Page 23 of Grace on the Rocks

“To introduce him to your new boyfriend?” Vince started laughing but there was a dark undercurrent to it that Emma wasn’t pleased about. “Ah, Em, don’t look at me that way. You know I’m only teasing you.”

Emma clenched her jaw so she wouldn’t have to say anything. “You ready to go?” she asked Justin. She didn’t wait for a response as she stepped around Vince and started to head towards the doors.

Luckily, Justin didn’t argue and he caught up to her without any problem. “That guy have a thing for you?” he asked, his hands in his pockets.

Stepping out into the chilly October night caused goosebumps to litter the exposed skin on her body. Meanwhile, Justin was in his t-shirt without any sort of sweater and he seemed just fine. She nearly rolled her eyes. Men.

“I guess,” she said dismissively. She barely liked to discuss Vince with her friends, much less her cousin she hadn’t spoken to in years. “How’d you like the game?” She was glad she could change the subject.

He smiled like he knew what she was doing. “It was fun,” he said. “Way different than football.”

At that moment, her cell phone chirped. They had just reached her old Mercedes-Benz and Emma unlocked the doors as she glanced down at the text. It was from Kyle, which was odd, considering he was probably still in the locker room dealing with the media. However, there it was, plain as day: I need to see you. Meet me at my place at 11:30pm.

Maybe it was a booty call. Maybe he needed to talk.

Maybe you should go see for yourself instead of trying to decipher it out.

“You okay?” Justin asked as she slid into the car. He glanced down at her phone and probably took in the stupid smile on her face. “Does this have to do with your boyfriend?”

“Vince is just an ass,” Emma muttered, starting the car. “He’s my friend but he makes things weird.”

“Do you need me to talk to him for you?” Justin asked.

Emma shot him a look as she managed to pull out into line. “Listen,” she said. “I barely remember you. I’m sure you’re a nice guy but I’ve been without your dad and my mom for nearly twenty years. I’m not sure why she wants to be in my life now, but I don’t care. This is too much for me. I have one more year of college, applications to New York dance schools…” She let her voice trail off.

“I get it,” Justin said, nodding his head. “I’m practically a stranger to you. But I miss you. And maybe we can start hanging out. Little by little. Regardless of what our parents want.” He paused for a long moment. “I’ve never stopped asking about you.”

Emma felt her heart squeeze. Not in the same way it did for Kyle, but in a familial way. Maybe she could trust Justin. At the very least, she could give him a chance.

“That would be nice,” she agreed in a soft voice, looking straight ahead.