Chapter 443

“He’s just the guy who lives across the hall,” Emily said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I noticed there was still some dessert left, so I invited him over to try it. He’ll head back soon.”
“Oh, I see,” Emma’s gaze flickered between the two of them, her expression turning sly. “No need to rush off! Stay and chat for a while, really. I’ll just head to my room and leave you two to it. Make yourself at home, neighbor, pretend you’re in your own place.”
Tristan nodded, completely unfazed.
Emily blinked in surprise.
On her way to her room, Emma circled back and pulled Emily aside, whispering, “That handsome young man finally let you lure him in-you’d better make the most of it!”
“What am I supposed to ”
Before Emily could finish, Emma cut her off. “But let me tell you, you’re still a high schooler. Keep your boundaries, okay? It’s fine to have a little romance, but don’t let things get out of hand. You hear me?”
“I” Emily tried to protest.
“And don’t stay up too late,” Emma warned. “You have your entrance exam the day after tomorrow, you need your rest.”
Mom, my exam is tomorrow,” Emily corrected her, barely able to muster the energy.
Emma raised an eyebrow. “Is it? I can’t keep track. Well, as long as you remember, that’s what matters.”
Emily grabbed her mother’s arm as she tried to leave, gritting her teeth and lowering her voice. “And for the record, I didn’t invite him over for any funny business, so stop making it weird.”
Emma brushed her hands and tried to soothe her. “Alright, alright, I know you didn’t. But still, no matter how much you like him, keep your boundaries.”
Emily stared at her in exasperation.
Was this ever going to end?
She finally gave in, waving her mother away. “Go to bed already, just go.”
Emma shot her a look, then turned around to face Tristan with a smile that crinkled her eyes. “Well then, I’ll leave you two. Have a good chat!”
Tristan, for once, looked downright obedient. “Thank you, ma’am. Good night, sleep well.”
Emma had already started down the hall, but at the sound of Tristan’s voice she turned and waved again, beaming. “My daughter’s not great with words, so don’t hold it against her. She’s a good kid-take care of her for me, would you?”
Tristan’s smile widened as he cast a sidelong glance at Emily, his eyes full of mischief. “Of course, I know. Emily’s a very good girl.”
A very good girl? What kind of compliment was that?
Emily wanted to curl up and disappear from sheer embarrassment.
As soon as Emma closed her bedroom door, Emily rushed over and spun Tristan around, shoving him toward the door with both hands. “Alright, you need to go. Seriously, just go I need to get some sleep.”
Tristan let her push him for a few steps, then stopped and clicked his tongue. “What’s with all the pushing? Didn’t your mom just say we should keep our boundaries? Is this you not listening to her?”
Emily gaped at him, staring at his profile. You heard all of that?”
Tristan arched an eyebrow. “Heard what?”
“Don’t play dumb.”
She smacked his shoulder. “Come on, how much did you hear?”
Tristan paused, turning to look at her with those deep, laughing eyes. “Pretty much all of it
Emily glared at him, unblinking.
He scratched his nose, dragging out the suspense. “Your mom didn’t really factor in how close I was standing, so yeah, I heard everything. The part about you tricking me into coming over, the romance talk, keeping things appropriate, all of it.”