Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(103)

‘Now, tell me about you,’ Sara insisted, trying to be serious, but joy soaked through her like light. ‘What happened with Cole? What did he say?’

‘Nothing,’ I shrugged. ‘He left a note.’ I turned from her and started towards the bathroom. ‘I should dry my hair. I think the guys are waiting on us.’

‘Emma,’ Sara chided, following me into the bathroom, ‘I’ll dry your hair. You talk.’

I sighed, sitting at the vanity while Sara reached for the round brush and hairdryer. ‘There’s not much to say. It was only two sentences. You know I’d asked him to leave before I hurt him, so that’s what he did. He wasn’t going to let me hurt him.’

‘Shit,’ she replied. ‘He knew, Em. He knew as soon as Evan stepped off that plane that it was over.’

‘Evan?’ I questioned in surprise. ‘I’m the reason he left.’

‘Whatever,’ she said dismissively. ‘You don’t always have the clearest perspective on things, Em. Either way. He left, so how are you?’

I averted my eyes. ‘Fine.’

‘What?’ she demanded. ‘Are you upset that he’s gone?’

‘I hate how it ended,’ I admitted. ‘He was a good guy. Really.’

‘I know,’ Sara acknowledged. ‘I liked him.’

I nodded. ‘I knew it was going to happen. I knew there would be an end eventually. I just didn’t want it to get … complicated.’

‘Yeah,’ Sara scoffed. ‘If you don’t want complicated, then stay away from guys.’

I made a face at her advice.

‘Now what about Evan?’ she continued. ‘How have you been getting along? Was it weird to be alone with him here last night?’

I shook my head, trying to keep my body temperature from rising. But the heat rushed to my cheeks anyway.

Sara switched off the hairdryer. ‘What happened?’ I glanced up, and she was staring at me with large eyes. ‘Did you have sex with him?!’

‘What?! Omigod, no!’ I answered quickly, my entire face now red. ‘We’ve been talking, that’s all. And … well …’

‘Emma,’ Sara said in her familiar lecturing tone. ‘What did you do?’

‘He stayed with me, in here, last night,’ I explained quietly. ‘We talked until we fell asleep.’

‘And you didn’t exactly sleep on opposite sides of that huge bed, did you?’ She knew the answer when I couldn’t meet her eyes. ‘What’s happening between you two?’

‘I’m not sure,’ I answered honestly. ‘We really are just talking. And it’s good, I guess. It’s honest, anyway. And I cry way too much. It’s kind of pathetic.’

‘I’m sure it’s not pathetic,’ Sara comforted me. ‘You probably haven’t cried enough in your life, so you’re making up for it.’

‘Great,’ I grumbled, wishing I knew how to find the off switch again. ‘But –’

‘Are you almost ready?’ Evan hollered into the room.

‘We’ll be right out,’ Sara answered, turning on the dryer to finish my hair. ‘This conversation isn’t over.’ She gave me a stern look, and I nodded meekly.

Sara walked out of the bedroom before Emma with a smile on her face that wouldn’t quit. I glanced over at Jared, who stared at her with an I’ve-been-hit-on-the-head-with-a-hammer look on his face. Their reconciliation was bound to make things a little awkward around here, especially when Emma and I didn’t even touch … except when we went to sleep.

‘We need to talk,’ Sara said between her smiling teeth.

‘What did I do now?’ I asked. She looked behind me, and I turned to find Emma with her leg bent behind her, using the wall as support to slide on a pair of dress sandals – her feet still covered in bandages. The white shorts were short enough to show off the legs that made me weak. I realized I was staring when her cheeks glowed red, and she smiled at me awkwardly.

‘Uh, ready?’ I confirmed, noticing that Jared and Sara were already at the door. I reached out to grab her hand, but caught myself and ran it along the side of my khakis instead, hoping she hadn’t noticed. Maybe inviting her wasn’t the best idea. It felt like a date, and despite the connection we were feeling, we weren’t ready for that. I started for the door as she grabbed a sweater out of the closet.

‘You look nice,’ she said, turning me around. ‘I like that shirt on you.’

‘Thanks,’ I responded, completely taken by surprise. ‘You look … amazing.’

She smiled shyly and said, ‘Thanks,’ as she walked by me out the door.

‘Sweet Scout,’ Jared admired, climbing in behind the driver’s seat. ‘What year is it?’

‘Sixty-nine,’ I responded, waiting for Emma to climb in so I could close the door behind her. I noticed Sara’s eyes scrunch slightly, like she was trying to figure out the same thing Emma had earlier. I decided to let Emma tell her about me transferring, not certain what her reaction would be. Sara wanted Emma to be happy, but I knew she was still worried about her. I didn’t know if she was still concerned about my motives, or just the emotional turbulence that had swept into Emma’s life this summer. Either way, I knew I was part of it.