Emily smiled as Marla and Connor talked, though she'd known that her friend would likely question her new neighbor plenty to get a good feel for him. That was just how Marla was. Only then she was hit with the need to relieve her bladder, so with a softly spoken, "I'll be right back," she pushed away from the table and headed to the bathroom.
Marla couldn't have been more grateful for the timing of Emily excusing herself. She'd hoped for a minute to talk to the guy frankly, since he clearly hadn't been completely upfront with her friend about who he was. "Yeah, Emily's about as nice as they get. It's kinda a miracle, too, with everything she's been through. I don't like knowing someone's lyin' to her," she said directly. Any bit of starstruck-ness at meeting him was pushed aside for her protectiveness over Emily.