“I think that’s cute,” James replied. “It gets her all riled up – and I like her when she’s all riled up.”
Despite the in-jokes, Emma couldn’t help but feel welcome. “Shark slippers?”
“Mandy is infatuated with all things shark,” Finn explained. “It’s obsessive and weird.”
“It’s adorable and sexy,” James argued. “Don’t make fun of my girl.”
“Don’t worry, I’m still going to play avalanche with you later,” Mandy said. “You can tell the truth.”
James’ eyes reflected doubt. “Well, in that case, it’s a little odd. What can I say? I like my women odd.”
The table erupted into laughter. Emma felt her knee brush against Finn’s under the table. She fought the urge to yank it away and, instead, kept it snug against his. The warmth emanating from their small point of contact was enough to make her feel lightheaded.
What is happening?
Conversation progressed after the waitress took everyone’s orders, settling into comfortable chatter and mindless exchanges for the bulk of the meal. Emma relished the feeling of normalcy. This is how regular people live, she thought. This is how people who aren’t related to child molesters go about their everyday lives, with laughter and love.
Emma glanced over to find Mandy studying her worriedly.
“So, how many days a week do you work, Emma?” Mandy asked.
“I’m usually booked Saturdays and Sundays for festivals and events,” Emma said. “I have a standing gig at one of the casinos in Detroit on Fridays, too.”
“So, you’re free during the week?”
“I’ve been taking some classes online,” Emma said. “I usually focus on that during the week.”
“You’re going to school? That’s great. What are you going for?”
Emma bit her lower lip. “I’ve always wanted to be a teacher,” she said. “Right now I’m just taking basic stuff, though, until I’m one-hundred-percent sure. I don’t want to waste any money.”
“And the modeling pays for your classes?”
“That’s the only reason I do it,” Emma said. “It’s never exactly been a dream of mine.”
“It sounds like you don’t have a lot of free time,” Mandy said. “What do you do for fun?”
Fun? What’s fun? “I kind of keep to myself,” Emma said. “I honestly don’t have a lot of friends. The girls I meet at jobs are all superficial and obnoxious – well, you met Gwen, and she’s pretty much representative of all models – so I really just keep my nose to the grindstone.”
Mandy tilted her head to the side, considering. “Are you busy tomorrow night?”
Emma had no idea where Mandy was going with her line of questioning. “I have to be back at the festival during the afternoon,” Emma said. “I’m free after that. Why?”
Mandy’s smile was wide. “I have a great idea. We should have a girl’s night.”
Sophie perked up at the end of the table. “That’s a great idea.”
James cleared his throat. “Do I have to remind you what happened at your last girl’s night?”
“Do I have to remind you who handled that situation?” Mandy shot back. “Besides, what are the odds of us getting attacked by another knife-wielding maniac?”
James balked. “Where are you going to go?”
Mandy shrugged. “I don’t know. Out to a bar or something.”
“Why don’t you have everyone over to our place instead,” James said. “I would feel better about it if I knew where you were.”
“Because you and your brothers have a poker game at the apartment tomorrow,” Mandy said. “Did you forget?”
James rubbed his chin. “Go over to Sophie’s then.”
“You can’t just invite people over to Sophie’s house,” Mandy said. “That’s not fair.”
“It would normally be fine,” Sophie said. “I’ve actually got construction going on right now. They’re building a sun porch. Sure, I picked the worse time of year to do it, but it’s already half done.”
“Ooh, that sounds nice,” Mandy said. “I want to see it when it’s complete.”
“Sure.”
Emma wasn’t sure, but she made the offer anyway. “You could come over to my place.”
Mandy’s smile was so wide it almost swallowed her entire face. “Sold.”
And, just like that, Emma felt like part of the group.
Eleven
Emma was nervous the next night when the knock on her door came. When she’d initially offered her apartment, she hadn’t considered how bad it would look. They all lived in great places. Sophie was having a sun porch added on to an actual house, for crying out loud. She just knew that this place would depress her guests.