Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter 161

Once Drew and I returned from his birthday weekend, the rest of the summer seemed to fly by. Patrick, Drew, and Mike were sucked into work. Patrick hoped that by the new year, his business would be completely legitimate, and all three guys were working overtime to ensure that happened. While I knew this was a good thing, I still hated it. Worse, I hated the way we seemed to always pass each other on the way in or out. I would wait up for them some nights, but work seemed to make them later and later.

"Hey," Jake whispered, wrapping an arm around me and pulling me back against him. The twins' classes had started almost two weeks ago, and Josh was the only one who had a class on Friday. "Why are you awake so early?" Tipping my face up, I smiled as I looked into his eyes. Jake had been and always would be the most laid-back of my guys, and he was so easy to talk to.

"Do you have to get up soon?"

"No," he murmured. "What's up?"

I need to talk to you, but not as my boyfriend."

His eyebrows wiggled slightly while he stared at me, but I didn't turn away from his searching look. "You can always tell me anything," he said slowly." But I'm always going to be the guy who loves you, too. I will do my best to give you advice from a non-boyfriend perspective, though, I promise." Jake stroked the hair away from my face.

"Talk to me." A knock on the door froze my words, but not his. "Thanks, Darren. Leave it outside for us, and I will grab it."

"Of course. Mr. Jake. The others have all left already, so you will have the house to yourselves."

My face burned with embarrassment, and I hid against Jake's neck. I wanted to kiss him for not laughing. He sounded genuine when he replied, "Thanks, Darren. We'll be down in a little while for breakfast."

I heard Darren's feet thump down the staircase that I threw

dramatic; Darren knows exactly what we are

I knew that.

not caring, and grabbed the full tray with the carafe of fresh coffee, creamer, and sugar.

"Normal?"

"Embarrassing."

at the end of the bed, and

I have never been so embarrassed in my life." To his credit, Darren never said anything about the incident to me, and Patrick had apologized profusely with

sure it's my ass in the air next time, but you had better be on

giggled. "You would,

how to wake you

taken one experience with a Brazilian to say, "Never again." Huffing out a sigh, I took a long sip from my coffee. It was perfect, and I tried to soak up the

since we got back from our summer trip. I know that was special, and we couldn't be with each other every second of every day. But even when Patrick and I were at the hospital with his parents, I still felt close to everyone. We

it really changed with the

the hell out of us, Em. We didn't know what had happened, and when we got

"Gee, thanks," I grumbled.