Meet Cute(21)

Daxton puts his arm around her and pulls her into his side. He gives me an apologetic smile as he rubs her shoulder and whispers something to her. Her small frame shakes, and she nods into his chest. After a few more seconds she excuses herself and slips out of the booth.

Daxton watches her disappear into the women’s room, worrying his bottom lip before slowly turning back to me. “Sorry about that. It comes in waves, you know? One second she’s happy and laughing and the next she’s in tears.”

“How are you managing?” I ask. Dark circles ring his eyes, and although he’s put together, his exhaustion is obvious.

“It’s a learning curve. She has to go back to school tomorrow and she’s nervous, and frankly, so am I. She’s going to have to deal with all her friends and the questions, and of course our aunt works there, so there’s added stress. The whole custody thing just threw us for a loop, especially so soon after our parents—” He pauses and clears his throat. “I’m hoping that us talking will alleviate some of her anxiety about possibly having to move.”

“How much have you told Emme?”

He fiddles with his napkin, smoothing it out. “That Linda would like her to come live with her, but that I’d like her to stay with me, so we need to figure it out.”

“And what did you tell her my role is?”

“I told her you were kind of like a bank manager and referee. You make sure her trust is safe and that she has what she needs while I work on keeping her with me.”

I’m about to ask if that’s what Emme wants when she returns to the table, effectively shutting down the discussion.

We order our meals and milkshakes when the server comes around. She’s a woman in her early twenties, and she makes goo-goo eyes at Daxton whenever he speaks. I get it, he’s a hottie, but she needs to tone her simper down a notch. Or ten.

While we wait for the food to arrive I explain the parameters of the trust and my new role in Emme’s life.

“But I still get to stay with Dax, right?” She pokes at her milkshake with her straw.

“That’s right. Everything stays exactly the way it is for the time being, apart from me being involved in more than just your trust.”

“Okay.” She nods, as if this makes sense, but then chews on the inside of her lip.

“Do you have any other questions? I know it’s a lot of new things happening, so I’m here to help however I can.”

Emme looks to Daxton, as if seeking his approval before she speaks. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s wary of me, or of his reaction to whatever questions she has. At his nod she clears her throat. “So if you’re responsible for me, does that mean you have to move in with me and Dax?”

Daxton’s eyes go wide and his gaze darts to me. I’m not capable of speaking, though, since I’m coughing up the french fry I almost choked on.

“No, Em, it’s not like that. It’s still just you and me,” he replies.

“Oh. Okay. ’Cause, like, that might be a little weird, but at least you and Dax were, like, friends before, right? And Dax doesn’t have a girlfriend or anything, so it wouldn’t be that weird. Except if Kailyn had to stay in your old room.” Emme’s eyes light up and she leans in closer, as if she’s about to tell a secret. “His bedroom is full of stuff from his old TV show. Posters and everything.”

I glance at Daxton and then back at her. “Is that right?”

She nods. “Dax said we can clean it out and I can put all the stuff on eBay and decide what I want to do with the money.”

“Oh, really? Is there lots of cool stuff?”

Daxton’s face is an interesting shade of red. “It’s just memorabilia and crap.”

“But some of it might be worth money, so I’m going to see what I can get for it.”

What I wouldn’t give to help clean out that room. I find myself a little giddy over the thought. I’m a TV memorabilia junkie. I may have boycotted watching the show after law school, and boxed up all my old things, but they’re still in my bedroom closet.

A few minutes later Emme slumps back in her seat, rubbing her tummy. “You all right, kiddo?” Daxton eyes her plate. She’s barely touched her burger or fries, and only managed to drink about half of her shake.

“Just not really hungry anymore.” She fiddles with her napkin and peeks up at him. “I’m sorry. I know it’s a waste.”

“You want it packed up?”

She shrugs. “Can I go next door to the bookstore and look around while you guys eat and talk about stuff that you don’t want to say in front of me?”

Daxton gives her a look. “Em.”

“What? I’m not dumb and I’m not trying to be rude and, like, I’m kind of done hearing about Aunt Linda, so can I go?” She gives him sad puppy dog eyes, which I’m sure are at least 50 percent authentic.

“Fine.”

Emme slides out of the booth, grinning.

“Hold on.” Daxton pulls his wallet from his back pocket, flips it open, and retrieves a twenty.

“What’s this for?”

“You’re going to a bookstore. This is so you can buy a book.”

“Oh.” She smiles and pockets the money. “Okay, thanks.”