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lawn.
I m in my car pulling away by the time he appears in the doorway. I watch him in
the rearview mirror as I pull off.
CHAPTER TWELVE
TANK
When Emma returns, she goes straight to the bedroom. I follow but stop when I
see her sitting on the bed. She s texting. When she looks up, tears shimmer on her
cheeks. She hasn t noticed me yet and I m not sure whether I should give her privacy or
just run in and grab her up the way I really want to.
Every instinct tells me that I should be in there with her, but whenever I get too
close, she always pulls back. The last time things got intense, she asked for time apart. So
even though it s killing me, I step back and retreat down the hall. Poochie curls around
my ankles and lets out a garbled purr. I pick her up and carry her into the living room.
 You really are a funny-looking thing aren t you? She grumbles and purrs under
my hands as I stroke her wrinkled back. It s strange that despite how chaotic things have
been lately, I feel more at peace now than ever. It makes no sense since I m sitting alone
on my couch with a cat that looks like a wrinkled old man, but the difference is I ve made
the decisions I needed to. I m doing things with a clear head and focusing on what s
important now instead of just reacting out of fear. And I have Emma. No matter what
happens going forward, I have Emma.
The rest I can figure out as it comes along.
A few minutes later, she emerges wearing one of my old Army shirts and a pair of
fleece sweatpants. Her hair is up in a messy bun and she s scrubbed all the makeup from
her face. She s gorgeous.
 Are you okay? I don t want to pry but she s clearly upset. I m not sure what it is
about this girl but just the thought of anyone hurting her makes me crazy.
She sits down on the couch next to me and gives Poochie an absent scratch behind
the ears.  I can t find Ivy. She s always been a little flighty but she s been ignoring my
calls since the weekend. I just don t know what to do. And Jon was there when I went to
pick up some stuff.
My jaw clenches.  Did he say something to you?
Her bottom lip trembles.  I know this is probably a little forward considering we ve
only been on two dates but can I stay with you for a while longer?
You can stay forever.
The thought crosses my mind but I figure that would freak her out so I grab her
hand.  You can stay with me for as long as you want.
 I ll start looking for a place tomorrow. She laughs suddenly.  We seem to do
everything out of order. Our dates end up & not really being dates. I tell you we need to
take time apart and I end up driving you home as you bleed all over my car. Now I m
asking you to move in because my sister s boyfriend is a disgusting perv. Nothing about
us makes any sense.
 I want you with me. I don t care if it s bad timing or out of order or doesn t make
sense.
Her eyes lock on mine.  You don t?
 No. I don t. Break the rules with me, Emma.
She leans into me and we sink back into the cushions of the couch. Then she looks
up at me with an expression of mischief on her face.  I ll help you out around the house.
This place needs a woman s touch anyway. And another cat. I ll help you find a friend for
Poochie.
When I look at her in disbelief, she buries her face against my neck, giggling
uncontrollably. And it s the sweetest sound in the world.
Over the next week, we settle into a rhythm. I ve never lived with anyone before. I
was expecting the usual irritants such as someone moving things from where I ve left
them and having someone in my space. What I couldn t have predicted is the incredible
beauty of having someone there when I get home. Someone who smiles at me with pure,
incandescent happiness just from seeing my face.
I m falling for her. Even more shocking, I m enjoying it.
 Did you get the mail? Emma grabs me from behind as soon as I enter the
apartment. She smells like something spicy so I know she s been cooking again.
I hold up the stack of letters. Emma has forwarded her mail to my address
temporarily so that she doesn t have to return home to pick it up.
 How are things with your sister? From what I can understand, they still aren t
getting along.
 Well, she finally returned my calls but she hasn t explained where she disappeared
to or why she didn t call me back. She glances at me and then flips through the stack of
letters, pulling out her bills.  She accused me of hitting on Jon.
 What? Why would she say that?
 I m sure he told her that. He s so sick. And very good at this game. Because he told
her that, now she thinks anything bad I say about him is because I m  jealous and want
him for myself. Those were her exact words by the way. She smiles but I can tell how
much it hurts her.
 I m sorry. Hopefully she ll realize how wrong she is soon.
 She actually said that it was for the best if I don t come home for a while. Not that
I want to be there. She rips open one of the letters and suddenly she s completely still.
Then she crumples up the letter and drops it in the trash.
 Everything okay? I watch as she opens the refrigerator and stands there, staring
aimlessly,
 Yeah, fine.
I wrap her in my arms from behind.  Talk to me buttercup. And none of that fine
stuff. Everyone knows that s woman code for something is wrong, please ask me. This is
the one area where we ve never been backward. You ve always been honest with me. I
think that s one of the things I love the best about you.
She stiffens in my arms.  I m not perfect, Tank. Not by a long shot. She sounds so
sad when she says it.
I squeeze her tighter.  I disagree. You told me I was an arrogant flirt. You forced me
to realize how much my father s desertion bothered me. You ve never held back on me
before. Talking to you is the best part of my day. [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]