Total pages in book: 76
Estimated words: 73174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73174 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 366(@200wpm)___ 293(@250wpm)___ 244(@300wpm)
“Do not hurt him,” Landry said. “I know I just met you, but I don’t care who you are. Emmett has been through enough in the last few years, and he doesn’t need to be hurt more.”
I held his gaze, not backing down, but also not wanting to bite back at him. Landry really did look like he could be Emmett’s brother, though they weren’t related. I could see why they got along so well.
“You’re clearly a good friend,” I said. “Emmett told me a little bit about what happened to him. I have no intention of hurting him.”
His eyes were like fire. “I don’t want him to get unintentionally hurt, either. Aren’t you straight?”
That’s the true fucking question of the hour, isn’t it?
“Emmett’s a grown man. He can make his own decisions,” I said. “We’re just having fun together.”
Landry nodded. “I’ve said my piece.”
“Hear you. Loud and clear.”
There was a prolonged silence. I looked around more at the fall decor Emmett had around—past the kitchen windows, I could see a string garland of gold and red fall leaves that he’d strung around the railing of his back deck.
“Big fan, by the way,” Landry finally said.
I raised my eyebrows. “No shit?”
Landry nodded once. “Emmett knows a little about football, but I’ve been a much bigger fan for my whole life. Watched you get better every year when you were playing for Texas. Was a fan before anybody believed in you. That game against Ohio last year was like nothing I’ve ever seen before.”
I smiled. “One of the best games of my life,” I said. “We got absolutely shit on for the first half, then we came back like a goddamn force of nature in the second half.”
“It was all you,” Landry said. “That game was when I finally knew you were one of the best players in the whole league, without a doubt.”
“Thank you,” I said.
The sound of Emmett padding down the steps came through the air and he appeared a moment later, hair damp-dry and tousled. He was wearing casual clothes now, but still managed to look like his normal self. His outfit looked like black sweatpants and a short-sleeve shirt, but I was pretty sure both of them were made out of some sort of silk. Because of course his house clothes were fancy, too.
“Let’s head out back,” Emmett said, going into all-business mode. “Got some filet mignon steaks fresh last night. I’ll fire up the grill.”
“Never going to say no to a steak,” I said.
“Pepper,” Emmett called out, and his dog came running. “Want to go outside?”
Pepper started to hop back and forth near the big glass back doors. As soon as Emmett went over and slid them open, Pepper took off in a sprint, heading toward the fence of my yard.
“Oh, no,” I said. “I think I know what that means.”
I headed outside and nodded in recognition. Oreo was sticking her little fluffy head through a new hole she’d dug beneath the fence, and as she saw Pepper, she dug fast and hard until she popped through the hole.
“Hey, li’l girl,” I said. “That’s very bad, but very cute.”
Oreo was a tornado of wags and licks and then the two dogs ran around in circles together on Emmett’s lawn. When Emmett came out with the steaks, I shrugged.
“Renovations start next week on the house. Hopefully the new fence will go in soon.”
“Excuse me, Oreo,” Emmett said, looking down at her as she wagged so hard she looked like she may take flight. “Who said you could come over for steaks, miss? Go ahead, play with Chili Pep.”
“You call Pepper Chili Pep?” I asked. “I love that. I call Oreo Cookie sometimes.”
Emmett smiled wide, and in the glowing lights of his patio deck, I swore he looked actually relaxed for the first time all night.
Hell, I’d barely been able to see Emmett look actually relaxed for the entire time I’d known him. He was always revved up around me, probably wishing I’d fuck off and get out of his life entirely.
But right now he looked… happy.
And it made my heart warm in a way I’d never have expected.
“He has way too many nicknames for Pepper,” Landry said from over near Emmett’s expensive grill, firing it up. “Salty Pepper, for when she’s feeling annoyed. Dr. Pepper. Peppy Girl, Wild Pepper, or Pep Talk when she’s in a particularly howly mood.”
“And Bullet Train,” Emmett said, squinting out at his lawn, “which sounds nothing like her name, but is exactly what she’s up to right now.”
Pepper was zooming around on the lawn as fast as she could, speeding like a fast train. Oreo ran around in a little circle nearby, hoping to catch Pepper but failing each time she ran by.
The next hour was a blur of beer, steak, and some of the best french fries I’d ever had. Emmett knew his way around a grill, and the filet steaks were perfectly cooked and utterly delicious. After eating, the three of us sat around the table on Emmett’s back deck, watching the dogs romp around in the yard.