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“Where are you?” Jessica demanded.
“That doesn’t matter.”
“Yes, it does! Say porcupine if you’re in trouble.”
Emma laughed in spite of herself. “How would I work that into the conversation?”
“Fine, then cough. I need to know you’re okay.”
She sighed. “I thought I was supposed to be the protective older sister.”
“I mean it, Em. Please tell me you’re okay and that I don’t have to track you down and drag you out of the depths of despair or something.”
Emma smiled. “I’mfine. I just need a little bit of space to breathe, that’s all. I swear. I won’t get into trouble. I’m lying low. And I met a new friend.”
“Do they know who you are?”
“Not that I can tell.” Emma glanced down at the guitar. “I promise I’ll answer the phone and check in. I won’t do anything stupid. And if there are any problems, I’ll text you our code word.”
“Do you even know how to spell porcupine?”
Emma rolled her eyes, shaking her head as she got to her feet and set the guitar down on its stand. “I’m sure I can figure it out.”
More silence followed, then it was as if the air itself had changed. Jessica’s concerned voice turned more curious. “So… what are you doing now that you have somespace? Writing some songs? Please tell me you’re letting yourself have some fun.”
“I’m doing a little bit of both,” Emma said. “I think I might be able to finish putting together the melody for that song I’ve been working on. And I’ve even had a little bit of excitement.”
“Like what? You haven’t met a guy, have you?”
Her thoughts shifted to Caleb and the way they’d interacted the couple of times they’d bumped into each other. He was cute, but he was far too serious. Not only that, but she had a feeling that he wasn’t all that pleased he had met her. “No, I’m keeping to myself for the most part. I met this girl named Sophia. She’s letting me house-sit for her while her family is gone.”
“Seriously? You must be in the middle of nowhere.”
“Now, why would you say that?” Emma laughed.
“Because no one in their right mind in LA would let a stranger just take care of their house when they’ve only known them a week. People in most places wouldn’t trust a stranger to do that. Whoever this Sophia is, she’s either crazy or she’s way too trusting.”
“Maybe she’s just a good judge of character.”
Jessica snorted. “Maybe. Or maybe you’re in a town where they still keep their doors unlocked twenty-four-seven.” She went quiet again for a few moments. Then she asked quietly, “Do you think I could come visit you? I promise I wouldn’t draw attention or anything.”
Emma shook her head. “I don’t think that’s a good idea. If Rachel is already asking the world to find me, then she’sprobably going to have eyes on you. It’s not a good idea for you to have anything to do with me, or someone will figure it out. I guess we’re both lucky she’s a little scared of you.”
“You’re probably right.” Jessica let out a derisive laugh. “I bet Rachel is furious right about now.”
“Yeah, she probably is.”
“And you don’t care?”
Emma thought about it for a moment. “It’s not that I don’t care. I don’t like what I’m putting her through, but I’ve also told her that I can’t handle it when she lumps all my events in my schedule like this. She needs to learn that I’m the one paying her.”
“Rachel is definitely the type of person to ignore your request. From what I understand, she’s a workaholic who needs to find a boyfriend.”
Another laugh bubbled up from Emma’s chest. “I suppose.” There was a sound farther into the house, and Emma’s heart skipped. She spun around and headed toward the top of the stairs. “Hey,” she murmured, “I don’t want to cut you off, but I have to go.”
Before she got her sister’s goodbye, she hung up.
The front door was definitely rattling, and then it creaked open.
