Breathe In (Just Breathe, #1)(146)
Is this really happening?
“Don’t you need more time to consider? I mean . . .” my voice trails.
“We’ve heard plenty of information. Between what Joe told and showed us earlier, Elaine and I were already convinced. Hearing it directly from you solidified the deal,” Mr. Covelli admits, taking his wife’s hand.
“But we need to go over particulars, like percentages and how much and . . .” I anxiously blurt.
“Emma, dear, those are all incidentals. I’m sure we’ll all come to an agreement on those pieces. For now, let’s just celebrate this joint venture. I’m sure we’ll figure out how to make it mutually beneficial,” Mr. Covelli diplomatically commands, dismissing the importance of the details.
“Umm . . . okay,” I stammer, confused by the whirlwind of emotions bouncing inside of me.
“Emma, are you excited about the premier?” Mr. Covelli inquires.
“Yes, but the premier can’t be determined until we establish a facility,” I mention courteously.
“No,” Mr. Covelli chuckles. “I’m referring to the movie premier, with Chris.”
I preform a mental head slap, not catching Mr. Covelli’s redirection of our conversation to another topic. My eyes expand when my brain fully processes what Mr. Covelli meant. “Sure,” I offer a little too impassively.
“You don’t sound too excited,” Mrs. Covelli states. “He seems like a very nice young man.”
“Yes, he’s very nice. It’s just . . . the premier is a business transaction for me,” I explain my apprehension.
“How is it a business transaction for you?” Mr. Covelli searches.
“I’m a partial owner of Nathaniel’s,” I disclose.
“She’s being modest. She’s more than just a partial owner,” Joe interjects.
“Ahh,” Mr. Covelli says.
“Did you two date at one point? That would explain his affection towards you and yours to him. I’m guessing you broke it off,” Mrs. Covelli specifies more than questions.
Joe appears calm at his mother’s prying, but he does slightly shift in his seat.
“I don’t date, but something along those lines,” I explain.
“Ahh . . . well, regardless, make sure you allow yourself to have some fun. The boys will be there along with your friends, so you’ll have plenty of pleasant distractions,” Mrs. Covelli presents kindly.
“I will. Thank you,” I reply.
It takes a minute or two for our conversation to strike back up again. Mrs. Covelli keeps things light by asking me questions about our recent rip to Hawaii and any details about Maggie’s and Henry’s wedding I can share.
By ten minutes after eleven, I excuse myself from our meeting. I have to get home and change before meeting up with Maggie at the Li family home for more wedding preparations. Just as Joe is escorting me down to his car, because he insists on driving me the half mile home and not taking no for an answer, we see Jimmy and Allen when the elevator doors open. They’re happy to see that I haven’t left and assert that they will join Joe and me. Jimmy and Allen say that they have yet to see my home and felt left out since everyone else — everyone but Chris — know where I live.
I was a little disappointed that it wouldn’t be just Joe and myself. For some reason, I was hoping to have some time with him. I need to explain that we need to back off or because of what Jared and Nathan were hinting towards the other night. At the same time, I was happy to have Jimmy and Allen to tag along. They are really fun to hang out with, and given the fact that I have my period, having them around makes it less awkward, preventing the chance for things to evolve further with Joe. I’ve heard of some women having and enjoying sex when it’s that time of the month, but the whole idea bugs me out. I don’t think I’ll ever be that comfortable with someone to even consider it.
Jimmy, Allen and Joe join me in taking Sadie to the park after we get to my door. Once we’re back to my apartment, they peer around, commenting on a variety of things before I rush them out with Sadie and me. They try to get me to agree to have them drive me down to the Li home, but I politely refuse, explaining that it will only take me about ten to fifteen minutes to get to Maggie by train. If we drive, it would talk more like forty minutes or longer with LA traffic.
The rest of the day, I’m with Maggie until she drops Sadie and me off at home just after eleven at night. Still processing the verbal agreement Joe, Mr. and Mrs. Covelli and I have pertaining to business, I refrain from telling Maggie anything. I don’t want to jinks the good news and want to wait until I’m with her and Jared at the same time. I need to make sure that Joe doesn’t say anything either. I text him and he graciously obliges. He asks if he can stop by, but I decline. I’m mentally and physically tired and the last thing I want to explain to him about putting the breaks on any physical interaction is all due to Jared acting weird and my menstrual cycle.
Thirty Eight
The next morning, as I’m returning from taking Sadie out for an early, peaceful, morning jog, I stop in my tracks as she bolts towards our door. Sadie never leaves my side until we’re in the hall, but today is different. She’s in a full run. Why? There are only one of four reasons she would do it — she sees Maggie, Jared, Nathan, or — Joe.