I shushed him and turned slightly to look at Nana’s window, fully listening. He tilted head, watching me.
Nana rattled off four characters, paused, and said four more. “Just pick?” she questioned the person at the other end.
“Pick the first one,” I said over the pain. Emmitt’s eyes widened slightly at my volume. I could barely hear myself over the thumping in my head. The information spilled from my mouth. “Ride for a one point six increase then drop it.”
The pain abruptly disappeared, and I sighed before I could catch myself. Emmitt still watched me, his expression carefully blank. His striking, dark blue eyes saw too much. My pulse picked up as I noticed details my headache had obscured. His damp hair. How close he stood. The concern still in his eyes.
In the background, I heard Nana repeat my recommendation and wanted to cringe. Instead, I forced my face to relax, keeping it bland. How could I have been so stupid? So obvious?
Emmitt’s calm gaze gave nothing away. “We were still thinking of going to the lake after breakfast. Nana went for groceries this morning. Will you come with?”
I nodded slowly, waiting for what would come next. Questions I couldn’t...wouldn’t...answer. But he didn’t say anything about my headache or spontaneous yelling.
Instead, he nodded at my clothes. “You might want to change.”
I looked down at myself and winced. I still wore lounge pants and a baggy t-shirt. Fuzz coated my teeth. A blushed crept into my cheeks as I looked up at him again. Amusement twinkled in his eyes.
* * * *
Driving to the lake posed a bit of a problem. My truck, technically, fit three; Nana’s cute car fit four; Jim apparently didn’t own a vehicle; and Emmitt had his bike. Clearly, I didn’t want to drive, which meant tagging along with someone else. Jim suggested we leave the truck because it drank gas and go with the motorcycle and car. Everyone looked at me, and I didn’t immediately understand why.
Nana spoke up. “It would be safest if the kids rode in the car. That leaves the front seat open for someone while the other two follow on the motorcycle.”
Oh. I looked at Emmitt and Jim. Well, I couldn’t see them riding together. Jim had a smirk on his face as he watched me have my epiphany. It would serve him right if I insisted on driving with the kids. I shifted my attention to Emmitt’s ever-watchful gaze. He hadn’t questioned me when I acted weird before. I owed him. The thought of being so close set my stomach twisting and jumping.
“Do I need to go change, again?” I wore shorts over my swim bottoms and a t-shirt over the top. Sandals covered my feet.
“No,” he assured me. “You’ll be completely safe.”
I didn’t contradict him but knew differently. Not about the bike but about the stupidity of going to the lake or anywhere public now that my headache was gone. However, after agreeing to it and my weird behavior this morning, I didn’t think there was a way to back out quietly.
Mentally sighing, I smiled slightly at my brothers who excitedly spoke to Jim. If our freedom was limited, I couldn’t rob them of today’s adventure. The problem of Blake would still be there after the lake.
I helped the boys buckle in and told them I would follow them. They didn’t seem to care as they began to pepper Nana and Jim, who had already claimed his spot in the front seat, with questions about sand castles, swimming, and picnics. This whole experience would be new to them.
Emmitt waited for me by the bike. He sat first and held it steady while he pointed out where I should place my foot to swing my leg over. He didn’t say anything about where to put my hands once I was on, though, and my palms started to sweat. I mounted quickly without touching him and landed with a thump that bounced the bike slightly. I mumbled an apology and reached behind me to hold onto the bar back there, not completely comfortable with wrapping my arms around him. My stomach dipped in disappointment. Stupid thing wouldn’t settle down around Emmitt. Just another reason not to get too close to him. I wasn’t sure how I’d really react.
Nana’s car pulled out, but Emmitt didn’t start the bike. Instead, he turned to look at me. “Are you sure you can hold on like that?”
I nodded, blushing, not meeting his gaze.
He hesitated, opened his mouth as if he would say something more, then turned around. He slid sunglasses on and handed me a pair. I would have rather had a helmet. I loosened my hold briefly to put on the sunglasses. The engine purred awake, and he eased the bike forward.
Nana waited at the end of the driveway. When we approached, she turned right, and Emmitt smoothly did the same.
I discovered a love for motorcycles. The wind whipped my hair in my face with stinging lashes, and bugs occasionally hit my shins with brief piercing bites. But, I learned to crouch a little and tuck myself closer to Emmitt, who shielded me from the wind and bugs. By doing so, I could revel in the freedom of the open ride.
At the first stop sign, I asked Emmitt to wait and struggled to braid my hair quickly. Knots and tangles slowed my progress. When I finished, I tucked it into the back of my shirt and told him to go. The car had already disappeared.
He pulled away smoothly and sped up, quickly catching up to them. Jim held something out the window—a camera—and Emmitt nodded. He twisted the throttle slightly and pulled around the car. I looked over in time to see two grinning boys in the back, cheering, and a bright flash from the front seat.
Emmitt pulled ahead, taking the lead.
A few minutes later, we turned onto another gravel lane, much nicer than their driveway, and followed its length to a sun-speckled body of water. A sandy beach lined the shore beyond the empty parking area. Seeing the vacant lot, I felt relieved that I’d offloaded my ticker information before arriving.
Emmitt pulled to a stop. I quickly hopped off and stood on shaky legs as I waited for the boys.
“Did you like it?” Emmitt asked, studying me.
I nodded. Far too much.
* * * *
After testing the chilly, clear water, I chose to sit on the blanket Nana had spread on the sand. It was the perfect spot to keep an eye on the boys. Jim and Emmitt didn’t hesitate to join my brothers in the water. I overheard Emmitt explaining the game of chicken to Liam. He had Aden’s attention, too.
The sunglasses hid my wandering eyes as I watched water run down Emmitt’s chest. I rationalized away my guilt over my pathetic eye groping. After all, Blake could catch me at any moment and shove me back into my prison. Was it so bad to create a few happy memories before that happened? My tiny, rational voice insisted it was, and that I shouldn’t be wasting mental resources gazing at Emmitt’s beautifully sculpted and glistening chest; I should be trying to think of a way to be free of Blake permanently. I shushed that voice.
Nana reclined next to me, reading and occasionally flicking a glance at the water antics. When she offered me a magazine, I took it to further disguise my growing fascination with Emmitt’s water-coated torso.
Despite the sunglasses and magazine, Emmitt always seemed to look up when I drifted from idle ogling to fully immersed fantasy. My telling blush would cause him to flash a small, knowing smile which tweaked his dimple and set off a firecracker in my stomach.
Before the sun started to set, we packed up. When Emmitt mounted the motorcycle, he offered his hand to help me, but I ignored it. I didn’t do it to be rude. I’d spent a good portion of the day mentally drooling and didn’t think physical contact would be in my best interest. Still, I enjoyed the ride back as much as I had the ride to the lake. Maybe more...
Nana went into the apartment to make dinner while I brought the boys upstairs to change. Emmitt and Jim promised to have the fireworks ready by the time we returned. I slipped into a pair of cotton shorts and a tank top and had the boys do the same.