“We just want to see you in action.” Emmet clarifies and throws his twin a distasteful look.
“I promise I’ll prove myself to you. To the both of you.” Jake refuses to look at me and instead merely nods at the wall across from him and storms out, glaring one last time at his brother.
“I’m not sure how you did it.” Emmet murmurs. He squeezes my hand softly, and though they’re much softer than Jake’s I still react to them the same way. “You’ve seem to have done the impossible.”
“What’s that?” I ask. Emmet stands, leaving my hand cold.
“Despite his words, you’ve impressed him. He wouldn’t have agreed to give you another chance had you failed.”
“I think I have a long way to go before he thinks highly of me.” I admit, but Emmet shakes his head.
“I know my brother. He respects hard work. As I’m sure you know, I’ve had an easier life than him. He’s worked hard to get where he is, while sometimes it feels like I was handed it on a silver platter.” He takes a seat next to me, where Jake had been sitting not long ago.
“That doesn’t mean you haven’t had your struggles.” I say. “And I can’t even imagine the pressure of having everyone watching your every move. The constant struggle of being perfect, saying the right things at the right times.” I play with the bottom of my skirt. “I was always told that as a black woman people were going to pick my words apart. ‘Is she educated?’ ‘Did her daddy abandon her?’ ‘Is she from the hood?’. I’ve had to convince my professors and employers that I was serious about school and work. But you have to do the same thing to thousands of people on a daily basis.”
“Remy,” Emmet says. “Don’t ever think you have to convince us of anything.” He’s politer than Jake was, keeping a safe distance between us, but I’m surprised when I realize I want to close that space. “You’re beautiful, smart, and incredible. And anyone who doubts that because you’re a different shade than them is seriously lacking in the brain.”
“Thank you.” I say. My body leans towards him, gravitating to his warm and friendly smile. Emmet’s eyes soften as mine lower, but his entire body stiffens abruptly.
“I just remembered I have a meeting to attend. Jake is probably already there.” He rushes to his feet, shifting awkwardly as I stand and clutch my purse. “I’ll ring Albert, he’s the doorman, and he’ll call you a cab to take you anywhere you want to go. Free of charge.”
“Oh, that’s not necessary.” I argue but Emmet’s already on the phone with Albert. “Thank you.” I say when he hangs up.
“It’s no problem.” Like Jake, it seems Emmet is having a hard time meeting my eyes. “We’ll see you at the restaurant sometime. Good bye, Remy, keep up the good work.”
Emmet leaves me alone in the million dollar parlor. I grab a banana nut muffin and a small glass of water, feeling dizzy and anxious. It’s not until the cab drops me off at the front of my apartment complex and I’m checking my mail that I realize something.
I wanted nothing more than to touch both brothers, and it’s a thought that both terrifies and excites me.
Chapter Six
My thoughts are jumbled the following day at work. I’m slow and ask customers to repeat their orders and even mess up a few specials while listing them. Camila notices it and asks what’s wrong, but I shrug and say I must be getting sick. Scott comes in at his usual time and I scowl, already dreading our interaction. The hostess tries to seat him in Camila’s territory but he refuses and asks to be seated in mine. The only thing that keeps me from losing my cool is knowing I’ll at least get a decent tip out of him.
“You’re looking awfully sweet today.” He says as I bring him his regular beer.
“I had yesterday off. A night off does wonders for the skin.” I leave before he’s able to continue the conversation. Not even Scott Picton can take my mind off of the twins.
I desperately want to be near them again. Jake’s cold fingertips and Emmet’s warm hand were all I could think about for the last twenty four hours. Twenty four hours that I had to keep from touching myself or else risk imagining them in risqué positions. Every time the door opens I suck in a breath, waiting to hear their voices. I come to work the next day again, longing to hear their voices.
But it’s not until the third day that they do come back.
“I don’t have a table available.” I interrupt the hostess as they stand at the front. “But it should only be another fifteen before one’s ready.” Jake and Emmet glance at one another.