Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76812 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 384(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
"I made sure she had something to eat, and I'm pretty sure she's getting a shower right now. I don't imagine she'll stay in the closet forever," I offer in explanation.
"I don't want you to feel like you have to host someone you don't know in your room," Em says, sounding motherly and concerned.
She's the first one to stand up and advocate for any person she feels has a need to be defended.
"It's fine," I assure her.
"He'll let us know if he changes his mind," Kincaid tells his wife. It also serves as a command for me to do so if I get to that point.
“I think it’s important for her to know that she has options,” Em argues. “I’m not going to force her to do anything, but I don’t want her curled up on the floor, thinking it's her only choice."
I don't have to look at my boss to know he's irritated. I can feel the displeasure rolling off him from the argument his wife is making.
If there is a single soul walking this earth who would make the man fold, it's his wife. He gives her a simple nod, and she is respectful enough of him that she doesn't look the least bit smug about getting her way. People in love are weird.
I finish eating my protein bar and drinking the cup of coffee I poured for myself, before standing.
"I'm going to grab her some things to eat," I explain when Em begins to stand along with me.
I rinse my cup before placing it in the top rack of the dishwasher and make Brielle a plate of food. Instead of just taking the eggs, pancakes, and bacon to her, I also grab a couple of individually wrapped muffins and another protein bar. I turn to walk out of the kitchen but spin back around and grab her a banana too.
Em walks around the table, kisses Kincaid on the temple, and whispers something in his ear before following me to the room.
Once we make it down the hall, I test the doorknob, knowing when it turns in my hand that she has taken care of whatever she might've needed to do in the bathroom.
Relief that she hasn't locked me out completely warms me inside a little as I step to the side and let Em enter the room ahead of me.
I pull in a deep breath, torn on how I want Brielle to act, when Em lifts her hand and knocks on the door. Thankfully, she doesn't just rip the door open, telling me she knows that Brielle needs a different approach than a strong hand and insistence that it's silly for her to be in the closet.
"Brielle? It's Emmalyn."
No sounds come from the other side of the closet door. Although she didn’t answer me last night either, I still look toward the dark bathroom and the single window in the room, wondering if she might not even be inside.
Em looks over her shoulder at me with a frown.
I step closer, urging Em to move to the side, as I lean in closer to the door.
"Brielle, I have some breakfast here for you," I begin as I lift my hand to the doorknob. "I'm going to open the door."
She remains silent, and I have to trust that if she didn't want me to open the door, she'd tell me to go away.
Hair still damp from her shower, Brielle blinks up at me.
I give her a small smile, hoping that she reads it as friendly. Her eyes dart from me to Em and back to me. She shifts her weight on the blankets she laid out last night to sleep, and I can't tell if she's just trying to get more comfortable or if she's fighting an urge to run.
"Hey," Em says, still keeping her distance.
I crouch down and place the plate on the floor just outside the door, making sure not to breach the threshold. I don't want her to feel like I'm invading her space.
"Beck brought you breakfast," Em says as if she can't think of anything else to say.
Brielle's eyes meet mine, and I feel a little trapped in her stare.
"I didn't cook it. I promise."
The upper corner of her lip twitches as if she might smile, but then her eyes drift from me to Em.
"I wanted to check in on you. I wanted to let you know that you're more than welcome to come stay at my and Diego's house. It's here on the property," Em says, hitching her thumb over her shoulder to indicate the back of the clubhouse. "We have a spare room you can have all to yourself."
The second time Brielle's eyes lock on mine, she never pulls them away.
Em continues to speak, explaining the accommodations being offered and how it will be quieter, but Brielle keeps her eyes on mine.