“Cody thought it was quite the coincidence that nothing else has happened since your friend left to go back to New York.”
Anger rises up from the depths of my gut. “Banner doesn’t have shit to do with any of this. The first house exploded before she even got here.”
Emmy looks up at me, an expression of pure innocence on her face, but there’s no way it’s genuine. “That’s exactly what I told him.”
She pauses and sips her coffee, still gripping the mug as though it’s keeping her together. When she finally meets my gaze again, the innocent expression has faded.
“I’m not going to pretend that I like her, Logan. I’m not going to pretend that I’m not upset you’ve picked her over me when you knew I was building my house for both of us. But I guess my small-town upbringing isn’t good enough for you anymore.”
Emmy’s honesty surprises me, as does the comment about her house.I fucked up by not putting that idea out of her head.
But her accusation about not being good enough pisses me off. Emmy Harris was always the princess who sat on the pedestal above everyone else and got whatever she wanted. Maybe that’s why I didn’t shut her down hard. Maybe I liked that Emmy Harris, who wouldn’t have talked to me as a teenager, finally found me worthy.
It wasn’t until Banner came into my life that the chip on my shoulder started shrinking. Still, the time has come to set Emmy straight.
“I’m gonna be plain with you, Emmy. That last bit is bullshit, and we both know it. I spent so many years not being worthy of anyone in this town, I’m the last person who’s going to pretend like Gold Haven or anyone from here isn’t good enough for me.”
Her shoulders straighten. “So you just like her better than me. I get it. I built the fairy tale in my head, but apparently I didn’t take into account the fact that the prince would fall for someone else. I know when I’ve lost. You don’t have to tell me again.”
The fact that she sayslostlike I’m some kind of prize pisses me off, but it doesn’t matter. All I want is to get Emmy out of my kitchen so I can call Banner back. I can already imagine how well that conversation will go.
Emmy takes another sip of her coffee before setting it on the counter. “I hope we can still be friends, Logan. I would hate to think you being with her would change that.”
If it gets her out of my kitchen faster, I can give her that reassurance. “Of course.”
She smiles again, but it wobbles. “I guess I should get going. I just ... I didn’t know who else to talk to about this whole mess. I can’t believe we even have to deal with it. This isn’t the town I remember anymore.”
I nod. “That’s the truth.”
Emmy steps away from the counter. “Sorry to interrupt your night.” She heads for the door, but pauses on the threshold. “There was one other question Cody asked that threw me for a loop, and I’m not sure what to make of it.”
“What?”
“He asked me if I knew anything about Nicole, or how she’s raising money to buy Pints and Pins from Ben.”
I jerk my head back. “What?”
“That was my reaction too. I told him I don’t know her well at all, but we all know she’s dead set on owning that bowling alley, and hustles every minute of every day so she can make it happen. I’ve always admired her drive in that respect. She rents a cabin on my parents’ land, so my first thought was whether or not I need to walk around and see if she’s got her own meth lab going.”
“Is that what you told Cody?”
Emmy shakes her head. “No, I didn’t want to point fingers. I can’t imagine she would, you know?”
The memory of Nicole trying and failing to buy something from the pharmacy the night Banner and I went on a hunt for lube flashes through my mind.No fucking way is she making meth. I don’t believe it.But it doesn’t add up.
“I’ve known Nicole a long time, and I can’t see her stooping that low to make a buck.”
Emmy nods. “I agree. It just struck me as odd, that’s all. I’ll let you get back to your evening. Sorry for bothering you, Logan. I hope Banner realizes what a good guy she’s got. Because if she doesn’t ...” Emmy trails off, but her point is clear.
It’s also a statement I won’t touch with a ten-foot pole. “Good night. Drive safe.”
She opens the door and steps out. I close it and lock it behind her, my thoughts going in a dozen different directions.
Part of me wants to go right over to Pints and Pins and talk to Nicole, but it’s not my job or my business. On the other hand, we’re friends, and I’ve been looking out for her a long time.
How is she making extra money?She works her shifts at the factory and the bowling alley, but it’s been at least six weeks since she’s pulled a shift at the shop doing oil changes.
Fuck, I hate that I’m even thinking about this.