Page 39 of Never Not Friends

“Vinny, if you know what’s good for you, you’ll get in here asap!” She walks farther into the room, leaving me to follow behind her.

I take one quick look around. This place is a portal to all things Emma. A homemade matcha kit on the kitchen counter. A small laminator with cutouts of numbers and words in a pile next to it.

Emma’s lived here for one year, and I’ve never been inside, but I’m happy today for this little glimpse.

“So Chili’s back here, wedged between the bed frame and the wall.” She shines the flashlight in the small crevice.

I drop down to my knees. Two tiny black eyes stare back. “Found him.”

She joins me on the ground so quickly our shoulders bump.

The beady eyes disappear.

“Dang. Where did he go?” She leans farther over me to see. Her bare arm brushes against mine. Her shampoo smells faintly like vanilla, and it’s all a lot. I scoot away without thinking.

“Oh, sorry.” She immediately scoots in the opposite direction too.

The apology comes so automatically from her that I answer before I even think. “No, you’re fine.”

We stare at each other for a few awkward seconds. “You have…” I lift my hand toward her cheek but stop millimeters before the tip of my finger brushes across her skin. “You have black dust on your cheek.”

“Oh.” She sits back, her hand flying to her face, rubbing all over. “Did I get it?”

My eyes sweep over the familiar lines of her face. “Yeah, you got it.”

She fidgets under my stare, ultimately dropping her gaze, almost like she’s embarrassed. Almost like it’s awkward for us to be this close, even though we’ve spent so much time together over the years.

Scratch!

Her head whips up, eyes darting to where the animal is.

“So what’s the game plan?” I ask.

“I was hoping you had one.” She blows out a breath, looking back at the small crack between the mattress and the wall. “He can smell fear.”

“You think the chinchilla knows you’re scared?”

Her eyes slowly track to mine. “I know the chinchilla knows.”

I laugh a real laugh—the first one I’ve had all night.

Emma smiles. “There it is.”

“What?” I frown.

“Your laugh.” She shrugs. “You just seemed kind of sad when you got here.”

The words catch me off guard. I hadn't realized my conversation with Juliet showed. For a second, I almost tell her about it, about not knowing why I keep hesitating with this commitment.

But this isn’t a conversation for Emma. She’s Juliet’s friend first. Not mine.

“It’s just been a long day.”

“Well, I hope it gets better.”

There’s so much sweetness behind her eyes that I can’t help but smile. “It already is.” I look back under the mattress, thinking for one moment. “I say we build a barricade around the bed, with pillows and cushions, and then once we’re ready, we’ll pull the bed frame back and force the rodent out.” I smile at Emma, placing my hand out in front of her like we’re in a team huddle. “Who’s with me?”

She hesitates for one beat then places her palm on top of my hand for only a second before pulling away.