Your Inescapable Love (The Bennett Family 4)

Abby springs to her feet, pacing the small foyer. “That’s not fair. You told us all about Dickhead, and we were good friends and listened to you. But we need to hear some good stuff too.”

“Yeah, come on,” Evelyn urges. “Give us something.”

I’m racking my brain for a good excuse to leave my interrogators, when my phone vibrates with an incoming call. My lips instantly form a grin when I see who is calling. Max.

Adopting an apologetic look, I hold up the phone. “Have to take this.”

I walk a few feet away, but I can still hear their whispers.

“Aww, look at her. She never had that look on her face when Dickhead called,” Abby says.

“It’s almost dopey,” Evelyn adds.

“I did tell you it was a good idea to stop that elevator.” Abby’s words make me stop in my tracks and turn to them.

“You what?” I sputter.

“I thought you said you needed to answer the phone,” Abby says.

“You really stopped the elevator?” I grip my phone tightly, but as I watch the two of them, my annoyance melts into amusement.

“Well,” Evelyn replies, eyeing her feet, “I thought it would give the two of you a push.”

“How do you even know how to stop the elevator?” Now I’m fascinated in earnest.

Evelyn doesn’t miss a beat. “I watch a lot of movies. He looks like he cares for you, Emilia. Really cares for you,” Evelyn says. “So we wanted to see what happened if the two of you were stuck with each other in a small space for some time.”

“But nothing happened. You two are confusing me.” Belatedly I realize the phone in my hand has stopped ringing.

“That’s the point,” Abby exclaims. “He was the perfect gentleman.”

“That sealed it for us,” Evelyn adds.

I bite back a laugh, deciding on the spot not to tell them about Max’s borderline phobia of small spaces. They only tried to help, after all. In their own weird, juvenile way.

“Just don’t do it again,” I warn them. As if on cue, my phone rings again. This time, I do pick up.

“Sword, or bow and arrow?” Max asks. “You’d better pick the right one this time.”

“You know what, since your obsession with weapons is still on, I think I’ll choose a shield. You preparing to attack me?”

“Oh, I am. You can choose the battlefield.”

“How gallant of you. What are my options?”

“Bed, kitchen counter, car. Theater.”

“Theat— What?”

“I had actually called you up to ask you if you’d be up for watching a movie tonight. But now that you’ve sidetracked me, I’m open to discussing the other battlefield options.”

Laughter rumbles out of me, open and unrestrained. “Can’t tonight. Mrs. Wilson has been great about staying with Grams on Saturday, but I can’t ask her again,” I say regretfully.

Max doesn’t miss a beat. “I talked to Alice. She said she’d be happy to spend some quality time with Grams tonight.”

“Oh. Are you sure she doesn’t mind?”

“Not at all. She always liked Grams, and she wants to help out.”