The Crush (58)

“Oh.” She wiggled on my shoulders, and I clamped my hands down on her legs to keep her steady. The kid was going to give me a heart attack. “Is Asher inani-imaminate? He’s stupid sometimes.”

“Luna Paige Griffin,” Molly said sternly, “You don’t call your brother names, and you know it.”

She sighed, and I smothered my smile.

Mom tapped her fingers along the counter. “Emmett, how about you go up there and help her get it working again?”

“I can do that,” I said calmly like my heart didn’t jolt up into my throat at the idea of time alone with her. It was like hitting the peak of a roller coaster. I knew what was down on the other side, knew the anticipation was worth the climb to the top. “I don’t know if I should, though,” I admitted. “She may not want me to.”

Molly’s brow furrowed. “Why wouldn’t we just call that plumb—”

With a sharp clearing of her throat, Mom’s face stayed even, and she held Molly’s eyes long enough that recognition dawned.

“Ohhh,” she breathed. Then her eyebrows popped up. “Oh. Okay.”

My mom patted Molly’s arm. “Welcome to the club. There’s so few of us here.”

“I never told you anything,” I said.

“You told me enough.”

“I knew it,” Molly hissed. “I was right the other night, wasn’t I? I knew something was going on. When? How?” She bounced on her toes, just like her seven-year-old daughter. “When?”

“When what?” Luna asked, poking her finger into my cheek.

“Nothing,” Mom and I said. The last thing we needed was Luna running out in the backyard and blabbing to her cousins.

Molly gasped. “You’re the one-night stand guy?”

Mom’s eyebrows shot up. “What now?”

“What’s a one-night stand?” Luna asked. “I can do a handstand!”

My gaze sharpened on Molly. “What do you know? What did she say?”

She hooted. “Oh boy, I am not repeating anything said during the sanctity of girls’ night.”

“Molly,” I warned. “If you know something important, you should tell me.”

She crossed her arms. “Should I? Would you want me breaking your confidence with her?”

I exhaled in a short, frustrated burst. “No.”

Luna yanked on my ear. “Secrets are okay as long as no one’s getting hurt, but if someone’s getting hurt or asking you to tell lies, you should always tell an adult.”

Mom smiled. “That’s right, baby girl. And if someone is hurting you or your brother or your cousins, I know a thousand ways to get rid of their body.”

Luna giggled, and I wrangled her off my shoulders. “Okay, munchkin, time for you to exit the conversation.”

“Uncle Emmett needs to go to the beach house early,” Mom said. “Adaline needs his help with something.”

She bounced on her toes. “Can I go with you, Uncle Emmett? I wanna see Adaline.”

“Not today, Luna,” Mom said smoothly. “You’ll see her soon, though. She said she’d have you for a sleepover when she’s back home from visiting her family.”

When I glanced at Molly, she was studying me carefully.

I couldn’t help but wonder what she saw on my face. If it matched the racing tug of excitement pulling me out of the house, yanking my attention to where Adaline was.

Luna ran off into the backyard when her cousin yelled her name, and that was when Molly smacked my arm.

“I can’t believe she was talking about you.” She shook her head. “No wonder she freaked out when you showed up.”

I settled against the counter and gave her a level look. “I’m not asking you to break any confidences, but I also need to know that if I drive up there, she’s not going to be pissed.”

Molly sighed. “If she asked for space since you got here … you should respect that,” she answered carefully. “The overbearing caveman who ignores what a woman says is only allowable in fiction.”

“She didn’t ask for space when I was at her office,” I said. “It was more … acceptance of really shitty timing.”

Mom held her hands up. “I know what I saw on that girl’s face. You should go.” She patted my cheek. “And you know I wouldn’t say that if I thought she’d be pissed. I did not raise an asshole who disrespects women.”

“I wouldn’t have lived to the age of ten in this house if I did,” I muttered.

Molly smiled. “So very, very true.”

“You know her best,” I said. “Do I get your stamp of approval?”

Molly sighed, finally giving me a slow nod. “You do.”

“Then it looks like I have to go,” I told her, tapping her on the top of the head when I passed. She swatted at my hand. “Gotta get the water working for the party.”

My mom quirked an eyebrow before I left the room, and I paused to give her a quick hug.

“You didn’t sneak up there to commit water heater sabotage, did you?” I asked.

She smiled innocently. “I’d never do such a thing.”

As I left the kitchen to grab my bag, I wasn’t sure whose disbelieving snort was louder, mine or Molly’s.