Razorblade Kisses(34)
“No one has the right to a happily ever after.”
“Fuck that,” Rachel muttered. “We’ll get you a happy ending if it’s the last thing I do.”
Noah was sitting at the kitchen table with Vanessa when Emery came in from her shift at Jack’s. She’d worked the day shift and brought home dinner.
“Hey,” Emery said to them both. “I brought home dinner. There’s plenty for all three of us.”
“Oh, thanks, Emily. You didn’t have to do that.” Vanessa smiled and then looked back at the book between her and Noah.
“Hey, babe, let us finish this up and then we’ll eat, okay?”
Emery and Vanessa both stared at Noah. His head was down and he was writing something on a paper and then moved to type something on his laptop.
Emery was shocked by his words. “Don’t ‘babe’ me.”
Noah raised his head at her tone, confusion evident on his face. “What?”
Vanessa looked like she was watching a tennis match.
Emery’s eyes narrowed at him. “I’m not your ‘babe.’”
“Aw shit, Em. Sorry. I was deep into this problem.”
They engaged in a stare down for a few seconds before Vanessa cleared her throat. “Um, I need to use the restroom.”
“You can use mine, V, I’ll show you,” Noah said and gently squeezed Emery’s arm as they passed her.
Emery shrugged, put the food in the fridge, and then went into her room. She locked the door, not because she needed to, but because she could.
After a few hours of reading a book about a prosecutor whose son was accused of murder, a soft knock on the door broke her concentration.
“Yeah,” she called.
“Emily, you want to eat?”
Emery rolled out of the bed and opened the door. Vanessa stood there with a look on her face that Emery wasn’t entirely comfortable with. Her deep auburn hair fell in waves around her face and her low-cut shirt gave away the fact that she was trying to get Noah’s attention.
“Where’s Noah?” Emery asked as she followed Vanessa to the kitchen.
“Oh, he got a call and stepped outside. He told me it was dinner time.”
They walked into the kitchen and Emery pulled the food out of the fridge, setting it on the counter. Vanessa stood in the doorway and watched Emery with avid curiosity.
“I have pulled pork, chicken, and ribs. Sides are okra, corn, and mac and cheese.”
“Good grief, that’s a lot of food,” Vanessa commented.
“Yeah, well. Noah eats like three grown men sometimes, so it’s just best to bring a lot home. I’ll eat the leftovers tomorrow, if there are any.”
The front door slammed and Noah walked in with a grin. “Damn, woman, that looks good.”
“Here,” she handed them both plates, “I’ll warm everything up and bring it to the table.”
Noah leaned past Vanessa and grabbed a cold rib, taking a bite.
The microwave signaled it was done and she walked over to the table. “So, how’s the tutoring going?” she asked as she set the food out.
“Good,” Noah answered as he started piling his plate up with meat and sides.
Emery gave Vanessa a knowing look. Vanessa giggled.
“What?” Noah asked as he started shoveling food.
“Emily was telling me that you eat like three grown men. She was right.”
“I usually am.” Emery nodded.
“You’re constantly wrong,” Noah commented.
“About what?” She teased him.
“You know what,” he grumbled as he continued to shovel food in his mouth like he hadn’t eaten in days.
Emery shook her head. “Sorry, Vanessa, Noah must’ve gotten bad news on the phone.”
“Why’s that?” Noah sat back in his chair and examined her.
“Because you’re being an ass to your friend.” Emery nodded toward Vanessa.
Realization washed over his face. “Shit, you’re right. Sorry, V. Listen, that was Shannon and she wants me to come over. I’m going to get in the shower and head that way. I’ll see you next week?”
“Yeah, that’s cool,” Vanessa answered.
Emery pushed her okra around on her plate. She wasn’t a huge fan of okra, but Noah liked it.
“So you two aren’t together?” Vanessa asked.
“Nope,” Emery answered easily.
“Really? I thought—”
“Really,” Emery interrupted. “Noah has many different girls. I am definitely not one of them.”
Vanessa finished her dinner while Noah was still in the shower and left. Emery cleaned up and then went in her room, locking the door.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
Nothing’s Easy