Eddie hated hearing Emily talk about her missed chance with Nick. She was clearly still upset over him, and it killed Eddie to see her hurt.

“Why don’t I walk you home?” he asked knowing Emily didn’t live far from where they were.

Emily smiled sweetly at him, chasing away the chill in the air and nodded. She looped her arm through his and they walked side by side in silence for a few minutes. Her hip brushed his and his arm grazed the side of her breast. His blood heated with every step they took, getting him closer and closer to her apartment, and closer and closer to losing control. Eddie couldn’t let that happen. He couldn’t lose control with Emily.

“Were you meeting someone?” Eddie asked quietly. He had to know if she was there on a date.

Emily nodded. “Some friends from work. They’ve been trying to talk me into going out for months. I finally gave in tonight, but obviously it didn’t go well.”

“Will they be worried about you?”

“I’ll text them when I get home. It’ll be okay. They’ll understand what happened.”

Eddie nodded. He was sure they knew all about Nick and their break-up. Why wouldn’t they? Emily had to have been upset over the last few weeks. Eddie didn’t even know who she spent time with when she wasn’t with him or Nick. He’d been too much of a chicken to call her. He knew she would only ever see him as Nick’s best friend and wasn’t sure she wanted the reminder around.

“What have you been up to? I haven’t seen you much lately,” Emily asked, drawing Eddie out of his thoughts.

“Oh, not too much. Working.”

“Which is code for hanging out with Nick. I’m guessing that’s his new girlfriend. Is she nice?”

Eddie shrugged. He didn’t really want to be talking about Monica with Emily, but he understood her need to know why she was replaced. “She seems nice enough. I don’t really know her well.”

Emily looked up at him in confusion. “How is that possible?”

“Tonight was the first time I’ve met her. I really have been working the last few weeks.”

Emily stopped and stared at him. He could tell she was trying to figure something out. Eddie squirmed under her appraisal, not wanting her to see something she found lacking.

Then she shocked the hell out of him when she asked, “Do you want to come up to my apartment with me?”