CHAPTER FOUR
EMMA
“Heard you got a job,” Riley said as I came upstairs.
“Yep, at the surf shop down by the beach,” I said. “It seems my skills can finally be put to good use.”
“Congrats, I guess?” she said.
“Listen, Riley,” I said, joining her at the kitchen table. “I'm sorry I took the room you were wanting, but mom and dad wouldn't have let you have it anyway. We both know that.”
It was just me and her. Dad had left for work already and mom was running errands. The house was quiet for the most part. Riley had some annoying music playing by some band I'd never heard of but was popular with kids her age.
“Why do you say that?” she said, looking at me with an expression of pure indignation.
“Because it would be too easy to sneak your boyfriend in, and they're not cool with that,” I said. “Dad would have sealed up the patio door with cement before he let you stay down there.”
Riley sighed. “It's frustrating,” she said. “They forget that I'm almost eighteen. It's only a few months away, and they still treat me like a child.”
“Because you live under their roof, Riley,” I said. “But you'll be graduating soon and can go away to college somewhere far away. Or not. Whatever you want to do.”
“I don't think we can both live in the basement after high school, can we?” she teased.
It wasn't much, but it was the first time she'd joked with me since I'd been back. Back in the day, we'd cut up with each other, hurling insults and going back and forth with one another. It was a fun time and we'd gotten along really well. I was happy to see my sister starting to come back to me.
“Be like old times?” I said with a laugh. “Nah, I hope I can figure out my life and eventually move out on my own again anyway. I just have no idea where to start yet, but I'm working on it.”
“At least the surf shop is a start,” she said. “You always did love surfing.”
“Yeah, and I get to work with kids,” I said. “And since I have some early childhood education credits and child CPR under my belt, that's a plus.”
“You always did like kids,” Riley said, rolling her eyes. “Which I don't understand. At all.”
“Yeah, I know,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “So, I hear you've been watching the Pratt kids next door sometimes. How'd that go?”
“Terrible,’ she said. “They hated me. Kept asking when you'd come back.”
“So, you don't mind if I maybe start watching them again?”
“No, of course not,” she said. “Have at it. I'm going to get a job at the movie theater with Seth anyway.”
I wanted to ask if perhaps that would be spending a little too much time with him, especially since they spent just about every other waking moment together, but, that wasn't any of my business. If she was happy, so be it. High school romances hardly lasted very long anyway. And with college coming up for her, and the possibility of her going away somewhere, there was a shelf life on her romance with Seth.
Not that I was the expert on any of that. I'd never liked any of the guys I'd gone to high school with; they were always too immature. My parents always said I was more mature than any of them, and they were probably right. Fact of the matter was, I still didn't care for guys my age.
Now Marcus Pratt next door? That was a man I could see myself dating, at least, if my father didn't murder us both first.
“Well, I'm always here to talk if you need to, sis,” I said. “I'm just downstairs now. A lot closer than San Diego.”
I had to get ready for work, so I went downstairs. It was warm day, so I opened the slider in the family room and could hear Zoey and Zack laughing together in the backyard. Marcus was such a devoted father, it impressed me so much. I loved listening to the sound of their laughter as I got ready for work.
There was a knock on the screen door and I jumped nearly jumped out of my skin. I turned and saw Marcus standing there, looking in at me.
“Sorry, didn't mean to frighten you,” he said.
“It's okay,” I replied. “I was just kind of off in my own little world. Wasn't expecting anybody to knock. What's up?”
“Yeah, sorry about that,” he said sheepishly. “I was just wondering if you'd watch the kids for me tomorrow night?
“Sure,” I said, smiling brightly. “I'd love to. What time do you need me?”
“Maybe around six?” he said. “I might be out late, so you could sleep over in the spare room if you like.”
“It's not far to walk,” I said with a laugh.
“Yeah, but it could be really late and you might want to go to bed before I get home.”
Marcus was never one to be out late. I cocked my head to the side and stared at him carefully, a laugh erupting from my mouth before I could stop myself.
“Do you have a date, Mr. Pratt?”
His face turned a bright shade of red and he looked away from me. “Maybe? I don't know if I'd call it a date, but – yeah, I guess it's a date. Sort of.”
A twinge of misplaced jealousy simmered inside of me, but I pushed it away. “Where are you taking the lucky lady?”
“To a concert at the Hollywood Bowl,” he said. “Her idea. Not mine. She's a big fan of Train, and I guess they're playing tomorrow night. Her friend cancelled on her, so it’s a last minute sort of thing.”
“Sounds like a good time,” I said.
“Suppose so.” He scratched his head and didn't look entirely interested in talking about it. As long as I'd lived next door to him, I couldn't recall him going out a whole lot, especially late at night. “Anyway, thank you. I know the kids will be very excited to have you watching them again.”
“Always love spending time with the little misfits.”
He turned to leave, and my eyes followed him. I couldn't help myself. I watched his ass as he walked out the door and back through the gate to his place. Whoever he was dating was one lucky woman, that was for sure.
ooo000ooo
The next evening, I popped over to the Pratt household at six on the dot, as promised. Zoey was just getting out of the bath when I arrived. Her hair was wet as she ran up to me, hugging me close.
“Yay! I'm so glad you're here with us tonight, Emma,” she said.
“Gosh, I missed you! You're getting so big, Zoey,” I said.
Zack stood off to the side, looking bashful. He'd always been a little more introverted than his sister. He was also freshly bathed and was already in his Superman pajamas.
Marcus came rushing into the foyer, wearing black dress pants and a dark blue button up shirt. He looked nice. Really nice. Freshly shaven and everything. When he stepped close, I caught a subtle whiff of his cologne and felt my heart doing cartwheels in my chest.
“The kids have been fed and bathed,” Marcus said. “I told them they could stay up until eight to watch one movie with you – just one though – and then it's bedtime. No arguments, right guys?”
Zoey and Zack exchanged a mischievous look that said, “what Dad doesn't know won't hurt him.” Then, they turned to him with wide eyes, the picture of pure innocence, and nodded.
Marcus looked at them skeptically. “One movie and then bed,” he repeated. “Period. Don't even try to convince Emma to let you stay up later. It's my rule, not hers. Got it?”
The kids looked crushed, but nodded. He turned to me, giving me a small grin.
“There's some lasagna in the fridge if you get hungry,” he said. “As always, help yourself to anything in the kitchen. The spare bedroom is made up for you in case you get tired.”
“It's all good, Marcus,” I said with a laugh. “Go, enjoy your date. I got this.”
He flashed me a crooked smile. “Thanks again, Emma. You're the best with the kids and I'm glad you're back.”
“You know I love these munchkins,” I said with a laugh. “Now go. Don't keep your date waiting.”
“She's actually picking me up here,” he said.
I raised an eyebrow. “A modern woman? I approve already.”
“It's not like that,” he said. “She works nearby and it's just easier – hell, why am I explaining myself?”
“I don't know,” I said with a shrug and a laugh. “Because I'm not judging you. Whatever works these days.”
Not that I had a lot of experience with dating. The problem with being raised by such a strict father was that he had high standards for who could date his daughters. Seth really didn't pass that test, but Riley didn't care all that much. Being the firstborn, I was exceptionally close to our father and always wanted to impress him – including with my choice in men. So, if a boy I was interested in didn't meet my father's standards, he didn't meet mine either.
There was a knock on the door and I ushered the kids out of the foyer and into the living room. I figured with it being a first date and all, it was going to be awkward enough. I didn't want to add to the awkwardness of having those two munchkins hanging around. I let them pick out a movie, but I wasn't paying attention to their selection.
My gaze was on the foyer where a beautiful leggy redhead stepped inside with a wide smile on her face. She was stunning, a classic beauty, just the type of woman I could see him being with honestly. There was a knot in the pit of my stomach when I saw her. Yes, I was jealous. Even though I knew it was silly, I was still jealous that she would be going on a date with someone as amazing as Marcus. Somebody I'd been crushing on for so long.
They popped their heads in the living room to wave goodbye.
“Emma, this is Stacey,” he said. “Stacey, this is Emma. She lives next door.”
“It's nice to meet you, Stacey,” I said.
I shook her hand, but her gaze wasn't on me. She was staring at the kids with a look of absolute fear in her eyes. In that instant, I could see that she didn't like kids, which was kind of a big deal. But I wasn't going to call her out or make a scene; that wasn't my place.
“Daddy, before you go – I love you!” Zoey said, rushing for her father and nearly knocking Stacey down in the process.
Stacey backed away, scowling at the girl in disgust. She quickly changed her expression, however, when Marcus turned to her.
“Ready to go?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said eagerly – almost too eagerly, if you asked me – and quickly turned toward the door.
“It was nice meeting you!” I shouted to her as she briskly walked away, but received no response. Oh well.
“She doesn't like kids, does she?” Zoey asked me, smart and intuitive beyond her years.
“Oh, I don't know,” I said. “Maybe she's just shy around new people.”
I was lying through my teeth. The look she had given Zoey was clear; she was not fond of children. Why date a man with two kids if you didn't like them then?
“Well, I didn't like her,” Zoey said, sitting down on the sofa facing the television.
“Me neither,” Zack piped in.
Poor Marcus. Even if he did decide he liked Stacey, his kids were going to veto the girl, which, knowing him, meant he'd veto the girl. And I couldn't say that I blamed them, not one little bit.