BooksBarbecue
Back The Companion Project
Chapters (89)
  1. Dedication
  2. AUTHOR’S NOTE
  3. ONE
  4. HENRY
  5. TWO
  6. EMMA
  7. THREE
  8. HENRY
  9. FOUR
  10. EMMA
  11. FIVE
  12. EMMA
  13. SIX
  14. SEVEN
  15. HENRY
  16. EIGHT
  17. NINE
  18. TEN
  19. HENRY
  20. ELEVEN
  21. TWELVE
  22. EMMA
  23. THIRTEEN
  24. HENRY
  25. FOURTEEN
  26. HENRY
  27. FIFTEEN
  28. SIXTEEN
  29. EMMA
  30. SEVENTEEN
  31. HENRY
  32. EIGHTEEN
  33. HENRY
  34. NINETEEN
  35. HENRY
  36. TWENTY
  37. TWENTY-ONE
  38. EMMA
  39. TWENTY-TWO
  40. EMMA
  41. TWENTY-THREE
  42. HENRY
  43. TWENTY-FOUR
  44. EMMA
  45. TWENTY-FIVE
  46. EMMA
  47. TWENTY-SIX
  48. EMMA
  49. TWENTY-SEVEN
  50. HENRY
  51. TWENTY-EIGHT
  52. EMMA
  53. TWENTY-NINE
  54. HENRY
  55. THIRTY
  56. HENRY
  57. THIRTY-ONE
  58. HENRY
  59. THIRTY-TWO
  60. EMMA
  61. THIRTY-THREE
  62. HENRY
  63. THIRTY-FOUR
  64. EMMA
  65. THIRTY-FIVE
  66. EMMA
  67. THIRTY-SIX
  68. HENRY
  69. THIRTY-SEVEN
  70. EMMA
  71. THIRTY-EIGHT
  72. HENRY
  73. THIRTY-NINE
  74. HENRY
  75. FORTY
  76. EMMA
  77. FORTY-ONE
  78. HENRY
  79. FORTY-TWO
  80. FORTY-THREE
  81. EMMA
  82. FORTY-FOUR
  83. EMMA
  84. FORTY-FIVE
  85. HENRY
  86. EPILOGUE
  87. ALSO BY CHELSEA CURTO
  88. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  89. ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“Wow, okay, get a room, you two,” Michael laughs.

“We have one, thanks,” I throw back, resisting the urge to flip him off.

“Okay. Stop. I’ve seen enough cute bullshit to know this isn’t some elaborate scheme you two concocted. Emma, I can’t believe you’re the one who got him to settle down, but good job. He better treat you right.”

Emma looks up at me and grins. Her eyes sparkle like diamonds. Her cheeks are flushed. Her entire face is lit up. I have the crippling urge to kiss her. To have her lips on mine. One time and I’d probably be fucking addicted, needing her like plants need sunshine.

I’m so far gone for this woman.

“Mom and Dad should be doing the toast soon. You guys want to head to the table?”

“We’ll meet you over there.” I nod, turning to Emma as they walk away, leaving us alone. “Hey. How’re you doing? Sorry I didn’t save you from GJ.”

“It’s okay. She kept telling me all these stories about how sweet you used to be. What happened?”

I playfully pinch her side, delighting in the yelp she emits. “I’m still plenty sweet, thank you very much.”

“Your mom invited me to get my nails done with her and your sister this afternoon.”

“Whoa, moving up the ranks, Burns. Are you cool with that kind of alone time?”

“Yeah. I think it’ll be fun! What color should I get?” She wiggles her fingers in my face and I take her hand back in mine.

“Hmm. I’m thinking red,” I say softly, kissing the back of her palm without thinking. Her lips part and her breathing changes, a slight hitch that would go unnoticed if you weren’t listening intently. “Red is sexy.”

“Red it is,” she whispers. “It’ll go well with the black dress I’m wearing tomorrow night.”

I raise my eyebrows, already picturing the devilish getup. “Black dress, huh? Are you trying to kill me?”

“I know red is your favorite color. Totally not impactful on my decision.”

“I lied. The real answer is green.”

“Green? What’s the story behind that pick?”

I freeze, the blurry past coming into focus. I can’t venture down the rocky road. Not right now. Not here. Not surrounded by anyone who could hear me admit the truth I’ve held close for years and years. Instead, I offer her a smile. “A story for a different day.” A fork clinking against a glass breaks our private moment.

Saved by the toast.

* * *