Not a Chance(28)

When he walked in, Emma was standing in the foyer talking to Shannon and Alice. There were always other women around her. If there weren't he may have made a move by now. Probably not...but maybe. After glancing her way he headed to his usual seat. He propped his elbows on the back of the pew and bounced his knees, waiting for service to start.

Emma suddenly appeared at his side. He froze, staring at her. She smiled brightly at him. "Where's Travis?" she asked.

"At home," he answered automatically.

"Oh. Is he okay?"

"Yeah." Dustin knew he was acting like a victim of shell-shock, he just couldn't seem to snap out of it. And then the piano started playing and service started.

Emma leaned up and whispered, "You don't mind if I sit here, do you?"

He couldn't even verbalize an answer to this. He just shook his head. And here she was sitting next to him, sorting through some papers she'd pulled from her Bible. With his elbow propped as it was, her face was too close to his hand. He thought about scooting over and pulling his elbow down from the back of the pew. But he didn't want her to think he was purposely inching away from her. So he stretched his arm out over the back of the pew, resting his hand on the cool, oak backing. Then he just hoped she wouldn't take his gesture the wrong way.

He glanced at her throughout the service, amazed that she was sitting here next to him; wondering what it would be like to have her here at his side still, fifty years from now; thinking more and more that this was how it was supposed to be.

Still, she didn't seem nearly as impressed as he was by the situation. She sang when it was time to sing. Bowed her head during prayer. Never once smiled up at him. And then service was over and she packed up her Bible and lifted her purse onto her shoulder. Then she looked up at him. "So...I couldn't help noticing that Arden wasn't here either. Do you think they're together?"

It took him a moment to realize she was picking back up where she'd left of in her inquiries about Travis. This annoyed him a little. "Why would they be together?" he asked.

Emma shrugged. "They had a little scene, yesterday. It's obvious he has feelings for her...but I can't get a good read on her."

Dustin hated this topic. "He'll get over her. She's not worth it."

Emma's eyes widened in shock. "You're talking about my best friend." She lifted her chin in a most adorable gesture of stubbornness.

"If she's your best friend, then you know first hand what a bitch she is."

Emma gasped. And then laughed. "You've got to be kidding. Do you even know her?"

"I know I haven't seen Travis this depressed since Tonya left."

"And that's Arden's fault."

"Yep." He folded his arms over his chest and stared down at her, mentally daring her to keep fighting.

She shook her head, an incredulous grin on her face. "Well I guess it's admirable, you being loyal to your big brother. But it's not her fault he fell in love with her and she didn't fall in love back."

Dustin shrugged. She had a point. But he didn't care. The last thing Travis needed right now was heartache. He had enough to deal with with Duane. Besides that, Travis had battled back depression and alcoholism and was finally at a place in his life where he could relax a bit and just be happy.

"Is Travis okay?" Emma asked again, this time real concern in her eyes.

Dustin looked at her. "He's fine. If you're so concerned, why don't you go see him."

"What's your problem?"

"I don't have a problem. I just think if Travis is so damned important to you, you should be talking to him and not me."

Emma's brows furrowed in frustration. "Are you jealous?"

"What the fuck would I be jealous about?"

"Do you think you could ease up on the language at least until you're out of the church building?"

Dustin dropped his hands to his sides in frustration. He was getting nowhere. Of course, he wasn't sure where it was he'd wanted to get to in the first place, so that was part of his problem. "Why did you come sit with me?"

"I thought I'd try to flirt with you."

Dustin burst out laughing. "You're really bad at it."

She drew herself up to her full height, which was only slightly above average. "I haven't flirted yet. You haven't stopped being a jerk long enough for me to try. Besides, I shouldn't have to. You should just be a man and ask me out. And you'd better do it quick, because I've already got three offers for dates to Shannon's Christmas party Friday night."

Dustin froze, then. He swallowed. "You...you want me to ask you out?"

Emma exhaled loudly, hefted her purse over her shoulder and stormed out of the church building.

Dustin looked around and realized they were the last ones there. Everyone else had cleared out. So he followed her out into the parking lot and caught up with her. "Hey," he said. "Can I drive you home?"