Nerdy Girl Nation (Nerdy Girl #1) (20 page)

Al and Ben were the reason he reluctantly left Emma's bed for the couch. A plan had come to mind as far as their professional romance was concerned.

“I came over last night because I was worried about Emma after what happened at the high school. She let me take care of her since Mick wasn't here and I slept on the couch.”

Emma finished for him. “I’ve invited Rob to spend the day with us at the carnival.” Emma gave Rob a soft kiss on the cheek and went to the fridge to get all the things she needed for breakfast.

When Ben and Al arrived, if they were shocked to see Rob there, they didn't show it. They handed both him and Emma mic packs and began to film like every other day.

“Winner. Winner. Chicken dinner!” Emma shouted after Rob knocked down a tower of milk bottles to win a prize.

“Ladies choice.” Rob swept his arm in a grand fashion toward the stuffed toys hanging on the booth wall.

She smiled and searched for something she might like. Once she caught sight of a pillow the shape of the
Superman
symbol, she pointed it out to the booth attendant.

“That was the reason I stopped here.” Rob rubbed the blue fur of the pillow in Emma's hands.

“Thank you. Nobody has ever won anything for me before. Some might think you're sucking up to the boss.”

“Me?” He brought both of his hands up to rest over his heart. “I'm crushed you would think me capable of such a thing.”

“Uh, huh.” He was so darn adorable.

The whole day had been so much fun spending time together and being silly. They had started by helping Annie and Nell set up the bake sale. After too many tempting treats, they were given clearance to enjoy themselves for the rest of the day. After a lunch of hot cheese and soft pretzels washed down with cherry limeaid, they moved from game to game taking their chances.

They hadn't acted like anything more than friends, but Al and Ben seemed to be looking for intimate gestures.

“So, this is an annual thing?” Rob asked.

“Yes. My mother started this about ten years ago as a fundraiser to build the community center. One of the city councilmen owns the amusement rides so this is his big good deed for the year.”

Emma hadn't been able to come for several years. Enjoying the carnival without her mother was bittersweet. She loved the games and rides, meeting with all the kids from the center, but the spirit her mother infused in the event was missing.

“Emma? Is that you?”

Emma cringed and froze at the sound of the woman’s voice.  Her fantasy that the woman died in a huge house fire or took a few too many Xanax before slipping into the afterlife was destroyed as soon as she turned around.

“Maria. You’re looking . . .” Emma eyed her exquisite outfit along with the helmet hair cemented to her head. “Picture perfect, as usual.”

“Sorry, I can’t say the same for you.” Maria tutted while her eyes roamed over Emma’s casual jeans and a tee shirt.

Rob moved his hand to the small of Emma’s back and laid a reassuring pressure on her.

“Maria, this is my friend, Rob. Rob, this is Maria. We went to school together.” Emma pressed her lips into a thin line in an attempt to not let anything else out while the cameras were rolling.

“Oh, you’re the drunk on that lame wrestling show Emma’s working on.” Maria titled her head and batted her eyelashes the same way she always delivered her nasty insults.

“Nine years sober and thanks for insulting our careers. What is it you do for a living?” Rob slipped his arm around Emma’s waist and gave her hip a squeeze.

“I’m a stay-at-home wife. My husband and I are working on starting a family. He wants my body as stress-free as possible for a baby.” She rubbed her flat belly and smirked.

“I didn’t realize you were married. Who is the lucky guy?” Emma asked.

Maria held out her left hand to show a diamond encrusted wedding band. “I’m proud to say I’m Maria McInerney now.”

“A McInerney?” Emma wasn’t sure whom she meant then it dawned on her. “Oh, yes. I heard Paddy got married but I didn’t remember who the bride was. Congratulations.”

“Ew, no! Paddy’s, like, fifty or something.” Maria scrunched up her face in disgust.

“Sorry. My mistake. I can’t think of another single McInerney besides Derek.” Emma crossed her arms in front of her chest and tilted her head to imitate Maria.

“Still a bitch.” Emma gasped in shock. She didn’t think she was being that obvious. “Since you haven’t had a real man since Derek left your skank ass, I don’t think you have any right to judge me.”

Emma felt her fight or flight response coming on, but Rob held her in place with his hands on her hips. “I’m not judging you, Maria. The McInerneys are a wonderful family. Derek and I were actually together long after high school. We parted as friends. We’re still friends.”

“That’s right,” Derek said as he walked up to the three of them with a huge man at his side. “It’s been forever ago, Maria. Just be a woman for once and drop it.”

Maria got up in Derek’s face. “I can’t believe you kept seeing her after she pulled that stunt. How stupid are you?”

Derek put his hands on Maria’s shoulders and gently pushed her away from him. “So, she broke her own bones and beat the shit out of herself? You’re pathetic.” Derek turned to the man beside him who seemed almost as angry as Derek was. “You better put a leash on your woman, Sully. This town does have laws about letting your dogs roam free.”

Maria pushed Derek against the chest. “You bastard!”

Sully grabbed Maria around the waist as an expression of shock covered Emma’s face. Never in a trillion years would Emma guess Derek’s huge teddy bear of a cousin would marry the wicked witch of the northeast.

Sully was one of the nicest guys in the school. At almost seven feet tall at age fifteen, he did everything he could to make sure people weren’t scared of his bulk. He’d never hurt a fly. Emma wondered how the hell he ended up with Maria.

“That’s enough!” Sully barked. “Sorry, Emma.” Sully took his wife by the hand and led her back into the crowd. Emma couldn’t believe Derek never thought to mention that the devil incarnate was now his cousin-in-law.

“Can you tell how happy I am she’s part of my family? As long as she makes him happy, only God knows why she does, but I have to be okay with it.”

“Hey. Harry is getting ready to go on.” Rob pointed over to the staging area where Harry, Annie, and Mick stood.

“What is he doing?” Harry had taken on some last minute details since their mom passed, but Emma wasn't aware of any speech.

“I’ll catch you guys later.” Derek gave a little wave and disappeared into the crowd.

The lead singer of the band finished his song and motioned for Harry, Annie, and Mick. With a microphone in hand, Harry began to speak.

“Good afternoon, Marblehead!” The crowd cheered. “I'm Harry MacLean and this is my father, Mick, and my wife, Annie.”

“Yo, Annie!” a deep male voice hollered from the back.

“We wanted to thank you all on behalf of the MacLean family for coming out today to support the community center my mother loved. Thanks to our new mayor, Rudy Babcock, and Councilman Weathers for all your hard work to help us raise thousands of dollars for the programs offered here at the center.”

Harry turned to Annie, who nodded back to him.

“I wondered what my contribution to this town could be since my mother passed away. My father does boat cruise fundraisers every spring for the school system. My sister's foundation, Nerdy Girl Nation, provides supplies and computers for our teen outreach room here at the community center. I've offered legal clinics in the past, but I feel like I need to do more. Mayor Babcock has informed me he is not planning on running for the office in the next election. So, I'm officially announcing I will be running for Mayor of Marblehead for the next term.”

The crowd erupted in applause and cheers. Emma stood stock still while the people around her got louder. First the showdown with Maria and now her brother announces he’s running for office. She had no idea he had plans to run. He just turned thirty-five and had a thriving law practice.

“Emma?” Rob nudged her.

“Huh?”

“He's calling you up.”

“Oh. Okay. Stay here, all right?”

“Of course.” Rob shooed her away up to the stage.

She walked up the stairs and over to her brother's waiting arms. “You are so dead for springing this on me.”

“That's what you get when I find your boyfriend sleeping on the couch.”

Emma pulled back and sneered at him. Harry smiled. She couldn't stay mad at him for long so she gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks. Now hug Annie. She's nervous about being a first lady.”

Emma moved over to Annie's arms while Mick took Harry's place at the microphone.

“I’m sure Elaine is smiling down on us today. I know my son will be an asset to this town and will make a terrific mayor. He learned from the best. The preliminaries are coming up in a few months. Remember to vote MacLean on the next Election Day. Thank you all!”

“She was so beautiful, I tell ya.” Emma's grandmother, Moira, squeezed Rob’s hand and winked at Emma.

“Nan, come on. Stop,” Emma pleaded from her seat next to Rob.

“No. He's the only young man you've brought home in years. I'm going to tell him how perfect my granddaughter is.”

“Just one more story?” Rob asked. The time he’d spent in the MacLean household was better than any night in his own family home. He didn't want their time to come to an end; especially since the camera crew had already left for the night.

“Fine,” she huffed.

“As I was saying, she was beautiful. Elaine and I worked for weeks getting the costume right. Halloween arrived and Emma became
Wonder Woman
.”

“The gold wristbands and everything?” He asked.

“Oh, yes. The picture is on my mantle at home. I'll show you when you come for Thursday dinner next week.”

“Lord!” Emma rolled her eyes.

Rob couldn't wait. Not just to see a young Emma as
Wonder Woman
, but for the real family dinner. He was the only child of parents who were also only children. His father's parents didn't approve of his career and his mother's parents didn't approve of his father, so both sets were scarce over the years. A big family dinner would be a first for him.

“Don't be embarrassed.” He leaned in and kissed Emma’s reddened cheek.

“Oh,” Moira exclaimed.

“What now, Nan?” Emma asked as she cuddled into Rob's side.

“It's so nice to see the two of you so in love. Reminds me of my Michael and me.” Moira got a dreamy look in her eyes.

“You and Gramps were so cute.” Emma smiled, but Rob saw sadness there. They had talked about how close she was with her grandparents. The loss of her Gramps when she was thirteen devastated the whole MacLean family.

“I can see the two of you now. A great love story. I'm so glad I'm here to see you from the beginning.”

Rob felt a flutter in his chest at the words and prayed she was right.

“I'm glad you're here, too. Now I can see what a knockout my Emma will be later on.”

Moira's pale skin turned a bright shade of pink with Rob's words.

“Such a keeper. If you let this one go, make sure to drop him off on my doorstep.” Moira winked again before she patted Rob's cheek.

The words of the sweet older woman socked him in the gut. If he and Emma were going to make a real go of it, there were a few things they needed to discuss. It wasn’t the right time or the right place, but he wasn’t sure his confidence would hold if he didn’t do it then.

“You mind if I steal this pretty girl away for a little while?” Rob asked Moira.

“Only if you bring her back happier than she left.” Moira laughed when Emma gasped.

“I’ll do my best.” Rob stood and offered Emma his hand. She took it and he led her back into her bedroom.

Rob shut the door behind them and took Emma in his arms.

“A spontaneous make-out session? I like the way you think.” Emma slipped her arms around his neck and drew him down for a kiss.

A few pecks and a slip of the tongue made Rob’s brain foggy. He knew he’d never get enough of her, but he restrained himself and pulled back.