I smiled and tapped the tip of her nose. “‘Kay. Dice the celery and carrots and sauté them in butter to start.”
“Heard, Chef.”
I dipped to kiss Emma again before moving to the fridge for a drink. I got out a couple of those healthy fake sodas, an orange one for Em and a raspberry one for me. I cracked the can and slid it down the counter to her, then got some origami paper out of my junk drawer. Fine, it was my immaculately organized miscellaneous drawer, not my junk drawer.
I sat at the counter and got to work on an origami crown.
“So, did you get the message about the team attorneys wanting to meet with us?”
Emma whipped around. “No. About what?”
“I think they just want us to sign off that we won’t hold the team liable if something goes wrong between us. And I think they’re going to bring the paperwork we need to file a restraining order against Greer.”
She was quiet, chopping without looking up at me. “That’s a relief.”
She didn’t look all that relieved, so I questioned it. “Which part?”
“The restraining order. It’ll be good to get that done.” She still wouldn’t look at me.
“What about the other part?”
Emma’s lips twisted and her brows knit. “Just really official, I guess. Most couples don’t have to sign a love contract at work.”
I snorted a laugh. “You a commitment-phobe, princess?”
She had a look on her face dangerously close to a pout. “I’m not, but are you?”
“What are you talking about?” I asked. I’d been way more forthcoming with my feelings than she had. That didn’t bother me, but if we were measuring dicks on this one, I was bigger.
“You’ve been kinda weird since I said the big thing.” She quickly turned to the stove, putting her back to me.
Guilt surged inside me. She wasn’t wrong. It was tough knowing that she said I love you seconds before Annie called with the news that could tear us apart. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, and I didn’t want to rock the boat over nothing. I’d been trying to play it cool, but that clearly wasn’t working.
I came to a stopping point with my origami and stood, walking over to her and tapping her shoulder. Her eyes were wet. “Hey.” I opened my arms and she stepped into me, resting her head against my chest. I kissed the top of her head. “I love you, Emma.”
She looked up at me with a bashful smile. “I love you too.”
I dipped to kiss her. “It’s pretty cool, huh?”
She nodded. “I think it’s pretty cool, yeah.”
I bit my bottom lip, taking a moment to drink in her features. “I’m lucky.”
She beamed. “I like to think I am.”
“Cutie.” I chuckled. “Hey, so, if things keep going well for the team after he’s out of school, would you maybe want to travel with the team? You could both stay in my room on the road. Or we can get Liam his own room. I’ll buy your flights. Make sure you have good seats.”
Emma broke out of our embrace and sprinkled salt over the pot, grinning at me over her shoulder. “You want me to be your roadie?”
“Well, you and Liam. It’s just nice to have somebody there who’s just for you, you know?”
She chuckled. “You’re sure you want Liam to come? Won’t be a lot of hanky panky if my son is in the same room.”
“I can’t believe you just said ‘hanky panky.’”
“Chalk it up to the age gap.”
I sat up and cracked my neck. “I dunno. Just thought he’d enjoy it. Didn’t want him to feel left out, and I didn’t want you to feel like you’re losing valuable time with him.”