After a second, Finn must have realized what was happening, because he loosened his grip and shifted his hips back slightly. “I’m sorry,” he muttered.
She was uncomfortable, but his pitiable apology was enough to make Emma laugh out loud. She rolled on her side so she could face him, marveling how handsome and soft the hard planes of his face looked in the morning light. “I’m taking it as a compliment,” she said.
Finn’s cheeks were filling with color. “I … um … .”
“I really hope you don’t say anything to ruin the moment,” Emma said. “That would be a little sad after the gift you gave me last night.”
Finn arched an eyebrow, confused. “Gift?”
“Do you even know the last time I slept through an entire night?” Emma asked. “Because I don’t. I slept for eight straight hours last night. That might not seem like much to other people, but it feels like something extra special to me. So, do us both a favor, and don’t ruin it.”
Finn winked, the gesture charming. “You got it.”
Emma leaned her head back on the pillow, her stomach growling loudly. Finn snorted out a laugh.
“Are you hungry?” he asked.
“I guess so,” Emma said. “I haven’t eaten since dinner last night – and then I drank about a quart of something called a Skinny Girl margarita. Now, apparently, I’m starving.”
“I could eat,” Finn said, his stomach chiming in with a rumble. “Why don’t we get cleaned up and go pick up some breakfast. I was thinking we could take something over to James and Mandy.”
“That sounds good,” Emma said. “I really owe her after she risked herself for my photograph. She shouldn’t have done that. No photo is worth anyone’s life.”
“Yeah, well, that’s not the way Mandy thinks sometimes,” Finn said. “Actually, that’s the problem.”
“What’s the problem?”
“She doesn’t think.”
“She thinks,” Emma countered. “She just puts other people’s needs ahead of her own.”
“Well, last night, when she put your needs in front of her own, she forgot to take someone else’s needs into account,” Finn said, his tone grim.
“Your brother’s?”
“Mandy should have realized that her dying would have killed him, too,” Finn said.
“If it’s any consolation, I think she realizes that now.”
“Yeah, but how much damage did she do in the process?” Finn asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Did you see James? Did you see him fall apart? Because, let me tell you something, I’ve never seen him fall apart before,” Finn said. “It freaked me out.”
“I think it freaked her out, too,” Emma said.
Finn was quiet for a second. “Let’s get ready. Mandy loves a big breakfast. Those two probably had a rough night. Some good food can only help.”
“Do you think they’re fighting or something?”
“I think that James probably let her get some sleep, and then unloaded like a freight train this morning,” Finn said.
“Maybe we should leave them alone?” Emma suggested.
“Or we could go and interrupt them and keep my brother from saying something truly awful that he’s going to regret,” Finn countered.
Emma’s memory flashed to the sight of Mandy kneeling next to James after he crawled to her. “Yeah. Let’s go.”
EMMA had never been to a security firm, so she was surprised when Finn parked in front of the building.
“What are we doing here? I thought we were bringing them breakfast?” Emma lifted the greasy bag on her lap, tapping it for emphasis.
“James’ apartment is on the second floor,” Finn replied, killing the engine. He jumped out of his Escalade and raced around to the passenger side door, opening it for Emma. He helped her down, offering to take the bag, but she held onto it tightly.
“I’ve got it.”
Finn used his key to open the main door, locking it behind them as they entered. He motioned to the steps, following Emma up to the second floor. Outside of the apartment, Finn paused to listen.
“Are you eavesdropping?”
“I’m seeing if I hear yelling,” Finn hissed. “I’m just being careful.”
“What do you hear?”
Finn shrugged. “Nothing.”
“Maybe they’re still in bed.”
“Or maybe they’re pouting in separate rooms,” Finn said. “Breakfast might bring them back together.”
He rapped on the door quickly, not waiting for – or expecting – an answer. He fit his key into the lock and pushed the door open, figuring it was better to just rip the Band-Aid off.