Adapting Desires (Endangered Heart Series Book 3) by Amanda Lance Page A

the planning of such an event helped Emilia take her mind off of Kasper’s rhinoplasty and her guilt that she couldn’t be with him in the immediate days after.
    Since they hadn’t seen each other since the spring, Emilia was terribly looking forward to seeing Claudette—a visit they both agreed was long overdue. Admittedly, since Claudette and her boyfriend Matt had moved in together, the couple had spent most of their time renovating their small house—so the fault was not entirely Emilia’s.
    Kasper agreed to make an appearance for Emilia’s sake, as did Aasif and Mrs. Levkin. And while adoptions were prevalent during major holidays, Paula promised to stop by if she could. Three of Emilia’s classmates from her clinical had already replied and accepted the invitation, not unwilling to pass up the opportunity for free food.
    Emilia decorated each corner of the kitchen with bright orange lights and paper turkeys at the end of the tables. Afterward, she checked the clock on the wall regularly. Maybe, she mused, she was the hostess Kasper always accused her of being.
    Unable to contain her excitement at the knock on the door, Emilia stubbed her toe on the glass coffee-table and swore loudly. She hopped and swore all the way to the door.
    “What in the hell is going on in here?” Claudette laughed on the other side. “Is someone trying to kill you again?”
    Emilia rolled her eyes and pulled her into a hug. Claudette was the only one who felt comfortable making jokes on the topic of serious misfortunes, and everyone seemed to love her for it. And as much as Emilia pretended to be annoyed by it, she was more than grateful for it—Claudette’s perverse sense of humor had made her laugh more than once in those first days when her bruises from Cyrus where still healing and her nights were filled with nightmares. While Emilia was not proud to admit it, she knew that no matter how hard she tried, she could never be quite so good a friend.
    “I’m so glad we could get together during the holidays,” she said when they finally broke the hug. “It’s been ages and ages . I love the way you’re wearing your hair now.” Claudette flipped one of the lower layers of Emilia’s hair and made a clicking sound with her tongue.
    “You always were too complimentary. Come in, already. Come in. Where’s lover boy?”
    “Outside smoking.” Claudette pointed her thumb out. “He’ll be inside in a minute.”
    Emilia draped her arm over her friend’s shoulder. “Well, he’ll just miss out on presents then?”
    “Presents?” Emilia chuckled while Claudette’s eyes lit up. “For moi ?”
    “Just honeymoon souvenirs.”
    Emilia laughed louder while Claudette’s eyes lit up and her mouth fell open. “Don’t keep me in suspense!”
    They laughed together until Claudette spotted a bottle of wine and immediately went on a hunt for a corkscrew.
     
    ***
     
    Within an hour, the guests mingled in the living area, happily munching on snacks. Meanwhile, Aasif and Claudette’s boyfriend watched The Godfather , while Elaine and Mrs. Levkin admired one of the abstract paintings in the hall. As this occurred, Claudette and Emilia did their best to create a pattern with the cheese and vegetable platter—failing miserably at every attempt but sipping more wine each time, laughing and teasing each other happily.
    “So,” Claudette started. “You really think it was smart to invite your mom?”
    Emilia shrugged. “Maybe not. But she’s been sober during the last couple of times I’ve talked to her on the phone. And when I called the place she worked, they confirmed she actually worked there.”
    Claudette shrugged. “That’s something, I guess.”
    Emilia nodded in agreement. “I thought this would be a good test run. I don’t want her in my—our house, until I know she can be around booze for a while and still keep it together.”
    “Good idea, Em.” Her companion pointed her knife at Emilia in agreement. “It’s