(Mis)fortune (Judgement of the Six #2)

Jim came home before dinner, took one look at what they worked on, and pitched in. Thankfully, they were all starving and easy to pull away from their task once they smelled the cooking steaks.

The next day followed the same routine with the exception of Jim stealing the motorcycle. Before Jim came home, Emmitt announced the swing set, with its plastic climbing wall, slide, and fort, was complete. The boys cheered and began scrambling all over the thing.

I sat on the step, slightly bored again. Watching Emmitt assemble the swing set had been a nice distraction. I sighed, and he moved to sit by me.

“I bought a movie when I went to the store,” he said, looking out over the yard.

I turned to study his profile. He had a strong jaw, straight nose with a slight bump on the bridge, and firm lips. My stomach dove for my toes for half a heartbeat before it sprang back with a twist. I caught Nana watching me from the chair she’d brought out to the porch and blushed.

“Would you like to watch it with me?” he asked softly.

The way he said it, a soft rumble of invitation, made my heart jump with excitement. I looked away, focusing on my brothers as they played in the yard. I struggled with what I should say versus what I wanted to say.

Nana interrupted my thoughts before they fully formed. “I can watch the boys out here if you two want to go in.”

That decided me. He and I needed to talk. I stood and told the boys that I would be right inside if they needed me. Emmitt let me lead the way to Jim’s apartment.

The movie waited right next to the TV. Emmitt went to it and lifted it with a dimple-showing smile. I stood behind him and schooled my features into a serious expression while my insides went crazy.

“Emmitt,” I said with quiet reluctance. “I really appreciate you letting us stay here, but I need to say something.” He turned toward me. His smile faded, and I swallowed hard. “I don’t know how long we’ll be here and can’t afford any emotional distractions.”

He was quiet for so long I thought he wasn’t going to say anything, and I started to worry.

“What are we talking about, exactly?” His voice, low and steady, sounded a bit upset.

“The way you look at me...” I whispered with a blush.

Though my mind would willingly paint us in a white-picket-fence dream, the reality was that any emotional connection with these people would just be another way for Blake to hurt me if—no, when—he caught up with us. Plus, I couldn’t afford any entanglements that would prevent me from leaving when the time came.

“I see.” He didn’t sound mad, just thoughtful. “Michelle, when I saw you in the diner, and again when you faced David, I knew you needed a friend.”

Friend? As if someone had thrown a boulder down my throat, something heavy hit the bottom of my stomach and embarrassment began to flood me. Had my attraction to Emmitt twisted what I thought I saw into what I’d wanted to see? I wanted to disappear. Instead, I tried to salvage the humiliating situation with a feint at ignorance.

“Friendship might be more than I can manage.”

He slowly nodded and looked down at the movie in his hands, making it hard to read his thoughts. After a moment, he looked up with a relaxed, easygoing smile and slightly lifted the movie. “So, is that a no to a movie?”

Cherry red and wanting to run, I still couldn’t say no. I was too curious about my reaction to him. Too tempted. At least, we both knew where we stood, and I could breathe again. Well, not really. Not with him so close, but he didn’t know that.

For the next two hours, we sat side by side, not quite touching. We watched a movie but instead of focusing on the story, my mind kept wandering to the premonition and the talk we just had. Was it just coincidence I had a vision when I touched Emmitt?

Jim got home as the movie ended and plopped down on the couch next to me. He slipped an arm around my shoulder. He felt hot and sweaty, and it made me wonder what he did for a living.

“Where do you work?” I asked, turning to him.

Emmitt got up to turn off the television. Jim’s eyes followed him, and a knowing grin split his face. I didn’t understand it and turned to look at Emmitt. Knees bent, he squatted in front of the DVD player, his back mostly to us.

“Roadside construction. Thanks for letting me use your truck,” he said and leaned toward me, planting a quick kiss on my cheek before standing. The kiss surprised me.

“You need to shower,” Emmitt said in an oddly flat voice, not turning around.

Jim laughed and sauntered back to the bathroom.

I stood, too. “Thanks for the movie, Emmitt.”

He nodded, not looking at me, and I left to check on Liam and Aden.