"Dude, you don't ever have anyone over? Hell, I've never been over to your place and you've had it for over a year."
"I know. I don't know what the fuck I was thinking."
"What did she say?" The joking tone in Racer's voice has vanished and in its place a growing sense of concern.
"That she would think about it. She hasn't texted me or anything, so I'm thinking it's going to be a no. Last night it sounded like she had to be out of the place by tomorrow. Thought I would've heard from her by now."
"Tomorrow? And she hasn't texted you yet? I bet she found a place. Although," Racer sits up, "a little heads-up on her end would be fucking polite. A quick text so you don't have to sit around with your dick in a twist."
"She might be in class or doing her nursing stuff, whatever that entails."
"She's a nurse?" Racer smacks my arm. "Dude, you have to hook us up now. You know I've always had a nurse fantasy. Those little red crosses pasted over her nipples and that's it, boner heaven. Come on, introduce me."
"No, never going to fucking happen. She's not one of your bimbos. She's a long-term kind of girl. She looks for guys who want to get married and have babies."
"Fuck." Racer shivers. "Marriage is terrifying. Commitment and seeing each other poop, no fucking thank you."
I knew that would scare him off. And it's the truth. Emma has always been the girl who wants the white picket fence, the loving husband, and the beautifully smart children.
I look at my watch. Ten more minutes before I have to get back up.
"Are you heading to Reardon tonight?" Racer asks, shortening the name of our favorite bar.
I'm about to answer when my phone beeps in my pocket. A sinking feeling starts to crawl up my spine. Not many people text me, and the people who do are on the same job site as me, one of them sitting right next to me.
When I pull my phone from my pocket, Racer leans over and looks at the screen with me. Since I have it set on privacy mode, you can only see who the text is from, no preview. Clear as day, Emma's name appears.
"Huh, maybe she's polite after all," Racer says, slicing some of the tension from my shoulders.
That's exactly what it is. She's saying thank you, but I found a place. It's the kind of person Emma is. She'd tell me the outcome of her decision. Hell, I wouldn't be surprised if she sent me an e-card to say thank you.
Swallowing hard, I open the message and let the words sink in.
Emma: What's your address? I hope the offer still stands.
Fuuuuuck . . .
"Oh shit." Racer claps me on the back. "Make sure you go halfsies on toilet paper and toothpaste."
Chapter Five
EMMA
It's Binghamton, New York, there has to be apartments available.
So wrong.
So incredibly wrong.
There is nothing.
That is why I'm sitting in a small U-Haul truck, staring at a charming house with a brick chimney gracing the front, while Logan jabbers in my ear about how he could still make room in his place. As nervous and uneasy as I feel right now, I don't think I could stay at Logan's, even though he would try to make it as comfortable as possible.
"This place seems pretty far from campus." Logan looks around, assessing the area. "Nice neighborhood though."
"It's not far. It's actually a quick jump onto the highway straight to campus, and the hospital is close too."
"Em, are you sure about this? You haven't seen him in a year. He could be-"
I place my hand on Logan's arm and turn toward him in the truck. "Logan, what's the real issue? Why don't you want me to live here?"
He links his hand with mine and plays with the connection as he looks down at it. "I don't know this guy, Emma. What if . . ." Logan pauses and takes a deep breath. "What if he tries to drive some kind of wedge between us? You're one of my very best friends, Em. This is our last semester. I want to spend as much time with you as I possibly can and I don't want some dickhead I don't know trying to ruin that. I don't want to lose us."
Immediately my heart crumbles into pieces from his confession. I cup his face and say, "Logan, that could never happen. Tucker is not that kind of guy. I promise."
He lets out a long breath and asks, "Are you sure you don't want to stay with me? We've shared a bed before, I'm not opposed to doing it again."
"Nice try." I lean over and kiss his cheek. "Nothing is going to happen to our friendship. I care about you way too much. These last few months are important to me. I want to spend as much time with you and Adalyn as I can before our lives turn from practice to a reality."