutely different. I like it.”

“Pretty sure I’m not thinner.”

“You’ve become the hot brother.”

“I’ve always been the hot brother,” I said smugly, making her chuckle.

We went silent, both taking a sip at the same time.

“So, how is everyone? Is Marcy still dating Jonas?”

I shrugged.

“You don’t know? How come?”

“Emma—"

“Do you hate me?” she asked, turning serious.

“What?”

“For leaving,” she said quietly.

“I don’t hate you, Emma. I really am happy to see you.”

She looked so relieved. “Good. Go get dressed, then.”

“What?”

“We need to catch up, but we can’t do it here.”

“Why not?”

“There’s not enough alcohol. Plus, we haven’t seen each other in years, and I’m only in town for one more day.”

“So?”

“So, you’re taking me out.”

“I am?”

“Uh-huh.” She nodded. “Go. Get dressed; I want to go to The Den and embarrass myself in front of Lenny.”

If there was one thing anyone who’d ever met Emma O’Brian knew, it was that once she told you to do something, you did it. So, I went upstairs and changed, deciding it was better to humor her instead of staying in a house that—judging by the way she’d looked around ever since coming inside—seemed to hold nothing but memories and not all good ones. Besides, I could “not wait” for Ethan to text me pretty much anywhere.

---