Breathe Out (Just Breathe, #2)(85)
Javier giggles while Jared and Nathan eye me.
“Why don’t I put you on video chat,” I instruct to Javier. “So everyone can meet.”
Jared and Nathan beam with excitement.
When I flip the phone around, Javier greets Jared and Nathan and they gape in wonder.
“What the . . .” Nathan begins before Jared jabs him.
“Hello, boys,” Javier greets. “It’s nice to finally meet you. Emma told me so much about you.”
“Why the hell does he have your number?” Nathan questions.
I laugh as I see the realization register in Jared’s face.
“Good one, Kitten,” Jared commends.
“Thanks,” I accept.
“What are you talking about?” Nathan questions.
Javier chuckles, “Emma set you up, boys. I’m gay.”
“What?!” Nathan breathes out. “Damn. Why didn’t you tell us?”
“It was more fun stringing you along,” I confess.
“I’ll let you go, Emma,” Javier informs. “We’ll chat later. Definitely call me when you are all back in Vegas, okay?”
“Sure,” I agree.
Jared and Nathan nod and stare at me blankly once I hang up the phone.
“Oh,” I begin. “And, Maggie knew he was gay.”
“What!” they shout at the same time.
“She’s gotten good,” Jared declares.
“We’ll be watching you two more closely,” Nathan attests.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less,” I say.
The three of us hang up and I decide to make dinner.
Joe calls several times, and I finally pick up. “What?”
“What’s wrong?” Joe questions.
“Don’t play coy with me,” I challenge. “Jared told me about the Teslas.”
“They’re for your safety,” he claims. “It’s clearly not safe for you to take the train or any form of public transportation.”
“I have bodyguards,” I present.
“They can only do so much when there are that many people, Emma,” Joe replies.
“You could have talked to me about it rather that sneak around with Jared like that,” I charge.
“We weren’t sure you’d agree,” Joe states. “So, we did it just in case.”
“Not cool,” I return.
“I’m sorry, beautiful,” Joe says sincerely.
“B.O.B. would never sneak around my back,” I press a little more playfully than I want.
“I get it,” Joe claims. “I deserved that.”
“Damn right,” I throw back. “You’ll be lucky if you get any from here on out.”
“Emma?” Joe pleas.
“No,” I reply.
“We still have to try bunny style,” he mentions.
I pause for a second, not sure how I want to respond. “Don’t use that against me.”
“Emma?” he calls sweetly.
“Don’t Emma, me,” I answer.
“How about I come by tomorrow?” Joe checks. “And, make it up to you? Any way you’d like.”
“Busy,” I contend.
“Come on, beautiful,” he begs.
“No.”
“Bunny style?” Joe reminds.
I’m momentarily speechless. “No,” I finally object.
“Beautiful,” he coaxes.
“It’s better we don’t,” I state calmly. “With Jared and Nathan now knowing about Javier, and the bodyguards . . . .”
He cuts me off, “Emma.”
I don’t say anything.
“What if I come over anyway?” he peruses.
“I won’t open the door,” I say, hating that I’m uttering the words as soon as they escape my lips.
“Beautiful,” he tempts.
“I’ve got to go,” I redirect. “Goodnight.” My finger quickly hits the button to hang up, knowing that I’ll agree if I give him any more opportunity to present his case.
Seventy Nine
Even though Jared and Joe come over the next day before my cars arrive, I keep myself at a distance from both of them. Jared sees the tension building in me from everything that is going on — if he only knew about the things I’m not telling him.
I stay hidden in my apartment all weekend, only going out to take Sadie for a walk a few times a day. My friends don’t press, but they do check in on me once or twice a day by phone or video chat. With the extended solitude and driving myself crazy by being a hermit, I conclude that Jared and I need to present our statement this week and schedule to meet up in Santa Monica.
I go back and forth in my head with what to say, how to say it and how much I’m willing to say. I’m not interested in disclosing much, but I do know that I need to end the speculations of a relationship between Chris and myself for all of this focus on me to go away.
The Naturally Me team joins us around two in the afternoon to start setting up. Once we decide on where to sit for the video, Pop-Pop walks in with his lady friend who also brought food for every.
“Hi, Pop-Pop,” I sing, jumping off the chair.